Taymyr Reindeer Herding as a Branch of the Economy and a Fundamental Social Identification Practice for Indigenous Peoples of the Siberian Arctic

Abstract

There are two factors affecting the way that Nenets and Dolgan people of Taymyr define their regional identity: 1) their traditional trade (reindeer herding); 2) ethnic art-making where the reindeer acts as an image and a symbol of ethnic traditions, touchstones, and values found among the indigenous peoples of Taymyr. Field research was conducted in Taymyr settlements (such as Nosok, Karaul, and Khatanga) from 2010 to 2014. The researchers interviewed Nenets and Dolgan people who belong to non-governmental organizations representing Taymyr indigenous peoples, run businesses or work in government agencies, schools, and other organizations implementing cultural policies. Indigenous peoples have very low economic and social activity. The Dolgans also have a very poor standard of living due to lack of reindeer. The Post-Soviet era has seen an income gap growing between the Dolgans and the Nenets and unequal economic groups being formed. Reviving reindeer herding is essential. Nenets and Dolgan reindeer herding is an economically inefficient subsidized branch of agriculture, but its

Innovative Qualities of Today’s Young Students (As Exemplified by the Siberian Federal University

“…Suslov (2013) also suggests a number of strategies to boost innovative activities in Siberia. Koptseva (2014), Libakova et al (2014), Zamarayeva et al (2015) refer to field research to uncover the living conditions of today's Northern and Siberian indigenous peoples and their innovative activities which are vital for improving their quality of life. The results of field research conducted by Reznikova et al (2014) prove that people living in Northern and Arctic areas are still able to implement their innovation potential within a traditional economy based on reindeer herding, hunting, and fishing.…”

Northernmost Islam: “Islamic factor” in Eastern Siberia

“…The authors administered opinion polls to Muslims in the Krasnoyarsk Krai, Azerbaijani immigrants, and members of the Tajik diaspora in the city of Krasnoyarsk; used statistical data; administered focus groups of representatives from the Tatar, Azerbaijani, Tajik diasporas from the city of Krasnoyarsk; and conducted expert interviews related to applied cultural studies in both the Krasnoyarsk Krai and the city of Krasnoyarsk (Koptseva et al 2011;Koptseva and Kirko, 2014b;Zamaraeva et al, 2015).…”

The Political Struggle for Evenkia's “Special Status” Within Krasnoyarsk Krai (Central Siberia)

“…The figures used for calculating the amount to be paid out in state subsidies are quite arbitrary. Microchipping reindeer in Evenkia never happened, and it is Evenk businessmen who keep opposing it under all kinds of pretexts (Zamarayeva, Kistova, Pimenova, Reznikova, & Seredkina, ). The amount of the state subsidy for keeping domesticated reindeer is also poorly justified.…”