Chukchi The Tribe of reindeer

By : Eun Bi

CHUKCHI THE TRIBE OF REINDEER

Origin/Location• Chukchis live in the northeastern of Siberia, along the coast of the Artic Ocean• Chukchi was made out of Soviet Union in 1920• Chukchis lives in foggy plains• In the winter, the temperature becomes about -54°and 10°in the summer• The Chukchi’s population is about 15,000 and the population is still increasing

Dress/Clothing/Appearance•Wowen wear traditional cloth called “kerker” that is knee-length,coverall dress, and is made out of reindeer and seal hide, trimmed fox’s fur, wolverine, and dog’s fur• Men wear loose shirts or trouser, high-boot and leather undergarment• Kids wear coverall one-piece made out of fur that has flap between leg so that it will be easier to change•Now, Chukchis wear western clothes. But if there’s any special day, they wear kerker or traditional clothes

Religion/Rites of Passage• Chukchis have a form of religion of shamanism •When women give birth to the baby, any man couldn’t go in since they thought that they will have bad luck if they see it•When a person dies, watches it for few days in case if they come back, and during that time they beat drums and make sounds. After that they wash the corpse, change in to new clothes, give Tabaco, bow, arrow, and spear for men and sewing skin-dressing tools for women• They have fortune telling. They could predict the future, and cast spells by fortune telling• There was no religious organization to attack, and so it was easy for shamanism to survive

Art• There’s a folk art that men curve or dig a bone of native animals like reindeer, landscape or scene from life (hunting, reindeer, native animals) • Few years ago, only men did it but now, women also do the carving, sewing, and embroidering

Food• Traditional food called “rilkeil” made out of digested moss from slaughtered reindeer’s stomach mixed with blood, and pieces of boiled reindeer’s intestine• Staple food for Chukchis, the products are reindeer’s breeding, boiled venison, reindeer’s blood soup, reindeer’s brain and bone marrow• They also eat frozen fish, edible leaves and root, and coastal Chukchi cuisine that is made out of boiled walrus, seal, whale’s meat, and seaweed• Chukchis also collect berries, mushrooms, wild sorrel or roseroot in winter to eat on summer. But now in Chukchi, there are shops or bakery so they’re buying food at there

Housing• “yaranga” is cone shaped and it is made out of reindeer’s hide. Inside, it is shaped like a box or cube that is covered with fur• Some people who use yarangas, but now, most of people are using wooden houses or concrete apartment

Inquiry • Traditional transportation (boat) called “baidarka” that is made out of walrus skin • Ride on reindeer or a dog sled• Now, they use air travel, motorboat, and snowmobiles

Current Status Social Conditions-•On 1920, Soviet Union made Chukchi•During 1960 ~ 1970, Soviet government made Russian language of instruction in Chukchi environment• After Soviet Union collapse on 1990s, Chukchis were forced to live in rural areas on that time• 2008, there were problems that they don’t have any job, expensive items,

bad health care, andharsh climate• Chukchi’s populationis still increasing from 1926 and native speakes are decreasing.

Reference

• 1999, "., & A., F. (1999, January 1). Chukchi. Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved January 10, 2014, from http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Chukchi.aspx • CHUKCHI. (n.d.). ArcticPhoto- Facts. Retrieved January 10, 2014, from

http://www.arcticphoto.com/chukchi.asp • Countries and Their Cultures. (2014, January 10). Chukchi. Retrieved

January 9, 2014, from http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Norway-to-Russia/Chukchi.html • Gall, T. L., & Gall, S. B. (1999). Junior Worldmark encyclopedia of

world cultures. Detroit, Mich.: UXL.• THE CHUKCHIS. (n.d.). The Red Book of the Peoples of the Russian

Empire. Retrieved January 10, 2014, from http://www.eki.ee/books/redbook/chukchis.shtml• http://starling.rinet.ru/maps/maps/Chukchi-Kamchatkan.gif

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