circle conversations │ altansukh uyanga
Altansukh Uyanga is a herder of Khujirt Cooperative, Khovd Province. She lives with her husband and daughter in the beautiful valleys and mountains of Western Mongolia.
Khovd province is approximately 1,580 km from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital. Its territory of 76,133 km² is almost cut in half by the mighty Mongol Altai Mountain range where wild sheep, Ibex and Snow Leopard can be encountered. The mix of snow peak mountains, desert, dozens of fresh and saltwater lakes, 200 fast-moving rivers, valleys, caves, ancient rock paintings, and fortresses make Khovd one of the most beautiful Aimags in Mongolia.
Uyanga is sitting outside her ger with her daughter, wearing a OYUNA signature blue sweater.
What is most precious to you?
My daughter.
What is the best thing about being a nomad?
Making food and shelter with our own hands is the best thing about being a nomad.
Uyanga’s white ger (home) and their livestock, visible from the top of one of the surrounding mountains.
What do you think is one of the actions we should take towards a more sustainable future?
We all need to remember that our actions have consequences, and we should act accordingly. For example, plastic waste from heavily populated countries needs to be reduced and controlled, to avoid it being flown to far away pristine places such as this, where it can be ingested by livestock in our pastures and cause death.
Uyanga serves her guests traditional milk tea in silver cups.
What is a moment from your life that you would like to share with us?
Delivering and bottle-feeding our newborn lambs and kids are always beautiful moments for me.
What does land mean to you?
One’s place of birth.
Uyanga’s deel - traditional hand made robe with bright silk belt. The rooftop window of Uyanga’s ger (home).
What does the colour blue represent for you?
Sky.
What does beauty mean to you?
One’s soul represents beauty to me.
Uyanga and her husband outside their ger (home).