The ethno-religious revival among the Mansi and Khanty – the indigenous people of the western Siberia, which began at the end of the 20th century, initiated rapid development of field research in their territories and foundation of numerous ethnic museums. The research questions and methods were determined by the favorable political situation, freedom to choose research topics and the general course of indigenous studies in Russia. These efforts were actively supported by the ethnic elites and funded by both the authorities and private business. The inclusion of representatives of the Khanty and Mansi peoples in the academic discourse contributed to a deeper study of their ethnic history and unique culture. The author analyzes the current state of the Siberian cultural heritage studies and identifies the factors that influenced the increasing importance of its religious component.