Who Are the Nenets?

1. Where do the Nenet tribe live?

2. The Nenets are nomads. What does nomadic mean?

3. The Nenets rely on reindeer for their survival. Describe six ways in which the reindeer is important
to the Nenets.

4a. Explain why the Nenets migrate over 1000km every year.

4b. Why do you think travelling takes longer during the summer migration?

5. Describe the Nenets’ diet.

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 Who Are the Nenets?

6. Explain how the Nenets clothing helps them to survive the extreme cold.

7a. What is a chum?

b. What are the benefits of living in a chum?

8. Complete the table to show which roles belong to the men and the women.

Roles of Nenet Men Roles of Nenet Women

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Who Are the Nenets? Answers
1. Where do the Nenet tribe live?

The Nenets live on the Yamal Peninsula in Siberia, Russia.

2. The Nenets are nomads. What does nomadic mean?

Nomadic means moving from place to place.

3. The Nenets rely on reindeer for their survival. Describe six ways in which the reindeer is important
to the Nenets.

• The antlers are sold to China for medicine.

• The meat is sold to make money.

• The meat and blood is the main source of food for the Nenets.

• The reindeer skin is used to make the Nenets clothing and boots.

• The reindeer skin is used to make the chum.

• The reindeer pull the sledges which carry the chums, food and the Nenets belongings.

4a. Explain why the Nenets migrate over 1000km every year.

They migrate in search of the moss and lichen pastures which are the main food source for the
reindeer. In winter, the southern forests provide shelter from the storms.

4b. Why do you think travelling takes longer during the summer migration?

The reindeer have to pull the sled over grass instead of snow and ice which makes the journey slower.

5. Describe the Nenets’ diet.

The Nenets mainly eat reindeer meat and blood, raw and cooked fish and sometimes animals they
have hunted such as the Arctic fox.

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 Who Are the Nenets? Answers

6. Explain how the Nenets clothing helps them to survive the extreme cold.

The men wear a fur-lined poncho called a Malitsa, which is made of four reindeer skins which has a
hood and gloves. In extremely cold conditions the men wear another layer of reindeer fur which is
called a Gus. Women wear a Yagushka which is made from eight reindeer skins and is buttoned at the
front. The Nenets also wear long boots made from reindeer skin. This clothing allows them to survive
in temperatures of -50oC.

7a. What is a chum?

A tipi-like structure made up of long poles with reindeer skins stretched over them.

b. What are the benefits of living in a chum?

The chums can be packed up quickly during migration and transported easily on the sleds. The
reindeer skins provide warmth and shelter from the wind.

8. Complete the table to show which roles belong to the men and the women.

Roles of Nenet Men Roles of Nenet Women

Herd reindeer Cook
Find grazing land Fetch fresh water
Slaughter reindeer Make and repair clothes
Pack and unpack the chums
Look after children

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