This is a community of 60 people living in nine tents in the middle of a harsh, icy landscape. As snow covers the land, vegetation dies, and food becomes scarce. The Arctic is a land of extremes—deadly cold, endless darkness, and brutal isolation. Yet over the centuries, indigenous tribes have defied the elements, developing unique traditions to survive in the harsh conditions.
Spanning across Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Scandinavia, and Russia, these communities have incredible customs—from hunting in complete darkness to building homes out of ice. But some tribes take things a step further, like the Yupik.
For them, the world is not just about land and water, but also about spirit. The Yupik believe that everything in nature has a spirit, from majestic mountains to tiny fish. Their shamans can heal, communicate with the unseen, and even bring bad luck to those who disrupt the balance. Their core beliefs revolve around Elam Yua—the spirit of the universe, an invisible force that creates life.
Their culture is not only passed down orally, but is also portrayed through wood and ivory carvings, each with its own unique story. The enchanting dances at Potlatch ceremonies are not only a way to honor ancestors, but also a way to connect with the spirits.
Surviving in the Arctic requires more than luck; it requires extraordinary skill, knowledge, and endurance. The Yupik have mastered the land and the sea, hunting seals, walruses, and caribou with spears, harpoons, and kayaks. To survive the harsh winters, they build underground Kashim houses and Ena huts lined with animal skins to keep warm.
While the Yupik seek wisdom from the spirits of the land and sea, another tribe speaks the language of ice—the Nenets. They are masters of survival in the harsh Siberian tundra. Over the centuries, they have developed an extensive knowledge of snow, ice, and permafrost.
With their rich vocabulary of snow types, the Nenets can predict the weather, find the best pastures for their reindeer, and determine when it is safe to move. With climate change on the rise, this knowledge is more important than ever.
Changing weather patterns and melting ice are disrupting their migration routes and grazing lands, posing a serious threat to their traditional way of life. At the same time, industrial projects like the Yamal Mega Project are encroaching on their land, polluting and altering their habitat.
Other tribes are facing survival challenges, too. The Aleuts once had a rich culture, but when Russian traders arrived in the 18th century, things changed. It started as trade, but then became exploitation. They were forced to overhunt sea otters and seals, damaging the ecosystems they depended on.
Disease and war pushed them to the brink of extinction. From a community of 25,000, their population dwindled to just 2,000 by the end of the 19th century. The Unangam Tunuu language, once spoken by thousands, is now spoken fluently by only 109 people. Despite this, the Aleuts are still fighting to preserve their culture, reviving their language and traditions for future generations.
Like the Aleuts, the Koryaks face the loss of their culture due to outside influences. They live in harmony with nature, and decisions seem to be made communally rather than hierarchically. Their shamans play an important role, connecting people to the spirit world.
Reindeer are central to their lives, providing food, clothing, tools, and transportation. But outside interference, especially Soviet policies, have undermined their traditions. In 2007, the Koryak Autonomous Oblast was annexed by Kamchatka, depriving them of political voice and representation.
While the Koryak rely on reindeer, the Gwich’in have a sacred relationship with the caribou. They believe that caribou are not only a source of food but also a part of their identity and spirit. Their ancient stories tell of people and caribou as one, and they vow to always respect the animal.
Today, the Gwich’in not only hunt caribou, but also protect them. When oil companies threatened the caribou’s breeding grounds in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, they fought back. For them, it was not just an environmental issue, but also a matter of cultural survival.
Just as the Gwich’in people are deeply attached to the caribou, the Even and Evenki people of Siberia have a long-standing relationship with reindeer. Descended from ancient Tungusic tribes, they roamed the frozen landscapes, using reindeer as their primary means of transportation and food source.
They have a tradition of communal sharing—everyone participates in the hunt and makes sure no one is left behind. Elders and shamans play an important role, imparting wisdom and connecting people to the spirit world. However, like many other tribes, their language and culture are slowly disappearing due to the imposition of Russian culture.
But perhaps no tribe has a stronger spiritual connection to nature than the Yukaghir. They believe that the world is filled with spirits, from the sun to the fires in the hearth. At the center of their beliefs is Pugu, a sun god who acts as the guardian of morality and balance in the world.
The Yukaghir shamans, known as Almas, are the bridge between people and spirits. After death, they are revered as gods, with their remains kept as sacred relics. For them, death is not an end, but a new chapter in their spiritual journey.
They also believe that all animals have souls, and hunters must follow strict rules to respect them. Trees are also considered “brothers,” protected and revered in rituals.
In the Yukaghir worldview, even dreams have prophetic power. They believe that dreams can reveal changes in the weather or important events that are about to happen—things that can determine survival in the harsh Siberian environment.
These tribes, though living in different parts of the Arctic, have something in common: a deep connection to nature and an indomitable spirit in the face of adversity.
Over the years, despite the introduction of Russian Orthodoxy, many Yukagir people have retained and combined ancient shamanic beliefs with Christian teachings, creating a spiritual mosaic that blends old and new. This blend helps them preserve their heritage while adapting to a changing world.
The Yukagir heritage includes many traditional customs that have been passed down through the generations. Tundra dwellers became skilled reindeer herders, while forest dwellers developed masterful hunting and fishing skills. Their economy was tied to the rhythms of nature—they tracked reindeer and moose, fished in canoes, and foraged for edible plants to survive the short summers.
What is most remarkable about the Yukagir is their ability to adapt. Before the 1920s, they did not use metal tools, but crafted everything from hunting weapons and fishing gear to household items from wood, bone, and stone. Their homes reflected this ingenuity: in the winter, they built sturdy log houses or bark huts to withstand the harsh cold, and in the summer, they built lightweight tents of skin or leaves to make travel easier. For them, adaptation was not just a skill, but a way of life passed down from generation to generation.
The Yukagir have a deep spiritual connection to nature, but the story of indigenous peoples does not end there. In the far north, the Inuit have written their own survival story.
### **Life of the Inuit**
Imagine living in one of the harshest environments on Earth—the Arctic. For the Inuit, this icy landscape is not just a place to survive, but also a home.
Hunting is at the core of their lives, and they have developed incredible skills to adapt to the environment. They use harpoons to hunt marine animals, and bows and arrows to hunt land animals. Their connection to nature is evident in the way they build kayaks and umiaqs—larger boats—to navigate the sea ice.
However, for the Inuit, survival is not just about finding food. For example, every caribou hunt is put to good use: the meat is used for food, the skin is used for clothing, the fat is used to fuel oil lamps, and the bones are crafted into tools. Their clothing, made from caribou or seal skin, not only protects against the cold but also has aesthetic value, with decorative patterns that reflect the wearer’s identity.
Language also plays an important role in preserving Inuit culture. Inuktitut—their language in Canada—preserves ancient stories, values, and knowledge, connecting generations. Inuit art is also deeply meaningful, often depicting animals and scenes of daily life on soapstone, walrus ivory, and bone.
In terms of housing, the Inuit have unique ways to survive in the harsh climate. In the winter, they build igloos, which provide excellent insulation even when the weather is freezing outside. In the summer, they move into skin huts or houses made of stone and driftwood, located near hunting grounds or water sources.
Community spirit is the foundation of Inuit society. They share the spoils of their hunts to ensure that no one is left behind. Children are raised with patience and learn through observation rather than punishment. However, like many indigenous peoples, the Inuit face modern challenges. The shift from nomadic to settled lifestyles has left traditional food sources scarce, forcing many to rely on store-bought food, which is more expensive and less nutritious. Social problems such as alcoholism, high youth suicide rates, and mental health crises have also become a concern.
While the Inuit have conquered the harsh Arctic, in Siberia, the Khanty and Mansi tribes have a unique spiritual connection with nature.
### **The Khanty and Mansi: Beliefs and Rituals**
Deep in Siberia, the Khanty and Mansi tribes worship the bear as an ancestor, a guardian deity, and the son of the supreme being Num. In their eyes, the bear is a symbol of justice and strength.
Bear hunting is not just an act of survival, but also has deep spiritual significance. When a bear is killed, the Khanty and Mansi people hold a grand ceremony with singing, dancing and storytelling to honor its spirit. The bear skin is decorated with ribbons and placed in a prominent place in the home. This ritual not only helps the community come to terms with the animal’s death but also strengthens its bond with nature.
In Khanty and Mansi societies, traditions are passed down through the male line, shaping their social structure and rituals. Large communal ceremonies are held in special houses to preserve the culture. They believe that each mask and ceremonial costume tells a story that is centuries old. Shamans act as intermediaries between humans and the spirit world, demonstrating the connection between everyday life and religion.
Today, efforts to preserve their culture are gaining momentum, with the Khanty-Mansi autonomous region in Russia leading the way in protecting their heritage.
The Sami: Nomads of the North
In the frozen Sapmi region, which stretches across Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia’s Kola Peninsula, the Sami have survived for thousands of years. They originated around 10,000 years ago, shortly after the last Ice Age.
Before the 16th century, they lived by hunting, fishing, and gathering, following the natural cycle. However, around 1500, they began to domesticate reindeer, opening a new era in their history. Today, around 10,000 Sami still practice reindeer herding, a profession that is legally protected in Norway and Sweden.
Sami culture is also expressed through music and art. Yoik—one of the oldest forms of music in Europe—is used to honor people, animals, and nature. They also create elaborate crafts such as daaji (weaving, wood carving, and silver jewelry).
Despite many challenges, from loss of land to attempts at assimilation, the Sami have persisted in preserving their unique cultural identity, a testament to their resilience and incredible adaptability.
