The Dukha milk their reindeer and live in small tipis on the tundra. When their camps have to be moved, they use the reindeers as pack animals and ride them as well. The Dukha population is tiny, consisting of only about 37 nomadic families (180 people) divided into two groups who live in the mountains of northern Mongolia, west of the large Lake Khovsgol. One must constantly fight to stay balanced when riding a reindeer. If you move too far to one side, the saddle will slide, and suddenly you will find yourself on the ground, while the reindeer continues at a gallop across the tundra! The pictures are from two trips to the area in 1995 and 2014. Despite the many years between trips, there is not much difference in the nomadic way of life. |
 The children have learnt to entertain themselves (1995) |
 Inside the tent. Note the cheese made from reindeer milk, which hangs above the children (1995) |
 Ready for departure! (1995) |
 The women prepare the food and look after the children (1995) |
| |
 The men are looking after the reindeer (1995) |
 The reindeers are gathered every evening to avoid attacks from wolves during night (1995) |
 It’s forbidden to hang with one foot in the stirrup – you have to get on the reindeer in one jump not to scare it! (1995) |
 The summer weather is usually nice and mild, but in the winter the temperature can drop to minus 50 degrees Celsius (1995) |
| |
 The Dukha people
have their own language, which the children learn before Mongolian (1995) |
 The leader of the nomad group riding the white
leading reindeer (1995) |
 Milking of the reindeers take place both morning
and evening (1995) |
 Both men and women
help to load the
reindeers (1995) |
| |
 A reindeer loaded with the nomad’s luggage (1995) |
 Me (to the right) in a lucky moment! (1995) |
 The reindeer’s broad hooves bear perfectly on the soft grass ground, but the walk feels uncomfortable for the rider (1995) |
 It requires much practise to ride a reindeer (1995) |
| |
 The nomads move their camp up to ten times a year to find new pastures
for the reindeers (1995) |
 Loading a reindeer
before moving the camp (1995) |
 By sunset about 150 reindeers are gathered for the night (1995) |
 Right from childhood, the nomads learn to ride a reindeer (1995) |
| |
 Summer camp in a valley close to the tree line (2014) |
 The reindeer are tied for the night in the camp to avoid wolf attacks (2014) |
 Putting up the nomads' tents (2014) |
 Only a few reindeer are completely white (2014) |
| |
 Every tent holds a family with up to 5-6 people (2014) |
 An orphaned reindeer calf is fed with milk (2014) |
 Homemade cheese from reindeer milk (2014) |
 Tied up for the night - close to the camp and far away from the wolves (2014) |
| |
 A spirit bag that connects with spirits and ancestors (2014) |
 The big antlers are lost every year, but grow out again (2014) |
 The oldest member of the nomad group (2014) |
 The nomad group's shaman is standing to the right (2014) |
| |
 Nowadays, most families have parabolic antenna and TV (2014) |
 The nomads are also good horse riders (2014) |
 The mountains in the background border with Tuva in Russia (2014) |
 Milking of reindeer (2014) |
| |
 Most of the milk is reserved for the reindeer's own calves (2014) |
 Putting up the nomads' tents (2014) |
 The firewood in the background is used for cooking (2014) |
 The oldest member of the nomad group (2014) |
| |
 No kindergarten, but lots of playmates! (2014) |
 The big antlers are lost every year, but grow out again (2014) |
 Cooking takes place over small stoves, which also provide heat in the tents (2014) |
 Siesta in the camp! (2014) |
| |
 Assembling of reindeer for milking (2014) |
 The nomads ride long distances on the reindeer, but most often in winter time(2014) |
 Mosquitoes can be a nuisance to the reindeer (2014) |
 Let's drink for the guests! (2014) |
| |
 Uninvited guests in the tent! (2014) |
 The first sunbeams of the day hit the camp (2014) |
