In the wilderness of Mongolia, an ancient tribe lives away from modern life. The Dukha people are also known as the Tsaatan, which translates to ‘those with reindeer,’ and they are the last tribe in the world who rides these animals. Their numbers are dwindling, with only a few hundred left in the community in the rugged Sayan Mountains, close to the Russian border. These semi-nomads are known for their kinship with reindeer, which is the backbone of the entire culture.
Who are the Dukha People?
The Dukha people depend on the reindeer for survival so they treat them with respect, and often like members of the family. In fact, they are considered one of the earliest cases of animal domestication. The community’s routine tends to revolve around reindeer, including herding, milking, making saddles and carts, caring for calves, etc. according to NY Times. Children join these chores and learn how to care for the creatures at a very young age. In fact, they are responsible for training calves for riding, since adults are too heavy. The children even learn how to ride bareback.
The Dukha people use reindeer as transportation, riding them instead of harnessing them to sleighs since the environment is too rough for that. The Tsaatan take the herd out for daily grazing, hunting, collecting firewood, visiting friends, traveling for trade and shopping, as well as seasonal migrations. Even horses can’t keep up when it comes to speed and navigating rough terrain. The Tsaatan don’t often kill reindeer for meat. Instead, they prefer to supplement their diet of reindeer milk byproducts with other wild animals in the forest. Only a few reindeer are slaughtered every year for their resources. For example, the tribe’s winter coats, bags, shoes, weapons, etc. are made of their pelts, hides, and antlers.
Migrating With the Reindeer
Like their reindeer, the Dukha people migrate. They move from one place to another without creating permanent dwellings. Instead, they erect yurts, known as ortz, warmed by wood-burning stoves. Although herding reindeer through a remote frozen landscape is an accepted part of life, foreign visitors struggle to visit the inaccessible tribe, which is about a day’s ride from the village of Tsagaannuur, according to Reuters. That hasn’t stopped it from becoming a popular Mongolian tourist attraction.
The journey is typically short in the winter when visitors can travel over the frozen Khuvsgul lake. During the summer, the trip is longer, and some areas can only be trekked on horseback. Expeditions involve freezing temperatures, snowfall, and complex routes. However, many adventurers make the trip to witness the stunning, snowy landscapes and meet the last people who live alongside reindeer. Some Dukha families don’t profit from tourism. Rather they make a living by selling pelts and antlers, which are used in alternative medicine.
However, the Dukha People are facing more challenges than ever. Rain cycles are changing and the weather is increasingly unpredictable. Summer droughts have intensified and winter conditions have become more extreme. Lichen is a vital part of reindeer’s diet, and it’s vulnerable to climate shifts. Additionally, the reindeer population is decreasing due to diseases, wolves, and historical overhunting. These dwindling numbers are a great concern for the Tsaatan. However, they are experiencing decreasing populations as well.
An Uncertain Future
Children are typically sent to nearby villages for schooling, and come back to their families in the summers. However, some of them choose not to return when they get older. Families have moved to villages or large cities, away from the harsh conditions of the wilderness. Although tourists may romanticize being a reindeer herder, many difficulties come with it. Additionally, the government has declared the area a national protected park, which makes the people unable to hunt. This destroys a part of their identity, as well as a part of their diet.
“For the Tsaatan, hunting has always been essential for sustenance and is much more than a means of survival,” says Zaya Oldov, a Mongolian-American who grew up in Colorado and has joined the community, to Thrillist. “It is deeply embedded in their culture, identity, and spiritual beliefs. Traditional hunting practices allow them to pass down vital skills and knowledge across generations, maintaining their bond with the land and nature. Their understanding of the diverse wildlife in the taiga [snow forest] is remarkable. With this law, I fear that our way of life and the unique character of our indigenous community may soon disappear.”
These restrictions also force the Dukha people to migrate only four times a year, which is not nearly as frequently as they used to, and only to specified locations. This also contributed to poorer reindeer health, as the people used to follow the animals’ lead when they traveled, writes environmental historians Nancy Langston and Kate Christen in the Conversation. While they used to be self-sufficient, they now depend on tourists and government handouts to continue their way of life.
