The Mansi inhabit the Siberian territories between the Urals and the Ob River. It is an autonomous group from the Russians, which also entails a limited trust of one in the other. The Mansi were followers of shamanism, cultivating the spirits of ancestors and guardians.
It is hypothesized that the inherently peaceful people reacted bloodily due to the tragedy they experienced shortly before the tourists arrived.
In late 1958 and early 1959, the reindeer herds they owned were decimated by an unknown virus or parasite. When the expedition reached the Mansi settlement, a representative of the elders underwent a shamanic ritual, consuming some kind of hallucinogenic mushroom. Reports from over the centuries indicate that consumption of this mushroom significantly increased strength and physical performance, while reducing consciousness. For representatives of the tribe, this was a sign of direct interference from guardian spirits, so any action taken under the influence of hallucinogens was justified by them.
According to this theory, a representative of the elders killed the members of the Dyatlov group, and the corpses were scattered over the slope. Supporters of this theory explain the severe injuries to the victims by the possibilities given to the shaman by the hallucinogen. Another argument is the involvement of the Mansi in the search for tourists, as well as the presence of a representative of their tribe on February 26 at the discovery of the tent. According to the accounts of some witnesses, members of the search party reacted to the sight of the tent with hope and an outburst of joy that they would soon find the tourists alive. At the same time, the Mansi representative pressed for a farewell ritual. The hypothesis also explains the removal of eyeballs and a tongue in Lyudmila Dubinina, as she entered an area prohibited for women.
Members of the Mansi tribe were questioned in the case, but their testimony was inconsistent and chaotic. They were eventually excluded as suspects.
To this day, it remains unclear whether they were telling the truth or, through limited trust in the Soviets, were confabulating, wanting to defend their tribesmen at all costs.
