Social adaptation of the indigenous peoples of the

Russian North to the changing ice

environment

Tatiana D. Bulgakova,

Ludmila B. Gashilova

The Institute of the Peoples of the North (IPN)of the Herzen State Pedagogical University

of Russia (RSPU)

The Institute of the Peoples of the North (IPN)

The Institute of the Peoples of the North is a unique subdivision within the structure of RSPU. For over 80 years the Institute has been offering education to the small-numbered indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East from more that 20 regions of the Russian Federation

Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug

Chukotka Autonomous Okrug

NenetsAutonomous Okrug 

Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (Yugra)

The Sakha (Yakutia) Republic

Republic of Buryatia

The Komi Republic

Krasnoyarsk Krai Zabaykalsky Krai

Khabarovsk Krai

Primorsky Krai

Kamchatka Krai Sakhalin Oblast

Murmansk Oblast

Amur Oblast

Chita Oblast

Kemerovo Oblast

Tomsk Oblast

Tyumen Oblast

Leningrad Oblast 

Arkhangelsk Oblast

The Tyva Republic

Дудинка

Тура

Санкт-Петербург

Тикси

Якутск

Анадырь

Палана

Indigenous Students from 20 Siberian rejoins

Study of Indigenous Cultures

Native languages and ethnic heritage are in the focus of the dictionaries and

textbooks written by the Institute’s teaching staff

Field research Laptev Sea (Yakutia)

INP’s research relevant to ice environment

*Traditional knowlege on ice environment

*Ice and snow terminology

*Mythology on origin of cold, ice and snow

The project

Climate change, vulnerability and adaptation among Nenets reindeer herders

Some findings

Lately this ice discontinue remaining non-melted during the entire year

Yamal, Gyda village

In recent springs, river blocks of ice started floating right accross the

village Antipayuta streets

Early ice drift and late freezing of rivers break the stable rhythm of indigenous

economy

E.g., the herders are blocked from their next season equipment storage

Early melting ice on lakes and melting permafrost under the shallow swamps makes some reindeer routes impassable

Unseasonable water

crossing results in

loosing calves

Because of early ice melting the herd has to be moved to the

summer pastures earlier, which results in loosing too young calves

Not only climate warming, but also weather instability and abruptness and

phenological shifts contribute to both pasture overgrazing and the loss of

new-born calves

The fundamental goal of INP’s research is studying the ways of preserving unique

indigenous cultures in the changing environment

Thank you for your attention!

Pictures from the Virtual Museum about Yamal «Notes of a shepherd», made by student of the Institute of the Peoples of the North Veniamin Salinder