*Indigenous Information Center "L'auravetl'an"*
*A WAY OF LIFE THAT IS DYING*:
*Chukchee people threatened by loss of reindeer*
Ten years ago there were huge reindeer herds in the Chukchi Autonomous
region, neighbouring Alaska. Now there are probably 25% left. Reindeer
herding is not only a traditional activity of inland Chukchis, it is also
their traditional way of life. And it is dying now.
Geologists and miners destroyed huge territories of reindeer pastures.
Their negligence often causes wild fires that destroy moss - the main food
source for the reindeer.
The herders are chronically not getting paid. As a consequence of the
incredible poverty Indigenous communities are socially unstable. The
herders are giving away their reindeers for a bottle of vodka. Regional
and local administrations refuse to see and understand how critical the
situation is. As a result, overwhelming despair is spread throughout
Indigenous communities. The despair leads to apathy and passiveness.
Young people do not want to stay in the tundra or small communities -
there is no money. They move to a bigger villages or towns, can not find
their place in those communities, begin to drink and lose any desire and
ability to work.
The herders are living a dismal life - barely any food (save for reindeer
meat), no gear, no candles, etc. The old people are waiting for the end of
their lives with the bitter feeling that there is no one to pass on their
knowledge, their way of life.
There is an increase in birth defects. Suicides and alcohol related
accidents are the major cause of death for the 30 - 35 year olds.
The perverted and ugly Russian rendition of market economy is destroying
not only the Indigenous population of the Chukchi region but non-
indigenous as well. The spiritual and moral degradation is spreading as
cancer.
It is an obligation of federal government to make sure that people get
paid, that with every passing day we live better not worse, that our
communities and our society at large are getting socially stable.
And the last, but not the least - there must be strict control over the
import and sale of alcohol in Indigenous territories.
The Chukchi people, as all peoples, want to live in dignity.
Yelena Montada
Chukchi
Pevek
*For how long will the Aion islanders continue to exist?*
Aion is an island in East Siberian sea, near the Chaun bay. Its territory
is about 2000 km2. Its climate - arctic tundra. The total population is
450 people. The indigenous population (Chukchi) is 250. Out of these are
150 children under 18 years of age. The traditional activity of Chukchis
is reindeer herding. There is also a polar weather station, a school
(grades 1 through 9) and a kindergarten. 33 people are officially
unemployed. 85 people (including the retired) are herding reindeers. The
retirees receive only their pensions and no salary. An average pension is
350-400 000 Rubles. One kilo of meat costs 30.000 Rubles, sugar - 10.000
Rubles, bread - 6.800 Rubles, butter - 30.000 Rubles, sausage - from
30.000 to 60.000 Rubles.
There are no medications on the island and no money to buy it. The village
with its two stories buildings looks out of place in the tundra. They are
cold and uncomfortable. The common boiler plant for the village is old and
dilapidated. There is no money to build the new one.
Supplies deliveries are done in the most convoluted way - a freight ship
comes to the island, by helicopter containers with supplies are brought to
the shore. The cost is exuberant! [ I think they mean to say "exorbitant."
--Gary ]
The island's population and administration are trying to work out a
solution through the regional administration. But one is obvious - only
with the state's direct attention and support, only through a working
practical mechanism of implementation of that support, only with a strict
control over federal funds expenditure it is possible to improve the
situation.
Equally obvious is also a simple fact that nobody will do anything for us,
if our people ourselves do not do a thing to make our lives better.
After all, the constant support leads to impotence and to infantile
attitude to ones own fate.
Yelena Montada
Chukchi
L'auravetl'an Indigenous Information Center
********************
Our contact address for recipients outside of Russia is:
L'auravetl'an Indigenous Information Center
c/o L'auravetl'an Foundation
Heiligkreuz 40
P.O. Box 39
FL-9490 Vaduz
Liechtenstein
Fax: 41-75-237 45 46
e-mail: 106224.747@compuserve.com