Reindeer tribe

Photographer focuses on culture of Ewenki ethnic group

Ewenki means “people living in the mountains and forests” in their ethnic language. There are three main branches of the Ewenki people in China, the Suolun, the Tunguska and the Reindeer Ewenki. Another unsourced explanation says that Ewenki means people living on the southern slopes. The above two explanations show that the Ewenki people are hunting people in the forest. With the course of time, some of the branches moved out of the mountains to the grasslands and river valleys, while some remained in the mountains.

The Reindeer Ewenki tribe living in Aoluguya Ewenki ethnic township, Genhe city, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, are a special ethnic minority group that entered the socialist society directly from the end of primitive society. Historically known as “the last hunting tribe”, they are also the only ethnic group in China that raises reindeer and preserves the reindeer culture.

With the advancement of modern civilization, huge changes are taking place among the Reindeer Ewenki population and in the “cultural environment” in which they live. The continuation and development of their ethnic culture have been strongly impacted by modern civilization. Nowadays, there are only about 30 people representing the last generation of Reindeer Ewenki, and a very small number of them still maintain a relatively primitive and natural lifestyle. They are an important part of the Pan-Arctic Circle culture.

According to historical records, the ancestors of the Deer Ewenki people lived in the tundra highlands in the upper reaches of the Nercha River in the northeastern part of Lake Baikal in 2000 BC. By the 18th century, this branch of the Deer Ewenki people migrated along the Shilka River to the Greater Khingan Mountains on the right bank of the Ergun River. The Greater Khingan Mountains is located in the northeastern part of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. The winter here is long and cold with the lowest temperature reaches minus 50 C.

The topographic feature consisting of high mountains and dense forests results in rich natural resources. Under such an extreme natural environment, the Ewenki people rely on herding. Reindeer raising and traditional hunting have secured them to a self-sufficient life in the mountains and forests. Eating animal meat, wearing animal skins, and living in the dense forest with traditional “Cuoluozi”, spire house built with wooden poles, characterize their unique ethnic culture and lifestyle.

The Ewenki people cannot live without reindeer. Their clothes, shoes and hats, and the leather cushions in “Cuoluozi” where they live are all made of reindeer skin. The Ewenki people grow up drinking rich and nutritious reindeer milk. Their staple food is dried meat and reindeer milk served with Russian bread.

However, the modern society has been penetrated in all sides of the social life, which deeply impacts the progress of the Reindeer Ewenki people with their unique culture, and they are facing relentless challenges. The last old chief of the Ewenki tribe, Maria Suo once said, “As long as there are tribal elders and reindeers in the forests of the Greater Khingan Mountains, there will be ancient reindeer civilization.” Today, the younger generation of the Reindeer Ewenki people have chosen modern lifestyle down the mountain, and they have gradually forgotten their ethnic language and traditional culture. The reindeer culture, hunting culture, birch bark culture and shaman culture handed down for thousands of years are gradually disappearing.

Clockwise from top left: Mani, born in 1950, was elected as the deputy head of Aoluguya Ewenki ethnic township. She is one of the few female officials of the Ewenki ethnic group; Liuxia, born in 1963, followed her mother to raise reindeers. She returned to the forest to herd reindeers until today after a short period of schooling; Bu Dongxia, born in 1976, has strong hunting and reindeer breeding skills. After high school, she chose to return to the forest to raise reindeer to develop tourism; Anta Bu, born in 1944, started raising reindeers alone at the age of 12. Her handmade traditional Ewenki deerskin boots, gloves and coats have been collected by many overseas museums.

Maria Suo, born in 1921, leads her people to raise the only reindeer population in China in the deep mountains and forests of the Greater Khingan Mountains. She is the most representative figure in the tribe.

Suoyulan makes Russian bread in the settlement of Aoluguya Ewenki ethnic township. The bread, made from flour and reindeer milk, is the traditional staple food of the Ewenki people.

The daughter of hunter Suoyun presents a pair of reindeer antlers. Adult male deer usually produces rubs in late summer when the outer velvet layer is being shed from their antlers.

Dawa and his wife saw antlers. The antler harvest season is between April and May. Reindeer is the main support and source of funds for the production of reindeer Ewenki people.

Dawa fetches water near a settlement in the Greater Khingan Mountains. In May when the ice has not melted, the Deer Ewenki people often migrate to areas with rich moss resources.

Gegejun transfers his reindeers to the hinterland. The Deer Ewenki people have lived in the deep mountains and dense forests. Their lifestyle is semi-nomadic without a fixed residence.

Hunter Suobin uses a “deer whistle” to summon wild deers at the reindeer spot in the hinterland of the Greater Khingan Mountains. This is the only deer whistle left in this reindeer tribe.

Liuxia, the hunter, feeds salt to the reindeers in the hinterland of the Greater Khingan Mountains. Salt is necessary for reindeers to supplement sodium to maintain their blood pressure.

Gugejun, the hunter, caresses a reindeer. The reindeers grazing in the mountains often face threats from bears, lynx and poachers, which results in reproduction problem of reindeers.