“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.”

Jan 8

Grigorii Tynakergav (grig-or-ee tie-nack-er-gahv)

Chukchi reindeer herder

IMAGE SOURCE: Snowchange, 2007 in Tero and Kaisu Mustonen, “Life in the Cyclic World.” | QUOTE SOURCE: Tero and Kaisu Mustonen. “Life in the Cyclic World: A Compendium of Traditional Knowledge from the Eurasian North.” Snowchange Cooperative. 2016.

QUOTE CONTEXT: Yakov Kymet, a Chukchi journalist: “Reindeer husbandry should never be seen as simply some kind of branch of economic activity. It is a way of life for many people. In fact, it is life itself for this region as it has been for centuries.”

QUOTE QUESTION: What riches of your people will last after all mining ceases?

IMAGE CONTEXT: A reindeer has been captured during the separation on tundra, Kolyma, Republic of Sakha-Yakutia, Russia.
IMAGE QUESTION: What parts of your body do you engage to resist capture?

MEDIA LITERACY CONTEXT: The quote and photo are from a report by an organization that supports the Chukchi and other Arctic people.

MEDIA LITERACY QUESTION: What allied groups help to publicize your people’s struggles and victories?

“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)

“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.”

“Our Elders did not pray, they just talked with nature. I can do the same.”