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The natives
During the course of our journey we shall meet at least four groups of native peoples: the Chukchis, the Evenks, The Yakuts and the Yagahirs. They are closely related to the Eskimos Lapps, Tibetans and American Indians as far as their culture, way of life, animistic religion and language are concerned. Nonetheless there are great differences, which very much depend on how well or how badly they have managed to withstand Russian colonisation, the dramatic changes in Soviet society and the current industrialisation of Siberia. Most of them have done military service or attended Soviet schools, can speak Russian and have adopted the mores of Russian society to some extent. But far from all of them, however – particularly those who still live along the isolated, freezing and inaccessible River Kolyma.
The Chukchis are the most isolated and least influenced minority in Siberia. They are semi-nomadic, live in tents of reindeer skin and survive by hunting and by fishing from kayaks. In addition they manage their tame reindeer in an ancient fashion and do not even use dogs to herd them. They carry out their tasks bare-headed and without gloves whatever the temperature. They were the last of the Siberian native peoples to bow to the sovereignty of the encroaching Russians as they colonised this vast area in the sixteenth century.
Of the four peoples, the Evenks most closely resemble the Lapps of Scandinavia. They ride, milk and tend their tame reindeer in the same way as the Lapps. They live by hunting and fishing.
The Yakuts are semi-nomadic hunters and reindeer herdsmen and are those who have adopted Russian culture and the habits of Soviet society to the greatest extent. Originally they come from the Turkic-speaking parts of Asia and have founded the state of Yakutia-Sakha, which has yet to achieve full independence.
The Yagahirs are a people on the verge of extinction: only 500 Yagahirs remain. They also survive by hunting and fishing.
We feel it is important that during the course of our journey we should record how the original inhabitants of Siberia live, think and view the world around them and the future. Why do many of them still prefer their traditional way of life? Why have those who have adopted modern ways chosen to do so? How do they survive the extreme cold? There is much knowledge to be gleaned from them.
Along the Kolyma there are also people who do not fit in to conventional society: recluses, fugitives, researchers, pioneers, former prison camp inmates, criminals, murderers and refugees. We want to describe these originals and misfits, their view of life and their circumstances. We want to find the Siberian temperament. Even they can provide a perspective on the way of life of modern man. |
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The Chukchis are the most isolated and least influenced minority in Siberia. They are semi-nomadic, live in tents of reindeer skin and survive by hunting and by fishing from kayaks
The Yakuts are semi-nomadic hunters and reindeer herdsmen and are those who have adopted Russian culture and the habits of Soviet society to the greatest extent
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