Reindeer Blog

(Pic – Moscow Times, Kopin sworn in, as Abramovich watches) Yesterday, the new Governor of Chukotka (Roman Kopin) was sworn in and not long afterwards, the former Governor Roman Abramovich – whose personal riches completely transformed the province’s fortunes – announced that he would be running for the post of speaker in the Chukotka Duma. [...]

While this story might seem more appropriate elsewhere, for the residents of Chukotka, the majority of whom are Chukchi (there are also Yupik, Yukaghir, Even and others) several thousand are engaged in reindeer husbandry, it it is important news. The collapse of the Soviet Union was a disaster for Chukchi reindeer husbandry, and the decline [...]

The old plan of a tunnel between Chukotka and Alaska was in the news again, as it was reported that Roman Abramovich, Chukotka’s Goveror (pictured here with reindeer – Chukotka is intending to again become one of world’s great regions of reindeer husbandry, after a disastrous 1990′s) had purchased the world’s largest drill. Abramovich denies [...]

“There are nine time zones and several thousand kilometres between Moscow and Chukotka. But it’s just a 40-minute flight from Alaska.” This article discusses Chukotka and the impacts of Abramovich’s policies as Governor. There is also a video interview with Tatyana Achirgina, who was a participant in the recent EALAT / Aween seminar and workshop in [...]