Abstract

This paper explores the relation between sedentarization and the decrease in pastoral mobility in cases of complete (Kola Peninsula, northwest of European Russia) and partial (Bolshezemelskaya tundra, north-east of European Russia) sedentarization in reindeer herding nomads. It is demonstrated that, in both cases, sedentarization meant not so much (if at all) a decrease in mobility, but rather a change of its kind or aspect. While the so-called macro-mobility, the movement of nomads with their herds, has indeed decreased or even disappeared, the micro-mobility of nomads related to maintaining their control over herds has significantly increased. This increase was made possible by using snowmobiles, which represent a relatively new method of transportation among reindeer pastoralists in Russia. It seems like “trading” the micro-mobility for the macro-mobility represents an essential condition for maintaining reindeer pastoralism as a viable livelihood. It is concluded that since sedentarization is understood to mean a decrease or disappearance of the macro-mobility—the examples of sedentarization of reindeer herding nomads seem to suggest exactly that—it represents a cultural and social phenomenon, but perhaps not so much an economic one. From the viewpoint of the relation among people, animals and pasturelands (environment), that is, the pastoral economy per se, the difference between nomadic and sedentary pastoralism can be that of the ratio between micro- and macro-mobility. In other words, it is a difference in degree rather than in kind.