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The Reindeer People: Living With Animals And Spirits in Siberia,New
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Since the last Ice Age, the reindeer's extraordinary adaptation to cold has sustained human life over vast tracts of the earth's surface, providing meat, fur, and transport. Images carved into rocks and tattooed on the skin of mummies hint at ancient ideas about the reindeer's magical ability to carry the human soul on flights to the sun. These images pose one of the great mysteries of prehistory: the 'reindeer revolution,' in which Siberian native peoples tamed and saddled a species they had previously hunted.Drawing on nearly twenty years of field work among the Eveny in northeast Siberia, Piers Vitebsky shows how Eveny social relations are formed through an intense partnership with these extraordinary animals as they migrate over the swamps, ice sheets, and mountain peaks of what in winter is the coldest inhabited region in the world. He reveals how indigenous ways of knowing involve a symbiotic ecology of mood between humans and reindeer, and he opens up an unprecedented understanding of nomadic movement, place, memory, habit, and innovation.The Soviets' attempts to settle the nomads in villages undermined their selfreliance and mutual support. In an account both harrowing and funny, Vitebsky shows the Eveny's ambivalence toward productivity plans and medals and their subversion of political meetings designed to control them. The narrative gives a detailed and tender picture of how reindeer can act out or transform a person's destiny and of how prophetic dreaming about reindeer fills a gap left by the failed assurances of the state.Vitebsky explores the Eveny experience of the cruelty of history through the unfolding and intertwining of their personal lives. The interplay of domestic life and power politics is both intimate and epic, as the reader follows the diverging fate of three charismatic but very different herding families through dangerous political and economic reforms. The book's gallery of unforgettable personalities includes shamans, psychics, wolves, bears, dogs, Communist Party bosses, daredevil aviators, fire and river spirits, and buried ancestors. The Reindeer People is a vivid and moving testimony to a Siberian native people's endurance and humor at the ecological limits of human existence.
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- Q: What is 'The Reindeer People' about? A: 'The Reindeer People: Living With Animals And Spirits in Siberia' explores the unique relationship between the Eveny people of Siberia and reindeer, detailing their survival, cultural practices, and the impact of historical events on their nomadic lifestyle.
- Q: Who is the author of 'The Reindeer People'? A: The book is authored by Piers Vitebsky, who has conducted nearly twenty years of fieldwork among the Eveny in northeast Siberia.
- Q: What is the format of this book? A: 'The Reindeer People' is available in hardcover format, providing durability and a quality reading experience.
- Q: How many pages does 'The Reindeer People' have? A: The book contains 464 pages, offering an in-depth look into the lives of the Eveny people and their relationship with reindeer.
- Q: What edition of the book is available? A: 'The Reindeer People' is available in its first edition, published on January 1, 2005.
- Q: Is this book suitable for academic research? A: Yes, 'The Reindeer People' is well-suited for academic research, particularly in anthropology, sociology, and environmental studies, due to its detailed exploration of indigenous cultures and ecological interactions.
- Q: What themes are explored in this book? A: The book explores themes such as the symbiotic relationship between humans and animals, the effects of political changes on indigenous lifestyles, and the cultural significance of reindeer in the Eveny way of life.
- Q: Can I expect personal stories in 'The Reindeer People'? A: Yes, the narrative includes personal stories and experiences of the Eveny people, providing a vivid and emotional understanding of their resilience and cultural identity.
- Q: What condition is the used book in? A: 'The Reindeer People' is described as a used book in good condition, which means it may show some signs of wear but is still suitable for reading.
- Q: What makes this book unique compared to other ethnographies? A: 'The Reindeer People' stands out due to its intimate portrayal of the Eveny people's lives, blending personal narratives with broader historical and cultural analysis, making it both informative and engaging.