Nomadic reindeer herders

Every one of Russia’s Arctic regions is home to nomadic reindeer herders, some of whom are among the most traditional and isolated tribal people on the planet. They are members of Asian indigenous groups who speak languages such as Nenets, Dolgan, Chukchi and many others completely unrelated to Russian. Many of these peoples still migrate thousands of kilometres each year on hand-made wooden reindeer-drawn sledges, sew their own clothing from reindeer fur using reindeer tendons as thread, live in tepees made of reindeer fur, drink warm reindeer blood and eat raw meat, and sacrifice reindeer to the gods of ancient shamanist religions.

Of all the reindeer-herding peoples of Russia, the following have preserved their traditional culture and nomadic lifestyle the best:

 

  1. Yamal Peninsula Nenets. Almost total preservation of culture. All nomads live in chums (reindeer-fur teepees, where fur clothing every day, practice traditional religion, migrate with women and children, speak their own language. See our Yamal Peninsula tours below.

2. Khanty reindeer herders in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Region. Almost as well preserved as the above Nenets. They can be visited instead of Nenets on our Yamal Peninsula: most accessible Nenets tour.

3. Komi reindeer herders in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Region. Almost as well preserved as the above. They can be visited instead of Nenets on our Yamal Peninsula: most accessible Nenets tour.

4. Kanin Peninsula Nenets. Very traditional migratory nomadic lifestyle. However, do not wear traditional clothing on particularly warm days. No longer live in chums, but in handmade tents. See our Archangel tour below.

5. Chukchi. Live in fur tents and wear traditional clothing on cold days. Losing the nomadic lifestyle somewhat and usually do not migrate with their children in winter. See our Chukotka tours below.

6. Dolgans. Mostly men and a few women migrating. Wear traditional clothing only for migrations or on very cold days. Language preserved, religion not. Live in wooden cabins built on sledge runners, which the reindeer pull during migrations. See our Dolgans tour below.

Every one of Russia’s Arctic regions is home to nomadic reindeer herders, some of whom are among the most traditional and isolated tribal people on the planet. They are members of Asian indigenous groups who speak languages such as Nenets, Dolgan, Chukchi and many others completely unrelated to Russian. Many of these peoples still migrate thousands of kilometres each year on hand-made wooden reindeer-drawn sledges, sew their own clothing from reindeer fur using reindeer tendons as thread, live in tepees made of reindeer fur, drink warm reindeer blood and eat raw meat, and sacrifice reindeer to the gods of ancient shamanist religions.

Of all the reindeer-herding peoples of Russia, the following have preserved their traditional culture and nomadic lifestyle the best:

  1. Yamal Peninsula Nenets. Almost total preservation of culture. All nomads live in chums (reindeer-fur teepees, where fur clothing every day, practice traditional religion, migrate with women and children, speak their own language. See our Yamal Peninsula tours below.
  2. Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Region Khanty. Almost as well preserved as the above Nenets. They can be visited instead of Nenets on our Yamal Peninsula: most accessible Nenets tour.
  3. Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Region Komi. Almost as well preserved as the above. They can be visited instead of Nenets on our Yamal Peninsula: most accessible Nenets tour.
  4. Kanin Peninsula Nenets. Very traditional migratory nomadic lifestyle. However, do not wear traditional clothing on particularly warm days. No longer live in chums, but in handmade tents. See our Archangel tour below.
  5. Chukchi. Live in fur tents and wear traditional clothing on cold days. Losing the nomadic lifestyle somewhat and usually do not migrate with their children in winter. See our Chukotka tours below.
  6. Dolgans. Mostly men and a few women migrating. Wear traditional clothing only for migrations or on very cold days. Language preserved, religion not. Live in wooden cabins built on sledge runners, which the reindeer pull during migrations. See our Dolgans tour below.

Our tours to nomadic reindeer herders in the Russian Arctic