Russia Close-Up: Siberian reindeer breeders
Published 02 August, 2008, 06:13
Stretching over 3000 kilometres from north to south, the Krasnoyarsk Region is home to several of Russia’s indigenous peoples, including the Dolgans, the Evenks and the Nenets. Most of them still breed reindeer, just like their ancestors did hundreds of years ago.
Many Dolgan families have been living in tents made of reindeer skins, in the middle of Russia's North, far away from civilisation.
“We use reindeer skin as nappies for the children, it absorbs moisture well,” one of the local women says.
They have some specific superstitions. For example, women are forbidden to step over a sleigh or else there will be no luck in hunting and fishing.
Vladimir Yaptune has a 1000-strong reindeer herd. When the animals eat all the lichen and moss around, breeders gather their tents and move to another pasture. They travel hundreds of kilometres in winter. Women and children follow them.
Baraki – the special tundra shoes, made of the reindeer legs’ skin
Tatyana Isaeva, a resident of Krasnoyarsk, says the indigenous populations have a very harsh way of life.
“They have houses which they call ‘yurtas’ in which there is a so-called ‘clean corner’, where they have different pagan things, and the so-called ‘kitchen’ with a kind of fireplace,” she explained.
But some choose another mode of life.
Vladimir and Zinaida Sigunel are Nenets who grew up in the tundra, but left it at the age of six. They now live in the city in an apartment building, but still remember their origins.
Vladimir is a dance teacher, and through his dances he tells stories about his motherland.
Zinaida is a housewife and occupies herself sewing national clothes.
“The malitsa is a man's tundra coat – two reindeer skins are needed to make it. It took me three months to sew it. These are the baraki – special tundra shoes. They are made of the reindeer legs’ skin,” Zinaida Sigunel explained.
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