ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the diverse “life” of alcohol in the Arctic village. The author analyzes her own fieldwork data obtained during in-depth interviews and observations in 11 Chukotka rural settlements located in the easternmost part of Northern Russia. These small and inaccessible Indigenous settlements are a complex world that intertwines people, spirits, animals, things, conversations, and actions. Alcohol is an indispensable, although not the most virtuous, part of this world. Alcohol participates in the internal interactions of rural communities; therefore, its biography can elucidate the subtle nuances of human existence in the Arctic village.
