A French Ethnographer
Opened School for Nomads

A Sorbonne University graduate Alexandra Lavrillier's arrival to the Evenk village of Jyengra (near the city of Neryungri, South Yakutia), her marriage to a local reindeer breeder Pavel Vasiliev, and her new nomad's life caused many stories and hearsays.

People suspected that soon after a French lady finished work on collecting ethnographic data and writing dissertation, she would depart Yakutia, forget her indigenous husband, people she met and beauties of taiga. However, despite of disbelief to woman's pure feelings and ability to sacrifice any comfort for the sake of the beloved and family, life showed another lesson.

Right. Alexandra arrived to Jyengra with the purpose to collect data for her dissertation on Evenks' nomadic life and adaptation to the post-Soviet reality. The Evenk village was interesting to her as the place of compact dwelling in South Yakutia . She compiled a huge profile, learn much about Evenk life and customs. While spending months in reindeer breeder camps, she fell in love with that nation and extremely beautiful nature. She found the man of her dream…

Her future husband usually led his nomad's life in Amursky Oblast. However, fate did so they met each other in Iyengra. Soon Alexander and her lover embarked on nomadic journey. Lately family tights were strengthened with the birth of daughter. Unfortunately, a newborn did not allow them to keep their nomadic way of family life. Alexandra with baby moved to the city of Neryungri . There she taught the French language in the affiliation of Yakutsk State University for almost two years. Than she took time for to pass the dissertation and become a doctor of ethnography in France . Eventually she returned to Pavel. Daughter grew up and the family continued wandering across South Yakutia .

Recently news came from Amursky Oblast. A French lady, a Sorbonne University scientist, opened an elementary school for nomad kids in the settlement of Nyukzhe. That was Alexandra Lavrillie. She announced about that opening during BAM League Conference in Tynda.

By phone Alexandra informed that twenty kids go to her school. They study in accordance with primary education program. In the near future they plan to learn foreign languages, including French. Alexandra is very proud of her students, her initiative, and life. By the way, she doesn't exclude opportunity to give birth to the second child.

Translation: YakutiaToday.Com
Author: Valentina Morozova,
Resource in Russian: Yakutia-Sakha News Agency.