Reindeer Chukchi

The Chukchi are an Indigenous people inhabiting the northeasternmost part of Siberia, specifically the Chukotskiy autonomous okrug in Russia. They are divided into two main subgroups: reindeer Chukchi and maritime Chukchi.1

The reindeer Chukchi traditionally relied on domesticated reindeer for transportation, food, and materials for clothing and shelter. They were nomadic, living in tents and moving with their herds. The maritime Chukchi lived along the Arctic and Bering coasts, subsisting on hunting sea mammals like walrus, seals, and whales, as well as fishing. They resided in fixed, semisubterranean homes.1

Both groups speak a Luorawetlan language and are culturally related to the Koryak and Itelmen peoples. Their traditional dwellings and transportation methods, such as sledges pulled by reindeer or dogs, were adapted to their respective environments and subsistence patterns. Their religious beliefs centered on invisible spirits, with sacrifices and shamanist ceremonies playing important roles. Following the Russian Revolution, the Chukchi were settled onto collective farms.1