“Diary of a noble reindeer herder”: a museum about the autumn cycle in the life of reindeer herders

The Nenets Museum of Local History in the framework of the network project “Diary of a Noble Reindeer Herder” told why autumn in reindeer herding is considered the beginning of a new annual cycle.

In October, which in the Nenets language is called Hora' irii - "the month of the choir", the period of chasing at the deer ends, and the herds begin to roam to the south, to the forests, where loose snow allows the deer to easily get food.

At this time, shepherds closely monitor the behavior of animals. To enable young males to prove themselves in reproduction, reindeer herders conduct sawdust of horns in adults whose sexual activity is declining.

By this point, the animals completely change summer fur to winter fur: the wool becomes thick, dense and long, and its color changes. The reindeer are gradually leaving the open tundra. Late autumn, lasting about a month and a half, is accompanied by the establishment of a stable snow cover. During this period, one individual accounts for from 0.04 to 0.25 hectares of pasture land, while the basis of the diet (up to 70%) is jagel.

In the second half of October, herds pass through corals. Here animals are counted according to gender, age and ownership. Specialists carry out preventive treatment against subcutaneous and nasopharyngeal gadches, reject low-productivity animals and those who are not suitable for further breeding. Also at this time, the composition of the herd for the next year is formed and branding is carried out: a mark is left on the shoulder blade of the animal confirming the passage of accounting.

The autumn period is traditionally accompanied by active slaughter, after which the number of herds decreases by about a quarter. First of all, overgrown calves, old sled bulls, weakened deer and infertile importants are rejected.

The routes of seasonal migrations – vorgas (from the Komi-Izhem “vorg” – road) – remain mainly traditional. For example, farms of the Little Earth tundra have winter pastures in the Sula River area. Reindeer herders of the Kanin tundra in summer graze deer on the mountain range, and by winter they drive them across the narrow isthmus of the peninsula towards the Mezen forests, Pinezhya and the lower reaches of the Vijas River. Seasonal migration can be delayed for two months or more, turning into a difficult test for people. The problem is that the transitional pastures connecting summer and winter sites are often depleted due to constant use, unlike the mainland, where they try to observe a three-year cycle of restoration of jelly.

During this period, life in the plague is subject to a strict rhythm: it is necessary not only to ensure the safety of the herd, but also to prepare equipment for a long winter. Women are engaged in the manufacture of hides, sewing warm clothes and shoes - raspberries and pim, which will become a reliable protection from the Arctic frosts. Men check the serviceability of the sled, update the harness and make sure that the supply of provisions was sufficient for existence away from settlements.

Thus, the autumn period in the life of reindeer herders is a mechanism of adaptation to the harsh conditions of the North. Each stage, from sawdust of horns to distillation across the isthmus, is dictated by a deep understanding of deer biology and a careful attitude to the fragile nature of the tundra.