The problem concerning place of the traditional culture in ethnic ecology is investigated on the basis of materialism methodology. The article adduces definitions of ethnic ecology, object and subject of ethnic ecology, environment as social phenomenon and considers questions of culture classification, dividing the traditional culture in five spheres - natural environment culture, material, social and normative culture, spiritual and life support culture and also functions of these spheres of culture. The author comes to conclusion that the ethnic ecology exists in the Russian science as the scientific direction which has developed at connection with ethnological and ecological knowledge.