Tsaatans, Mongolia

The Tsaatan nomads from Mongolia live like no one else. They inhabit Darkhad Valley, their number was 282 people in 2010. Over the past 50 years it has reduced by half. Even in 1965, the tribe consisted of 455 people. Tsaatan people are experienced reindeer herders. They live in their traditional tents named ‘yurts’. Contacts with tourists give them an opportunity to earn extra money from the sale of handicrafts.

The Tsaatan tribe is extremely friendly to foreigners. They are happy to dedicate people from other countries to their culture. Riding reindeers is a major attraction for many tourists. The Tsaatan nomads confess shamanism. They passed the sacred texts verbally on from generation to generation. In 1981 a real tragedy occured in the tribe, Shaman was arrested for the promotion of banned religious activities. After the release from prison he was unable to start his previous activities. Since 1981 there is no Shaman in the tribe. That’s what the Tsaatan consider the main reason of all their failures and rapid population decline.

Reindeer is the main breadwinner in the family. The community’s chores and activities are centred around the care and feeding of their deers. Deers provide them with milk which is used to make cheese and sour cream. Regular quail hunting and a wild-goose chase is helping them to provide their families with game. The Tsaatan have also a contextual alcoholic drink, it’s ‘arak’. This small population is on the verge of extinction nowadays. More and more young tribal people choose to go to cities, and older people spend last days of their life among the desert Mongolian steppes. To the beginning - Surma People