Natalya Saprunova, Russia/France

Russia: The children from the great cold forest

They were once alone with their reindeer herds in the tundra and forests of Yakutia, in north-eastern Siberia. Back then, Moscow was not important to the indigenous Evenki people. Then came the geologists and prospectors in search of gold, diamonds, and other abundant mineral resources. And finally came the lumberjacks.

The lives of the Evenki people have changed considerably since then. Many nomads have settled down, industrial plants have cut across the migratory paths of the reindeer, missionaries compete against the traditional shamanism. All of this also changes childhoods in Yakutia.

Russian-born photographer Natalya Saprunova documents these changes through images of a time when Russian patriotism is even practiced in kindergarten. For example, every February 23, when Russia celebrates Defender of the Fatherland Day, even three-year-olds are dressed up in miniature versions of Russian military uniforms.

Photographer: Natalya Saprunova, Russia/France (Zeppelin Agency)

Natalya Saprunova, born in 1986 in Murmansk, already worked as a photojournalist for a daily newspaper in Murmansk during her studies to become a French teacher. After moving to Paris in 2008, she worked in Marketing and became a French citizen.

In 2016, she returned to photography, studied at the Ecole des Métiers de l’Information and now also teaches photography. Among other things, she already won an Honorable Mention at the UNICEF Photo of the Year 2021.