Mongolia's Nomads

Book excerpt: A look inside one of the world's last truly nomadic cultures--Mongolia's Nomads. For millennia, pastoral herders have lived on the Mongolian steppe, moving with their livestock according to the seasons. But today, Mongolia is on the fast track for change: desertification and climate change are threatening nomadic life, destroying both herds and pastures. Meanwhile, with some of the world's largest reserves in coal, copper, and gold, Mongolia is becoming one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Nomads now face a choice that will shape the future of Mongolia: withstand the increasingly harsh weather and drying pastures, or give up herding in search of new opportunties. Already, tens of thousands have moved to Ulaanbaatar, the capital, where the ger (yurt) camps that ring the city now house permanent populations of displaced nomads living without running water, sanitation, or a tangible use for the herding skills they practiced on the steppes. The Vanishing Cultures Project traveled to Mongolia to document the ancient traditions of nomads and to understand their current struggles. Proceeds from the sales of this documentary work will go back to the nomadic community to support cultural programs and initiatives. The Vanishing Cultures Project partners with rapidly changing traditional and indigenous cultures to safeguard cultural values and practices, collaborating to document lifestyles and traditions, compile an open digital archive, educate the public about global diversity, and fund indigenous cultural initiatives. To find out more, please visit www.vcproject.org.