Siberia Caught between Collapse and Continuity

Siberia is legendary: vast expanses of land, crisp cold, punishment camps, but also apparently inexhaustible natural riches and mineral resources. For some of the indigenous “Peoples of the North” who live there, reindeer herding, together with hunting and fishing, is still a core element of everyday life. The Siberia Project Group at the MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY in Halle is investigating how this has changed since the collapse of the Soviet Union. DR. PATTY A. GRAY and FLORIAN STAMMLER, members of the group situated within Prof. Chris Hann’s department, describe results from their analysis of Yamal and Chukotka