Cows, Kin, and Globalization: An Ethnography of Sustainability (Globalization and the Environment) by Susan Alexandra Crate & Susan Alexandra Crate

Author:Susan Alexandra Crate & Susan Alexandra Crate [Crate, Susan Alexandra]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780759114067
Publisher: AltaMira Press
Published: 2006-10-19T04:00:00+00:00

Figure 4.8. Katrina’s homeplace

Katrina describes a classic pre-Soviet Sakha subsistence homestead, where several kin households often worked together to be self-sufficient for their meat, milk, garden produce, and forage products. These homesteads passed from one generation to the next, a practice made evident by the abandoned outbuildings of former kin that remained on the property. Her memories of the ytyk dabaty also demonstrate the extent to which indigenous belief was integral both to the survival of subsistence practices and to their use.

Katrina also recounted one of her clearest memories, concerning the departure of local men left to serve in World War II.

They were haying in the fields above our house when they were called to the front. They made sure to finish the haying since they knew there would only be women and children left after them. So they finished the haying very late at night. Above us was Kuraanakh Alaas, then Atyyr tiriite, Wyen-neekh, and Dirahiya [place names]. Then came Kuterdeekh village, which was the hay brigade center. Their haying territory was fifty to sixty kilometers above that village place. The brigadier lived there, Semyenov Nikolai Tataar, he would come and visit us a lot. He was a great man. When they were called to the front they came by our house on their way to the Khotu village Sel’sovet [figure 4.8] and had tea with us as a farewell. They came through the top fence gate; there were five or six of them and they tied their horses and came in and said farewell. (May 10, 2000)

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