Next year, representatives of the indigenous peoples of the North living in the Komi Republic will become part of the programme to support traditional economic activities in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The total amount of allocated funds in the period from 2025 to 2027 is expected to be RUB 330 mn, of which RUB 237 mn be provided by the federal budget. The money will be used to improve the material and technical base of reindeer breeding farms and, in particular, to purchase drones.

Drones are expected to make life much easier for tundra dwellers. With their help, nomads will monitor their herds from a bird's eye view and conduct reconnaissance of the migratory route. In its maximum development, the digital ecosystem looks even more advanced—each deer is fitted with a digital collar so that a drone can track data on the herd's numbers, bunching, movements and even the animal's body temperature. As Gleb Babintsev, CEO of Aeronext, an association of drone manufacturers and employers, noted in 2021, drones could even replace herding dogs. When it receives a signal that an animal has left the pasture, the drone independently follows the beacon signal on its collar and drives the wilful deer back to its companions. So far, however, such technologically advanced schemes remain just a theory.

These are not idle dreams, however, but a long-playing strategy. In 2020, the rules on the use of drones by nomadic deer herders were amended—they were spared the need to obtain permits. Even then, the tundra dwellers learned not only how to watch the reindeer from a drone but also how to herd them by scaring them with the whirring of electric motors. However, the removal of restrictions works only for vehicles weighing less than 30 kg and at an altitude of up to 150 m above ground level during daylight hours. 

To train specialists, from 2025, Yamal will launch pilot programmes to teach 'drone keeping' to representatives of indigenous minorities. This should significantly increase the attractiveness of the 'profession' of traditional reindeer husbandry and provide young specialists with convenient and modern tools.

Artificial intelligence is also being taught in parallel with humans. The Yakutia Technopark is creating an algorithm that will record and monitor herds of reindeer. And, apparently, collars will not be needed—the robot will analyse images and videos, assessing the number and health of animals. The eyes of the bot will be drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and thermal imagers. They will take aerial photos that will feed into the lab's servers. There, after analysis, they will form a certificate and send it to the owner of the herd. Drones are planned to be launched from stations in Arctic settlements—Yakutia has chosen a centralised approach to the use of digital technologies. In general, there is nothing to prevent this experience from being extended to the entire Arctic. Large drone bases are being built in Yamal and Chukotka, though mostly for drones delivering cargo. However, where they built one hangar with a charging station, it's not hard to put up another.  

In addition to reindeer, the tundra dwellers themselves are planned to be digitised. Despite the apparent archaic nature of nomadic reindeer husbandry, this type of agriculture can be an excellent testing ground for the implementation of high-tech solutions. The same can be said about everyday life—in addition to distance education, telemedicine and cellular communication, which have already become commonplace for indigenous peoples, housing can also be upgraded. Krasnoyarsk has announced a 'smart chum,' which will combine satellite communications, Internet access and a voice assistant through which you can control lighting, heating and send calls to emergency services. It will be powered not only by the usual diesel generators but also by solar panels and innovative solutions based on Peltier elements, allowing to generate electricity through temperature differences. Green technologies with no emissions into the atmosphere (and no dependence on fuel transportation) are gaining popularity among nomadic indigenous peoples.

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