Chetkarev Ksenofont (1910–1956) – folklorist, ethnographer, writer.

In 1928, he entered the Saratov University; he was transferred to the Mari Department of the Kazan Teachers-Training Institute and graduated from it in 1931. He was Director of the Mari State Theatre (1931), Director of the Mari School of Arts (1931-1933).

Post-graduate courses of the Institute of Ethnography of the Ac. of Sc. of the U.S.S.R. in Leningrad (1934-1937), supervisor M. K. Azadovsky. In 1934, he was an active participant of the group on studying religious beliefs of the peoples of the U.S.S.R. under the supervision of N. M. Matorin.

Candidate Thesis: ‘Mari folktales of the Ronguin District’ (1937) – he was the first Mari with the Candidate degree.

Director of the Mari Research Institute (1938-1941, 1945-1946, 1951-1954).