nomad

Tibetan Nomad Childhood

Abstract: 
Karma Donrub's (Kar+ma don 'grub) life begins on the boundless Tibetan grassland in 1983 in Yushu (Yul shul) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai (Mtsho sgnon) Province. Living in a black yak hair tent, Karma Dondrub begins tending his family's yak calves as soon as he can walk, in a grassland so barren that he is startled upon first seeing a tree at the age of eight. Charlatan livestock-stealing monks, anthrax, death, birth, happiness, and encounters with modern education create a powerful, unparalleled account of Tibetan nomad childhood in the late twentieth century - a way of life that will soon be forever gone.
application/pdf icontibetan-nomad-childhood.pdf

Tibetan Nomad Childhood

Karma Dondrub. "Tibetan Nomad Childhood." Asian Highlands Perspectives 26 (2013): 1-105.

A Nomad Girl's Changing Worlds

Abstract: 
Sonam Doomtso (b. 1987) describes her lived experiences and recollections encompassing the first twenty years of her life. These include living on the grassland in Sichuan Province, experiences with relatives and neighbors; attending schools; moving to Lhasa; religious fasting; pilgrimage; encounters with marmot hunters; attending school in Xining City; and the death of her beloved grandfather.
application/pdf iconnomad-girls-changing-worlds.pdf

Grassland

This is the biggest grassland near Gongma Village, Xinghai County.

Photographer: 
Tsomo Jyi

Kids

Most nomad children don’t like to wear their clothes when they play on sunny days. The two boys are real brothers and she is their cousin, but would be called their sister. She is using a Tibetan robe as her cushion and is interested in their games.

Photographer: 
Mehla

Woman and Child

Tsojyi sits next to her stove with her little niece tied in her apron. They are waiting for the tea to boil.

Photographer: 
Mehla

Child

Joudanjie is one year and eight months old. She is growing up in a nomadic family in this black tent. She is the youngest child and only daughter in her family. She is cared for by her grandmother, because her parents are busy and they have no time to take care of her well. So she left her mother when she was three months old. She likes to play games near the tent. She is happy wearing her new dress.

Photographer: 
Mehla

Making Butter

My mother Suglo is fifty-four years old. She makes female yak butter every afternoon because we need the pot for pouring cream into the next day. She said that churning butter makes her hands tired during hot days, because on sunny days the cream becomes warm, and is more difficult to churn.

Photographer: 
Mehla

Catching Zomo

My family members catch our zomo (female yak-cow hybrids). They tie a piece of red cloth around each animal's neck which makes it is easier to find livestock if they get lost or mix with other families’ herds.

Photographer: 
Mehla

Woman Spinning

My sister-in law Karndi uses a wooden wool twisting machine which is turned by hand. She will spend one month spinning enough yak hair with which to make tent. You can see my feet in the photograph.

Photographer: 
Mehla
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