The Right Bank of the Erguna River
At 90 years old, the last remaining elder of the Evenki reindeer herders on the right bank of the Erguna River has witnessed the slow fading of her way of life. From her cozy chum (traditional tent), she recounts generations of tribal history: the sacred bond with reindeer—their gentle strength, their role as both livelihood and family—the tragic sacrifices of shamans who trade their own children’s lives to heal the sick, love stories that defy clan rules, and the quiet heartbreak of watching her people abandon the forest for settled town life. She refuses to leave, clinging to the crackling fire, the sound of reindeer bells, and the wisdom of the land that shaped her. This intimate, gritty memoir captures a culture on the brink, honoring the resilience of a people tied to every tree, river, and star.