A nomadic existence

In northern Mongolia’s Khovsgol province, about 50km south of the Russian border, resides one of the smallest ethnic minority groups in the world. With a population of about 300, the Dukha community live as reindeer herders in the snow forest, or taiga.

In the winter, the taiga is blanketed in deep snow, its coniferous trees are stripped bare of all greenery and the biting wind chill can push temperatures down to -50C.

But life continues for the nomadic Dukha, referred to as “Tsaatan” in the Mongolian language, which translates directly as “reindeer people.” They arrange their day-to-day existence around the needs of their herds, moving between seasonal camps within the taiga. Reindeers enjoy brisk weather, and so during the summer, the community seeks out higher, windier elevations; in the winter, they set up nearer to areas where the snow is abundant.

They have traditionally resided in teepees – known as ortz – to suit their nomadic lifestyle. Held up by sturdy wooden staffs and wrapped with a cloth canvas for shelter, the ortz and everything within it can be packed away swiftly. Yet more and more, some families have chosen to build wooden cabins in their winter spots to stave off the bitter cold.