The Chukchi tribe readily assists strangers in need.

The Chukchi tribe extends help to strangers providing shelter and food, despite inhabiting the harsh natural conditions of the Siberian tundra.

The Chukchi tribe is willing to aid unfamiliar individuals.

Chukchi or Chukchee are a tribal community residing in the Chukotka Peninsula, an autonomous region in northeastern Siberia. This region experiences some of the harshest natural conditions in Russia. During winter, temperatures can plummet to -50°C, due to winds from the Arctic Ocean and the Bering Sea. Currently, the population of the tribe is around 150,000 people.

The Chukchi people have inhabited the tundra region prior to the Christian era. They refer to themselves as Luoraveti, meaning 'the genuine people'. Unlike other indigenous groups in Siberia, the Chukchi were not subdued by military forces in the 17th century. It wasn't until the 1930s that the tribe was compelled to join state-managed economic collectives. Subsequently, their way of life and culture underwent significant changes.

The living conditions of the Chukchi people

According to tradition, the Chukchi tribe is divided into two main groups based on livelihood: those living inland on the peninsula and those along the coastline. Inland Chukchi lead a nomadic lifestyle, herding reindeer and dwelling in tents. They relocate based on grassland availability, sourcing sustenance for their livestock. Coastal inhabitants engage in hunting seals, whales, walruses, and sea lions.

The traditional dwelling of Chukchi reindeer herders is the yaranga, characterized by its conical or round shape. Inside, multiple people sleep on animal fur beds. Nowadays, they are gradually transitioning from tents to single-story wooden houses and old-style apartment buildings. Traditionally, the Chukchi utilize sled dogs, reindeer sleds, and skin boats for transportation. Alongside these traditional methods, modern vehicles such as motorboats and snowmobiles have been introduced.

Primary food sources for the Chukchi include boiled reindeer meat, blood soup, brains, and marrow. Coastal dwellers often consume boiled seal meat, whale meat, and seaweed. Additionally, they gather frozen fish and various roots. With modernization, their diet has incorporated vegetables, canned meat, bread, and processed foods.

Historically, the tribe had limited access to medical care due to a lack of medicinal plants and minerals. Chukchi lacked immunity to diseases, making them susceptible to epidemics such as smallpox and flu. Their average lifespan was 45 years.

Tribal Cultural Life

Due to the harsh climate and challenging living conditions of the tundra, community members rely on and support each other. Hospitality and generosity are highly esteemed among the Chukchi. They are obligated to aid others, even strangers facing housing or food shortages. The community cares for orphans, widows, and the impoverished. Stinginess and selfishness are considered their worst traits.

Within families, men engage in activities such as hunting, fishing, and gathering firewood, while women take care of domestic chores like tidying, repairing yaranga tents, cooking, sewing, and mending clothes. Nowadays, Chukchi children attend boarding primary and secondary schools. In addition to their traditional language, they learn to read and write in Russian.

The traditional attire of the Chukchi tribe consists of kerker, long coats made from reindeer skin, fox fur, and wolf fur. Women wear dresses similar to coats, adorned with beads, embroidery, and fur trimmings. Both genders wear high boots and leather undergarments.

Community members develop folk art forms such as bone carving and engraving on animal bones. Traditional themes include daily life scenes like hunting, reindeer herding, and peninsula wildlife. However, only men carve, while women engage in sewing, embroidery, and other textile work.

The Chukchi tribe believes that animals, plants, celestial bodies, rivers, and forests each possess their own spirits. They weave folklore tales about the creation of the earth, moon, sun, and stars. Some stories recount malevolent spirits causing illness and misfortune.

Annually, the tribe holds ceremonies where shamans communicate with spirits and forecast the future. Additionally, there are sacrificial rites in summer and autumn, performed respectively by coastal Chukchi and reindeer herders.

Today, more people are leaving the tribe to settle in towns, seeking employment and housing. Their way of life is also threatened by issues such as industrial exploitation and pollution. According to the latest statistics from 2015, only about 1,000 reindeer herders maintain the traditional lifestyle.

According to Lan Huong/ Vnexpress

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Reference: Travel guide Mytour