ABSTRACT
It is well-known that domesticated reindeer are used for transportation. Broadly, indigenous people living in forests use reindeer for riding and packing, whereas those in the tundra use them for drawing a sled. This is often ascribed to the differences in size and power of the animal and historical–cultural background of the regions. However, the choice of reindeer use is not simple. Some herders both harness them to sleds and ride on the back, while others choose either sled use or riding/packing use. In this study, the following questions are raised and answered by analyzing original field data and those from past ethnographies: Which factors make people choose transportation methods? What are the characteristics of each type, namely sled, riding saddle, and packing one? Why do Siberian reindeer herders still use reindeer sleds and riding/ packing reindeer, even after the popularization of motor vehicles? The findings are that geographic conditions and purpose of reindeer transportation are decisive factors for the choice of sled and riding/packing use, as well as types of sleds and saddles. Moreover, the high performance of traditional sleds and saddles and poor supply of motor vehicles and fuel prevented Siberian reindeer herders from abandoning reindeer transportation.
