Reindeer herders cannot sit at home. Self-isolation in the Yamal style

It is the time, when nomadic peoples of the North are driving their reindeer to summer pastures. The head of Priuralskiy district Ivan Sakal is sharing an impressive video of such event. Huge “rivers” of reindeer are flowing on the spring dark snow. It is surprising that only two people and dogs are coping with them.  

“Reindeer herders are going north. Away from the pandemic. Today, near Aksarka, reindeer herders of the 8^th brigade of the state farm “Baydaratsky” crossed the Ob River safely. Leonid Taishin is the foreman. We wish them a happy travel. And let everyone be healthy,” Sakal wrote.

It is worth noting that self-isolation in tundra in a choum is impossible for obvious reasons. (The note: a choum is a dwelling of nomads, reindeer herders; it is a tent covered with reindeer hides and similar to a tepee). The whole life of a tundra dweller is spent in the open air. At that, some peoples believe that a choum can protect them from all threats.

“The paradox is that we cannot stay inside all the time. Self-isolation in this form is impossible. After breakfast a nomad should no longer enjoy comfort of the choum. He has to pasture reindeer, to chop wood, to melt ice to receive water, and so on. But even when he drops in the choum for lunch, he is sure that this dome will protect him for long time. There is always fire of the hearth, which forever smoked the walls and left no room for the virus”, an old resident, the honored citizen of Yamal Khabecha Yaungad told a correspondent of the news agency “Sever-Press”. 

The recommendations of caution in this case include limitation of visits to populated areas unless absolutely necessary. Tundra-dwellers are informed that in such difficult times it is better to avoid visiting settlements, and it needs to buy food and basic necessities at trading posts.

The video can be found here: https://sever-press.ru/2020/04/24/olenevody-ne-mogut-sidet-doma-samoizoljacija-po-jamalski-video/