The nomadic way of life of the Evenki in the taiga was based on their hunting and reindeer herding activities. Their yearly migration routes were determined by reindeer calving and mating areas as well as their seasonal hunting and fishing areas. The Evenki hunted a wide variety of game which included wild reindeer, moose, roe deer, mountain goats & Manchurian deer. During the winter they also hunted and trapped animals for fur, squirrels, sable and otter being the most common. In most of the areas they occupied their fishing was seasonal and included species like taimen, sturgeon, beluga and salmon.

Previously, The Evenki only bred reindeer for riding and for use as draught animals. Families did not have large herds, usually somewhere between 15 and 100 animals. Taking care of the reindeer involved changing pastures all the time, building fences during calving, lighting fires to keep away mosquitoes and midges, building sheds for shade, clipping antlers, neutering and treating sick reindeer. Domestic reindeer were only slaughtered if the family faced real hunger from unsuccessful hunting or fishing.

In the 20^th Century most of the nomadic Evenki settled down. On their migration routes, former camps were replaced by Russian settlements with wooden houses, and later concrete apartment blocks. Despite this many Evenki still spend at least part of the year out in the taiga following their traditional pursuits.

Food

Their basic diet comprised of game and fish. They preferred meat boiled with broth though they ate both fish and meat roasted on sticks. They also collected a variety of berries like crowberries, blue berries, raspberry and bilberries etc. During the summer they also milked reindeer which they churned into butter and added to tea made from red bilberries and rosehip. Once they began having regular contact with Russians in the 17^th Century, the Evenki had access to flour which initially they only used for soup but later learnt to bake bread. Nowadays most Evenki have access to shops selling an assortment of Russian foods.

Transport

Evenk reindeer are large and strong and they were the main form of transport. They mainly rode them rather than hitching them to sleds. In the winter months they also used broad skiis for travelling through the taiga. In the summer they made boats from wood and birch bark. Today, the Evenki still ride their reindeer when they are out in the taiga, but also used modern transport like snowmobiles and motor boats.

Religion

Some of the Evenki traditional beliefs such as animism, shamanism and magic have survived up to the present day. According to their belief concepts, the universe had 7 worlds: 3 heavens, the middle Earth and 3 underground worlds, united by a central pillar. The sky was seen as the ground of the higher world where reindeer herds grazed, a reindeer skin, or a cauldron turned upside down. The entrance to the higher world was by the North Star, while the nether worlds were reached though clefts, caves and whirlpools.

The Evenki developed a classical form of shamanism (the word shaman is of Tungusic origin). Shamans acted as mediums between people and spirits, and they flew around the worlds of the Universe in the shape of animals or their ancestor spirits with different aims: to cure the sick, to find lost things, to predict the future, to ensure plenty of offspring for their reindeer, to facilitate childbirth, or to accompany the soul of the deceased to the world of the dead. A shaman’s attire and paraphernalia played an important role. Their costumes were decorated with pendants and images. The also wore an iron crown with the antlers attached and played a traditional Shaman’s drum. According to their shamanistic beliefs, a person had several souls, and they all needed care and food: the soul-body had the shape of a little bird, the soul-life which was the person’s breath and the blood, and finally the soul-shadow, which was a person’s double image. Illness came from the evil spirit who had stolen one of the sick person’s souls or penetrated inside their body. A shaman’s task was to get the evil spirit out of the body or take the sick person’s soul from him. Shamans’ rites for ensuring good hunting were very important. The strongest shamans performed the rites to give the souls of the deceased a send off to the world of the dead. The Tungus shamans were regarded as the strongest in Siberia and even neighbouring peoples turned to them for help.

By the end of the 19^th Century most Evenki had converted to the Russian Orthodox faith, but even today, particularly in the older generations, many of their traditional beliefs linger alongside Christianity.

Clothing

Evenks clothing was designed for the environment and for the active life of riding reindeer and skiing. They were made from reindeer hide and the main item was a caftan that did not meet in the front. A special chestpiece or apron was therefore a necessary accessory. Women’s aprons were highly decorative and incorporated beads, fur strips and metal ornaments. They also and had straight lower edges while the men’s one ended in a point. The winter caftans were made of autumn reindeer skin and had mittens sewn onto the sleeves. Winter boots, of various lengths, were made from reindeer skin. Nowadays most Evenki wear factory produced clothes and only wear traditional clothing for festivals or holidays.

Social Problems

Even though the Evenki cover a vast area the social problems of unemployment, alcoholism and poverty are common throughout their territory. The root of these problems can be attributed to a loss of traditional lands and cultural.

Text © B & C Alexander