Currently, 47 small indigenous peoples with a total population of over 300 thousand people live in Russia. They mainly live in Arctic areas, Siberia and the Far East. Most of them live a nomadic way of life; and this is not a whim, but a necessity caused by feeding habits of reindeers. Reindeer lichen, which is the base of reindeer’s dietary grows slowly, so nomads have often to change pastures. In Russia, over 52 thousand families of indigenous peoples practice reindeer herding. There is a Nenets saying “We do not pasture the deer, but the deer pastures us.” Reindeer herding is an exclusively family business. Nomadic families are the base of preserving culture, household and traditions of small northern peoples. In extreme tundra conditions, a family is not just a social unit, but a way to survive. A nomadic household of reindeer herders is very labor intensive and mainly involve women. Today, the main problem is to create a nomadic family since girls reluctantly become reindeer herders due to hard work. What should be done to remain women in tundra? The first is to grant status of a chum-keeper by the law, i.e. to pay subsidies as early as the fi rst day of work, as well as fixed wages not lower than minimum wages. The second (and the main one) is to adopt a Federal Law On nomadic family. In YaNAO, it was fi rst proposed to include chumkeepers in the register of professions in 2017, while the Federation Council promoted a similar initiative in 2022. This Year of Family will probably become decisive in this regard. The requirements for a standard of profession mobile dwelling keeper, which is how chum-, yurt- or yaranga-keepers are classified, have already been developed. In this case, it is important to recognize that female representatives of small indigenous peoples have a choice and nobody will be forcibly kept in chum. The initiative on chum-keeper status exclusively aim to support women who decide to live their traditional way of life. In addition to material benefits, the chum-keeper status will provide tundra women with a full social package. Women who contribute equally to traditional economic activities alongside their husbands will be entitled to pension rights, work experience credits, allowances, etc. from the state. This measure will significantly support families of nomadic reindeer herders, hunters and other representatives of indigenous peoples living traditional way of life. Among all Russia’s regions whose area is in the Arctic zone, the Law on nomadic family establishing the nomadic family status and measures of its state support has been adopted only in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in 2016. It fi rst formalizes in legislation the definition of nomadic family and nomadic way of life. According to the definition specified in the Law, a nomadic family is a family, which travels during an official year across nomad territories and reindeer pastures to efficiently use of feed, water, biological and game resources. In Yakutia, there is a regional measure to support young reindeer herders that entitles to receive welfare benefits of 1 million rubles to strengthen the life support systems. In general, different welfare benefits for elderly people, women and children of nomadic indigenous peoples are provided by regional legislation of many northern regions. For example, yearly payments are established retired reindeer herders (men and women), which have been working in the sector for at least 15 years, while men aged 55 and women aged 50 may be provided with social support in the Republic of Komi. At the same time, there is an urgent need in increasing targeted socio-economic support for reindeer herders. Thus, I believe, the adoption of the Federal Law On nomadic family is long overdue in Russia. Such a law will preserve the traditional way of life of nomadic peoples and may become the basis for the further development of reindeer herding in Russia.

Журнал Арктические ведомости