Dukha people
tuʰha ulǝs | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 208 (2020) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Mongolia | |
| Languages | |
| Dukhan, Mongolian | |
| Religion | |
| Tengrism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Tuvans, Tofalar, Soyots, several other Turkic peoples |
The Dukha, Dukhans or Duhalar (Mongolian: Цаатан, Tsaatan, духа́, Dukha) are a small Turkic community of semi-nomadic reindeer herders living in a sum of Khövsgöl Province, Mongolia called Tsagaannuur. The Dukha are divided into two groups: those from northeast Tuva and those from southeast Tuva. They are the only reindeer herders in Mongolia, and are considered one of the earliest domesticators of any animal.
The Tsaatan, whose name means ‘those who have reindeer’ in the Mongolian language, were originally Tuvinian reindeer herders.