“The tent of the reindeer herders. Winter house, summer house—the same word for both, adapted to the season.”
Chum—or more correctly dju in Evenki—is the conical tent of the Evenki people, the reindeer herders of Siberia. The Evenki range across a vast territory from the Urals to the Pacific, and the chum is their portable home. It looks similar in silhouette to a tipi but is adapted to taiga and tundra rather than plains.
A chum is built from a wooden pole framework arranged in a cone. In winter, it is covered with thick reindeer hides, which provide insulation and wind resistance. In summer, it is covered with birch bark or canvas, which allows air circulation and is lighter to transport. The entrance faces away from prevailing winds. Smoke from the central fire exits through an opening at the apex.
The word dju means 'home' in Evenki. The chum is not just a shelter. It is the dwelling, the hearth, the center of family life and herd management. An Evenki family with a chum has a home, even if they move ten times in a year. The tent is the permanence; the location is temporary.
The Soviets attempted to settle the Evenki, building permanent houses and collective farms. Some Evenki adopted them. But many continued with the chum, particularly those who herded reindeer far from towns. Today, chums are used for seasonal camps, for hunting expeditions, and for cultural ceremonies. The word survives because the need—mobility and shelter in extreme cold—survives.
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A conical tent used by Evenki reindeer herders of Siberia, with a wooden pole framework covered in reindeer hides or birch bark. The chum is built for extreme cold and frequent movement. Winter and summer versions of the same structure—insulated with hides, ventilated with bark. The word dju means home. For a people who move thousands of kilometers a year, the tent is the only permanence.
The Soviets offered houses. Most Evenki who could stay with herding refused. A house is where you are. A chum is what you are.
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