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The Nenet Choom of the Yamal Peninsula, Russia.
The nomadic Nenets
in northwest Siberia, move their choom every 3 or 4 days so their reindeer do not overgraze the landscape. …
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This is a choom in the frozen marshlands of the
Yamal Peninsula in
northwest Siberia, Russia. The choom, home to the nomadic Nenet,
uses reindeer hides wrapped around wooden poles. During periods of
migration chooms are moved every other day. Choom sites are chosen
based on pasture and ground quality with a water source nearby. After checking the vegetation on a choom site
the Brigadier pushes his reindeer driving stick, called a khorei,
into the ground where he wants the centre of the choom to be. |
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Reindeer skin has a remarkable capacity to
absorb and retain heat. The hides are arranged in two layers. The outer
layer faces hair outward with the inner layer facing the hair
inwards. A wood stove sits in the middle of the choom, which
generates enough heat to keep everybody comfortable. The Nenet
reindeer breeders live with the daylight going to bed early, and
get up early at about 5am. During the night the stove isn’t used,
but you are still warm sleeping under a yaguskhka made of reindeer
skin. In the morning, it is fresh and cool inside the choom. Sledges and caravans are arranged in half-circles around
the choom with a sacred sledge always behind the choom pointing
directly at its centre (see picture left).
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Nenet
sledges (below) are assembled from different wooden parts, which
fit into each other. No nails, screws or other fittings are used.
Despite this, the structure is very solid and reliable. Sledges
usually serve for several years and are used for travelling long
distances not only in the winter, but also in the summer; their
wooden runners slide easily on reindeer moss. Such sledges are
light, durable and capable of absorbing the shock from collision
with bumps and pits.
When it's time to move on to new pastures the reindeer herd is
gathered in one place. Women pick reindeer for women’s sledges and
men picked reindeer for men’s and cargo sledges. You can see a wonderful collection of
pictures of the
Nenet on 'Life On Thin Ice' (a little slow to load).
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