Fitting in
It has been eight years since the Ewenki moved to the city. Although some of them moved back to the forest for awhile, they eventually got accustomed to their new lives.
But government subsidies can only help so much. In order to live like other people in the city, they have had to do more.
For the Ewenki people, hunting and raising deer are the two things they are most familiar with, but because hunting is banned in the city, raising deer has become the principle source of their income.
Among the 62 Ewenki families, 24 raise reindeer. Every year, by selling reindeer antlers, each Ewenki family earns 50,000 ($7,826) to 60,000 ($9,392) yuan.
Tourism is another means to earn a living. Since the story of the country's last hunting tribe spread, more and more people have come to visit the Ewenki, to see their reindeer and share their stories.
"This year, my family has earned over 100,000 yuan ($15,653) from tourism, and antler sales have earned us 50,000 yuan," said an Ewenki.
"But the reason we raise reindeer is not just for a living," said another man. "Reindeer are what our ancestors left us, and they are just like members of our family."
Currently, the Ewenki are raising 800 reindeer. With their help, China hopes to prevent the animal from dying out.
Modern progress
An Ewenki woman named Suo Ronghua was the first to open a store selling reindeer products. As her business grew, she bought a car and sent her child to a better school in the city.
Her business has attracted more people to the village, which has helped boost the local economy. Now she is thinking about using the Internet to further grow her business.
25-year-old Zhang Li is another Ewenki who went to college, but returned to her hometown. Now she is a commentator at an Ewenki museum who introduces the culture of her tribe to visitors. "As an Ewenki, it is my responsibility to carry on our culture and teach more people about it," she said.
