Arctic Reindeer Herding and Ecology: When Economy is Impossible without Safeguarding Ethnocultural Distinctiveness

Abstract

The paper considers environmental issues related to the field of agriculture in the Russian Arctic exemplified by the research into statutory regulation of economic, cultural and ecological aspects of reindeer herding by a small-numbered indigenous people called the Nenets. Using the example of the Nenets Autonomous Area, the authors provide insight into the measures implemented to control the deer-feeding capacity of pastures for the purposes of sustainable use. The article gives an estimate as to the promptness of actions taken to prevent the loss of cattle across the Yamal Peninsula due to the spread of Siberian plague. While giving prominence to the successful regional practices of Yakutia, the authors also emphasize the necessity for the introduction of amendments to the Russian legislation regarding the procedure of ethnological expert examination to the extent that it shall include the opinions given by the officials of organizations representing the interests of small-numbered indigenous peoples inhabiting the territory in question. A legislative gap in the above-mentioned field results in emergency measures replacing preventive measures in the face of potential anthropogenic disasters similar to the one which took place in Norilsk in the summer of 2020. One of the authors was born in the Kanin tundra of the Nenets Autonomous Area and represents an indigenous and nomadic Nenets people.