III DUKHA

DUKHA - Mongolia, 2004, 2007
The Dukha reindeer nomads live under extreme circumstances in the wooded taiga of Northern Mongolia. During the winter months, the temperatures can fall to 50 degrees below zero. On Baruun (Western) and Zuun (Eastern) Taiga, there still live a total of forty-one families. The families travel along with the reindeer that go in search of food and move ever further into the taiga.

In 1960, the Communist regime forced the majority of Dukha to give up their nomadic existence. The reindeer shepherds had to settle in two collectives. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the shepherds themselves chose once again to go and live in the taiga with their reindeer.