Anna Nerkagi gave instructions from tundra dwellers to deputies

In the ethnographic camp “Land of hope” the well-known writer, a social activist, who enjoys absolute authority among indigenous residents, Anna Nerkagi gave instructions from tundra dwellers to the chairman of the Legislative Assembly of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug Sergey Yamkin. He was on a working trip around Priuralskiy district.

Among the suggestions there is a request to include the profession “choum rabotnitsa” in the All-Russian classifier of working professions, positions of employees and tariff categories. According to the press service of the regional parliament, now this profession is officially called “a reindeer herder of the 3rd category”. (The note: a choum rabotnitsa or a choum-keeper, a reindeer herder’s wife working in a choum, running household and helping in reindeer herding and other work; a choum is a traditional home of nomads, reindeer herders; it is similar to a tepee).

“Women in tundra help their husbands graze reindeer and protect a herd, travel together with them. It is hard work, and not everyone wants to do it today. If the status of “choum rabotnitsa” is legalized, it will help to return a woman to tundra. We are grateful for the benefits for indigenous ethnic minorities of the North; however, they create attractive conditions for living in settlements and, consequently, increase migration of tundra dwellers to populated localities. A guaranteed salary for women’s everyday contribution to reindeer husbandry will help preserve the traditional way of life of nomads”, she explained.

Anna Nerkagi is the initiator of organizing of nomadic education; she thanked the regional authorities for implementation of the “nomadic school” model. The alternative form of education allows giving a child high-quality knowledge and at the same time maintaining connection with parents for as long as possible. Subsequently it improves adaptation of children in boarding schools. However, she notes that the project needs further support. Introduction of the federal law on nomadic education will allow receiving such support. Today more than 200 tundra children are enrolled in nomadic education in Yamal, and 17 kindergartens and schools operate in nomadic areas.

Sergey Yamkin explained that the regional authorities had prepared the draft federal law establishing the nomadic form of education. The innovation is significant for many Russian regions, and the legislative initiative is under consideration by the working group in the Ministry of education of Russia.

In addition, tundra dwellers are asking for legislating of the notion “a social traveling worker”, what will allow those people, who take care of disabled and elderly people living in nomadic camps, to claim for monthly allowances.

Anna Nerkagi and Sergey Yamkin also discussed other significant issues.