The Arctic Research Center has completed an expedition to the Yamal District of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area, a statement on the official website of the local authorities reads. During an18 day long expedition, the participants covered 1.500 kilometers on snowmobile sleighs to collect objective information about the socioeconomic factors of life of the indigenous minorities of the North who are leading a traditional lifestyle.

The researchers managed to visit 88 reindeer herder families, whose nomad routes cover almost the entire Yamal District. Head of the Yamal sociological lab, junior researcher at the Arctic Research Center and the West Siberian branch of the Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences Valery Kibenko and junior researcher of the Arctic Research Center Sergei Zuyev wrote a socio-demographic passport of households, collected information on food and material and technology benefits enjoyed by the families, their economic status, and basic needs for food, reindeer products, machinery and so on. They also interviewed the herders about the state of the pastures, the problems of modern reindeer husbandry, life strategies of nomadic families, their relations with the authorities and  industrial enterprises, medical care and other services.

Now the researchers will have to systematize and analyze the data collected and prepare analytical material, reports and a final report. The results of their research will be in demand when developing the concept of stimulating deer breeding in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area and other documents.

The expedition was held with the support of the Arktika Expedition Center.