Ishikari Ainu

The Ishikari Ainu (Japanese: 石狩アイヌ, Ainu: イシカラ・ウン・クル, Ishkar-un-kur) are a subgroup of the Hokkaido Ainu people, residing generally in the Ishikari river basin (former Ishikari province, now the Ishikari, Sorachi, and Kamikawa subprefectures), excluding the Ainu who live near Chitose River. Around the 17th century, it was one of the most powerful Ainu subgroups on Hokkaido, along with the Shumukuru Ainu and Menashikuru Ainu to the south and southeast, respectively. Their numbers have declined sharply since.