The Nenets, a unique peoples from northern Russia, are a culture deeply rooted in the cold temperatures and the migrations of reindeer. Currently there are two different groups, the Tundra and the Forest Nenets. There are currently 41,000 living in the tundra. The Nenets are known for their close relationship with reindeer and the ways in which they use them. They herd, breed, slaughter, and follow reindeer through specific migration patterns. The Nenets are the last of their kind in their unique ways and are being threatened by not only modernization but also globalization in the aspect that Russia’s government is forcing them to assimilate into the modern culture.
The ancestors of the Nenets originated in southern Russia and migrated north due to numerous reasons over 1000 years ago. They were originally part of the Samoyed peoples, a much larger community comprised of many different groups. Both the forest and tundra Nenets are being threatened by the Russian government to move in the aspect that oil is plentiful in the land and the government desires to drill into it. There is also a vast amount of natural gas that the government wants to obtain. This forces the Nenets to assimilate and move on their own accord instead of following the seasonal migrations.
The Nenets live a very simple and traditional life and do not expect a lot out of the land. They survive mostly by hunting and fishing. During the winter months, Nenet men will carve a hole in the ice and plunge their hands into the water when a fish is captured. Considering the weather can get to -50 degrees Celsisus, this is quite a feat. The Nenets are hardy people who flourish in the cold and barren lands of Siberia. They make seasonal migrations through the tundra and...
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...e “old lady of the chum” who protects the domestic aspects of life. The deities are given reindeer blood and vodka when their assistance is required. (BBC).
Currently, the Nenet culture is being threatened by the Russian government in many different ways.
Works Cited
Dolitsky, A. (1984). Soviet Studies of Northern Peoples. Current Anthropology, 25.4, p. 502-503. Retrieved on Feb. 26, 2014, from https://jstorproxy.tmcc.edu/stable/2742912
Forsyth, J. & Pierce, R. A. (1993). A History of the Peoples of Siberia: Russia's North Asian Colony 1581-1990. The American Historical Review, 98.4. p. 1290-1291. Retrieved on Feb. 20, 2014, from https://jstorproxy.tmcc.edu/stable/2166736
Countries and Their Cultures. (n.d.). Kinship, marriage, and family. Retrieved on April 1, 2014, from http://www.everyculture.com/Russia-Eurasia-China/Nenets-Kinship-Marriage-and-Family.html
Before recorded history, people lived along the shores of Henderson Inlet. These people were the Nisqually. The historical evidence of Nisqually habitation in the area is the presence of a shell midden on lower Chapman Bay by archaeological explorations. The natives lived in small groups, their livelihood was determined by availability of food and the local topography. Because a fresh water stream meant a source of potable water and proximity to salmon runs, these small groups were always located along a steam or near its mouth. Marian Smith, an ethnologist, provided a more exact location as “on South Bay or Henderson Inlet between the creek at the head and that on the south.” She called this small group tuts’e’tcaxt. While the exact location of this small group is no longer known, some uncertain conclusions can be made about Native American activity in the Woodard Bay area. Tuts’e’tcaxt was a permanent village, consisting of two cedar plank houses that measured approximately 30 feet by 100 feet. Here the natives lived during the severe winter months. (Andrew Poultridge. 1991)
Kinship is studied primarily in social and cultural anthropology. While there is no concise definition for what kinship means in the field of anthropology it can generally be thought of as the relationships within a society that are usually based off of blood or marriage. These two things in some way shape or form are recognized in nearly every society. Links of kinship form off the basis of property rights, division of labor, and political organization
Moss, W., 2014. A History of Russia Volume 2: Since 1855. 1st ed. London, England: Anthem Press London, pp.112-113.
...oved to be singularly influential and daunting. This is, perhaps, the greatest obstacles to achieving true democracy in Russia—the authoritarian and repressive traditions that refuse to die out with the passage of time.
Written by Horace Miner, this essay of the people group Nacirema is an interesting look at their everyday functions. The tribe Miner describes is seemingly primal and uncivilized, and yet somewhat familiar. The entire account of these mysterious people describes unusual and strange behaviors and activities. The brief overview on the Nacirema is graphic from Miner’s point of view. When the meaning of the story becomes clear, the purpose for writing it becomes either humor or disdain.
The Arctic is an area above the imaginary line of the Arctic Circle, which is latitude 66.6° north (Smith, 2009). This is a hostile and unforgiving place, with freezing temperatures and 24 hours of darkness in winter (Smith, 2009). Nevertheless, one particular place of interest is Devon Island, which has many seasonal hunting grounds such as Cape Liddon – see exhibit one. Although Devon Island is uninhabited today, past settlers survived harsh conditions by exploiting coastal and inland resources for thousands of years. Interestingly, between 1982 and 1987, archaeologists found 163 sites on the island (Helmer, 1991). These sites contained thousands of animal bones, various stone and bone tools dating back 4500 years (Helmer, 1991). Coincidently, the multipurpose ulu knife – see exhibit two – originates from the similar time period, which is traditionally used for processing animals for food and clothes (Crowell & Prusinski, n.d.). Also, it is believed that indigenous people created carvings such as small face masks, for interacting with spirits (Zságer, 2010). Funnily enough, a modern day mask – see in exhibit three – looks similar to a 3500 year old ivory face mask found on Devon Island (CMCC, 2013). Nonetheless, today some people call this traditional ecological knowledge, which refers to knowledge, beliefs and practices, in sustainable use of ...
Every culture has its own unique values, beliefs and norms. Culture defines the identity and interests of a society. Understanding other’s culture is crucial in preparing ourselves for the global experience in the twenty-first century. As the world is becoming more connected to each other, interaction between cultures is unavoidable. I consider myself lucky to live in one of the most diverse cities in the world where I get chance to interact with people of different cultures. In this paper, I will discuss my findings about Family Structure in a Mexican culture, and Dating and Marriage in an African / Gabonese culture. Having a chance to understand various cultures, I realized that beliefs and practices tend to vary from culture to culture.
Russia / The Mongols and the Emergence of Moscow. Geographia, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014.
The Web. 5 May 2015. Franklin, Simon and Emma Widdis, eds. National Identity in Russian Culture: An Introduction.
The climate of the tundra is characterized by harsh winters. The average temperature in the tundra area is about –27 degrees. But what is even worse are the long night. At nights the lowest temperture recorded was –67.36 degrees. There are even times in the year when the sun doesn’t come up for days. In the tundra we have little snow and even less rainfall. The rainfall is about a quarter inch in a yearly rainfall. Even though the tundra’s winters are long a harsh there summers are the shortest season of all. Do to the terrible weather and climate in the tundra their animals and plant life is very limited.
The problem with the origin of the Russian State is that it is exceedingly complex and many theories are based on circumstantial evidence. A good example of this is the early history of the plains above the Black Sea. This region compromises the center of the Kievan State, yet much is unknown about these parts due to the lack of resources. Archaeological finds suggest many ideas, all of which are unconfirmed. The simplest and most accepted belief is that this area was inhabited thousands of years before the Christian era, and played a part as the center for cultural exchanges between groups of nomadic tribes. These tribes led to the beginning of Slavic history.
Horace Miner wrote the article “Body Ritual among the Nacirema”, in which he described and detailed the various body rituals practiced among the Nacirema culture. Horace starts the article by explaining that anthropologists encounter all types of cultural and ritualistic extremities, but the Nacirema body rituals are among some of the most extreme observed. The Nacirema are a “North American group living in the territory between the Canadian Cree, the Yaqui and Tarahumare of Mexico, and the Carib and Arawak of the Antilles” (Miner, 1956). Miner also describes the Nacirema people as having rich history and a rich natural environment.
The Inuit hunted and fished whale, seal, and walrus by way of a kayak or by waiting patiently near holes in the ice. They made great use of animal skins for warm and beautiful clothing as one may observe on display in the Polar World exhibit at the museum. They primarily made a living by hunting, trapping, and buying and selling handicrafts. They also traded whale blubber which was used for fuel. They traded the blubber with missionaries, whalers, and other foreigners.
The most interesting theme of the entire history of Russia is the period in which the formation of Russian statehood takes place. Surprisingly, the events preceding Russia’s formation are among the least studied pages of our history. Written sources telling of the times are very meager, they are mainly found in the presentation of Byzantine chroniclers, who described the events, at times, in biased and contradictory terms. Of course, Byzantines viewed the Slavs as primarily restless, warlike neighbors and they are not particularly interested in their culture, their way of life or their customs. Therefore, to study the history of ancient Russia and paganism uses mainly archaeological and ethnographic research. Some events have shed light archaeological finds but their interpretation the sometimes given rise too many opinions and viewpoints. In a small drop of solid knowledge of accounting there is the whole ocean of assumptions and guesswork. Thus, the early history and culture of Eastern Slavs is no less enigmatic and mysterious, than the story of Atlantis. That is why I was attracted by the theme of “Myths of the ancient Slavs”.
Even with Russia’s vast amount of land only, a small percentage can produce crops, as the rainfall is inconsistent and the northern tundra are not able to support growth. None the less fishing industry, livestock, and grain have been a staple for feeding the Russian people. Due to this family close, and extended have banded together to take care of each other on a larger scale. Another issue Russia faces is the rise of insurgency and could potentially destabilize the region, by Islamist. There is also the unrest and intervention in the Ukraine. Civil consideration