“In the old times the people of the tundra used stars for everything… There was no light, so they navigated using stars.”
Zoya Tokareva (zoy-ah toh-kah-ray-vah), Nutendli community member
“I wouldn’t want to live in the village. I’m there for three days and I want to go home. Life is too fast and I soon get fed up.”
Marina Rultina (mah-ree-nah ruhl-tee-nah), Chukchi reindeer herder
“I sang the songs that belong to my tribe. Some of these songs are the relics of the last century... Unfortunately I’m probably the last one to sing the songs of the tribe.”
Larisa Ryskyntonaw (lah-ris-sah riss-kahn-tow-nah), Chukchi journalist and teacher
“It was not a romantic choice for us to return to the old ways... We want to feed ourselves. Hunting whales is what gives us pride. It is what reminds us of who we are.”
Vladimir Etylin (vlah-dee-meer eh-tih-lin), Chukchi head of Chukotka Revival
“Reindeer herding makes this world richer. One day the mining of gold and other minerals will come to an end here. Reindeer herding will always be able to go on.”
Grigorii Tynakergav (grig-or-ee tie-nack-er-gahv), Chukchi reindeer herder
“Our Elders did not pray, they just talked with nature. I can do the same.”
Dmitri Nikolayevich Begunov (duh-me-tree nick-oh-lie-ah-vitch beg-oo-nov), reindeer herder
“When our families conduct their rituals, we always give offerings to sun. It is the source of light in our lives.”
Jegor Nutendli (yay-gor new-tend-lee), knowledge holder
“Nature has soul. Body rests when you are in nature. It is wonderful to walk on your own land.”
Anna Aleksandrovna Kaurgina (ah-nah ah-lek-sahn-drawv-nah kaw-oor-ggee-nah), climate activist