Taiga Nomads Part two: The Skills You Passed On A documentary series about the Evenki of Siberia.

Directors: Jouko Aaltonen, Heimo Lappalainen
Cinematographer: Pertti Veijalainen
Sound & Editing: Jouko Aaltonen
Production: Illume LTD, 1992

Nikolai, Sasha, Svetlana, Pasha, Galya... Different branches of the Armchemku family live in the heartland of Siberia, on the eastern side of the Yenisey River, in the midst of the endless taiga. They are Evenki (Tungus), nomadic reindeer herders and hunters. Following the different seasons of the year they roam the taiga with their reindeer, through the long, bitter winter and the short hot summer. Their way of life is still traditional, although the number of Evenki speaking people is diminishing continually and the old clan organization is vanishing. There is conflict between the Evenki way of life, a culture in close contact with nature, and the ways of the rest of society. The dominant culture does not always leave enough room for alternative ways of life.

TAIGA NOMADS is a film series about people who have adjusted to life in harsh conditions and whom the taiga is home. Through three generations the series gives a picture of the past, the present, and the future. The film crew lived with the main characters in the films closely following their lives during all the seasons in the vast Taiga area.

Jouko Aaltonen

JOUKO AALTONEN (b. 1956), producer & director. Jouko graduated from the Film Department, University of Industrial Arts, Helsinki, 1984. He has worked in various capacities of film making such as director, producer, editor, and scriptwriter. Among his works as a director are "Taiga Nomads" (together with Heimo Lappalainen), "In the Arms of Buddha and the Drum" and "Kusum."