Sleigh-ing it! - Indigenous communities celebrate 'Reindeer Herder’s Day' in Russia's Far North

"The traditional Reindeer Herder’s Day celebrations began on Saturday in the village of Tukhard in Russia’s Far North, bringing together indigenous communities from across the region. Footage shows participants racing reindeer-drawn sledges, with organisers saying around 70 people took part in the competition. "Reindeer are everything to indigenous peoples: they provide shelter, transport, food and, ultimately, clothing. On Reindeer Herder’s Day, the whole Taymyr community gathers as one big family to chat and catch up," said Elena Evay, a local. "There’s a certain atmosphere about it, people expect something good and kind to happen on this very day, this holiday," she added. Taymyrsky Dolgano-Nenetsky district head Alexei Chlenov said the celebration remains a key part of the region’s cultural calendar. "It is a tradition that brings together reindeer herders, who spend most of their time living in the tundra with their small families. Today, they have all gathered to catch up, welcome in spring and take part in competitions," he said. Further celebrations are scheduled in nearby settlements, including Potapovo, Novorybnaya, Syndassko, Nosok and Popigai in early April. First introduced in the 1950s, Reindeer Herder’s Day remains widely celebrated among indigenous peoples in Russia’s northern regions."

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