Surviving –69°C: Butchering Day In The Reindeer Camp | How One Hunt Becomes Weeks Of Survival

In the Siberian tundra, one successful hunt can mean weeks of life for an entire camp.

In this episode we spend a full winter day in a nomad reindeer camp, as one big animal is turned into food, clothing, warmth and “stored strength” for everyone – men, women, children and dogs. Nothing is wasted.

THE HUNTERS RETURN
Early in the morning the hunters pull the frozen carcass into the camp on sleds. Steam from the body mixes with the –69°C air.
Women and children come out to meet them. Before anyone touches a knife, the eldest quietly thanks the animal – a simple ritual of respect before the hard work begins.

SKINNING AND FIRST CUTS
The men remove the heavy hide carefully, without cuts: the skin will become winter clothing, warm floor coverings and extra insulation for the tent.
Under the hide are frozen meat and fat. Big slabs are cut along the muscles with long, sure strokes. The snow around slowly turns red.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN JOIN THE WORK
On clean wooden platforms the women cut large pieces into smaller portions – some for today’s meal, some for drying, some for the snow pits.
A little girl receives her first small knife and a “practice” piece of meat. Children carry bowls, pass pieces, help pack and stomp the snow around the storage pits. This is their real school.

NOTHING IS WASTED
Every part of the animal has its purpose.
Meat is divided into four directions:
– for immediate food – a big pot with a rich celebration soup,
– for drying – long meat strips hanging on poles, “meat flags” above the camp,
– for long storage – carefully packed into snow pits,
– for the dogs – the workers who pull sleds and guard the camp.

Fat is cut separately for food, for simple lamps and to protect skin from the wind.
Bones go to broth and later will become tools and small everyday items.

BIRDS, DOGS AND THE “CLEANERS” OF THE TUNDRA
Ravens and other birds circle above and receive scraps – payment for cleaning the tundra.
Sled dogs get tendons and small pieces and lie full and calm around the camp, watching the work.

THE MEAT BANK OF SURVIVAL
By afternoon, long meat ribbons are swinging in the wind between the tents.
In the pits, the eldest carefully lays meat and fat in layers so nothing spoils, then everything is covered and the snow is packed down hard. This is the camp’s winter “bank account”.

EVENING: SILENT GRATITUDE
In the chum a big pot of fresh meat and bones is boiling. Children and elders receive the best pieces.
People eat in tired silence – but the feeling in the air is safety: many nights from now, they will not go to sleep hungry.

NIGHT AFTER THE BUTCHERING
Outside, only flattened, clean snow with a few traces of blood remains, and the horns or hide hanging as a memory of the animal.
Inside, the fire crackles, bellies are heavy and everyone feels it: one life has become weeks of warmth, light and strength for the whole camp.

If you want to see more real life of nomad families in the Siberian tundra – from the hunt itself to how every part of the animal is used – subscribe and stay with us.