Nenets

The Nenets are an indigenous people of the Arctic region in northern Russia. Traditionally, they are semi-nomadic herders and hunters who move seasonally across tundra and coastal areas. Their historic homeland centers on the Barents Sea coast, notably the area of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, with communities also found in parts of Yamalo-Nenets and Arkhangelsk regions.

Language and identity: The Nenets speak Nenets languages, part of the Samoyedic branch of the Uralic language family. There are two main dialect groups, commonly referred to as Tundra Nenets and Forest Nenets, each with several subdialects. In modern times many Nenets are bilingual in Russian, and language maintenance varies by community, with ongoing efforts to preserve linguistic and cultural traditions.

Culture and economy: Reindeer herding remains central to traditional life, with seasonal migrations between summer and winter pastures. Communities often live in portable tents known as chums, using reindeer and dogs for transport and subsistence. The economy blends subsistence activities—reindeer meat, milk, fish—and wage labor, along with increasing involvement in regional industries such as oil and gas development in the Arctic.

History and contemporary status: Contact with Russian authorities over the centuries, along with Soviet-era policies, shaped settlement patterns and land use. Today the Nenets are recognized as an indigenous people within the Russian Federation, with certain rights to traditional lands. Modern challenges include balancing economic development with mobility for herding, climate change impacts on pasture and water, and efforts to preserve Nenets language and culture.

Religion and belief: Traditional shamanistic practices persist in some communities, while others identify with Orthodox Christianity or maintain syncretic beliefs alongside indigenous traditions.