MONGOLIA

READ

 

The Blue Sky, written by Galsan Tschinag and translated by Katharina Rout, is an autobiographical novel, the first in a trilogy. The author, a shaman and a tribal chieftain, grew up among the Tuvan people of northern Mongolia.

The book follows a young shepherd named Dshurukuwaa as he and his nomadic family eke out a living in the unforgiving Altai Mountains. He lives with his parents and his older sister and brother, but the beings he cherishes most in the world are an old woman that was adopted into the family to be their grandma, and his dog Arsylang. They live in a yurt in a small community made up of other family members, moving their yurts “through the four seasons and across the four rivers, from the mountains into the steppe, over to the other mountains, to the lake, and back.”

Dshurukuwaa’s job is to mind his family’s sheep, taking them out in the morning to look for food, observing their behavior, watching out for danger, and bring them home safely at night, always with Arsylang at his side. This is particularly difficult during one especially harsh winter, when food for the sheep is scarce and the freezing temperatures devastate the flock.

When the older children leave for school, where they will stay except for occasional school breaks, Dshurukuwaa’s existence becomes quite solitary. He misses his sister and brother and can’t understand why his father sent them away. “And so I cried, and in crying, I knew that I, too, would have to go away one day.”

While Dshurukuwaa and his family worship Father Sky (Gök-Deeri), their earthly dealings are guided by their socialist government, which has strong ties to the Soviet Union. Mongolia had allied itself with Russia after Russia helped Mongolia gain its independence from China in the 1920s. The government introduces the people to the concept of money, and tells them how they may get more of it – “by hunting wild animals and birds and delivering the kill to the district. Or by cutting tall, straight trees and rafting them down the river to the district center.” The attempt to kill wild animals – in this case, wolves and foxes – results in a tragedy for young Dshurukuwaa and causes him to reject Father Sky.

The Blue Sky is a fascinating look into a way of life that’s so different from our own. There are many heartwarming moments, especially with respect to Dshurukuwaa’s love for Grandma and his companionship with his dog. There are also horrifying moments, particularly those involving the suffering of animals. The book is an intimate, authentic account of life among the nomadic Tuvan people, and Dshurukuwaa is a character who will stay with me for some time.

COOK

While bread, dumplings, and pancakes are mentioned in The Blue Sky, it’s clear that the mainstay of the Tuvan diet is meat. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I searched the Internet for a vegan or veganizable Mongolian dish, so I was thrilled when I found a recipe at The Viet Vegan website for Vegan Mongolian Beef. The “beef” is made with soy curls, a product I’d never used before and didn’t even know where to buy. I found Butler Foods Soy Curls online and ordered several packages.

I have mixed feelings about the dish. On the one hand, it was pretty terrific and I’m glad it made a big batch so I’ll have leftovers. On the other hand, it was so much trouble to make, and clean-up afterwards was such a chore, that I’ll probably never make it again. I’ll be looking for easier recipes for my remaining packages of soy curls!

GIVE

In looking at the three projects GlobalGiving listed on their website for Mongolia, I knew immediately which one I wanted to support – the one that involves protecting snow leopards. I’ve viewed them with awe ever since reading Peter Matthiessen’s masterpiece, The Snow Leopard, many years ago.

The project, which is being undertaken by the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, seeks to end the killing of snow leopards by farmers protecting their livestock, and the capture and killing of snow leopards for the illegal wildlife trade. The project includes “community-based income-generation initiatives designed to support both wildlife and local communities who share a common habitat, education to raise conservation awareness, and rigorous research towards gaining a better understanding of snow leopard ecology. More information about this project is available at Protecting Snow Leopards - GlobalGiving.

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