The “Shepherds” of the Arctic Circle

Some people may think of Siberia as a wasteland of ice, snow and exiles. But the resourceful Nenets people know better. Their culture and their beloved reindeer provide a glimpse into a vibrant way of life that flourishes unexpectedly in the midst of this seemingly barren land.
 
The hardy reindeer are well-adapted to life in Siberia—the coldest inhabited place on earth. During the icy winter, their rugged hooves harden and become more concave to keep them from slipping. For extra warmth, God has clothed them with an under layer of wooly fur and a top layer of hollow fur that provides buoyancy in the water. Even when snow shrouds the land, a keen sense of smell enables hungry reindeer to sniff out lichens (called reindeer moss) for their supper. It’s as if God has equipped them with ice cleats, long johns, parkas, life jackets and food-seeking radar!

Following the reindeer

And as the reindeer are perfectly suited to live off the land, so the Nenets people of Siberia are well-suited to live off the reindeer. Since time untold, the Nenets have taken to their sleds to follow the majestic herds on their ancient migratory paths. So central are the reindeer to the Nenets way of life, that it has been said to follow a good Nenets epic, all you have to do is watch what happens to the lead reindeer! The reindeer sustain the Nenets in virtually every way, providing a source of food, shelter, transportation, wealth and clothing—the hides being the only garments that can protect the Nenets in temperatures of -60?F.

On this astonishing trek, the Nenets tend the reindeer, living in reindeer-skin chooms (similar to teepees), and feasting on venison and blood. Following the herds is no small task. The reindeer have an amazing power of endurance, with the ability to travel 40 miles a day pulling twice their weight on a sled.

While some people shudder at the thought of such an extreme lifestyle, some Nenets herders have a hard time picturing life any other way. In the early part of the 20th century, the Nenets were forced into fixed settlements and made to work on collective farms. Their children were often sent to state-run boarding schools, where they were separated from their families and even forbidden to speak their language. This lifestyle was totally at odds with their nomadic, clan-based culture. One Nenets man compared the fixedness of being in a village to being in prison. Today even when Nenets young people have received a formal education, many still hear the call of the tundra and the traditional way of life.

Overcoming Spiritual Darkness

But life with the reindeer does not provide everything the Nenets need. The winter darkness of Siberia contributes to the spiritual darkness of alcoholism and suicide. Peter, a Nenets preacher, knows the pain of suicide. After Peter’s brother died of a stroke, his father ended his own life. But despite his great losses, Peter still has a burden for others. At a ministry gathering, he preached a Nenets sermon, the first one many of the attendees had ever heard. Christian activities are usually offered in Russian, so for some, preaching the gospel in Nenets was an entirely new concept.

A Wycliffe couple from Australia and a Korean woman with the Russian Institute of Bible Translation are working to make more of God’s Word available in Nenets. Thanks to a coalition of ministries and churches, the Gospel of Luke has already been published, and audio Bible stories were distributed. In one town, an older Nenets man—who is speech-impaired following a stroke—ministers by having all his guests listen to the audio Bible stories with him. Left without a voice, this is how he tells others about Jesus.

Nenets hear the Lord's voice

Other Nenets believers are also enthusiastic about the Scripture translation. A shy Nenets woman eagerly offered her artistic skills to provide Nenets illustrations for Scripture publications. And a young mom used a book called Stories About Jesus to teach her three-year-old daughter the Lord’s Prayer in Nenets—her mother tongue.
 
Scripture translation is allowing for true Nenets worship, but some of the reindeer herders still rely on elaborate rituals to gain spirituality. The elders (of another group) recall one ceremony where people were thought to mount flying reindeer and journey to a land of joy and abundance in the sky. It was hoped that this quest would bring new life and salvation.

But now some of the reindeer herders have discovered a way to the heavenly kingdom and a sure salvation through Jesus Christ. Some still practice blood sacrifices and revere the reindeer. Others now trust in a different sacrifice. Thanks to Scriptures in their own language, many of the Nenets have heard the voice of the Lord that “makes the deer to calve.”*

* Psalm 29:9

(Story by Borghy Holm)

Photos for this story were provided by www.agaperu.org