Eagle hunting has been practiced by the Kazakhs for centuries. Golden eagles are primarily used for hunting foxes during the winter months. A good number of Kazakhs fled Kazakhstan during the communist era and settled in Bayan-Ölgii Province around the Altai Mountains, western part of Mongolia.
These eagle hunters are nomads, living in ger camps built far away from the center of a settlement. Eagle hunting skills are traditionally passed down from father to son, a very gender-dominated practice. With the diminishing of this culture, we see a change in the centuries old tradition. At present with as shift towards gender equality, we are seeing female eagle hunters in the making.
This project documents the life of two related families, living in the Altai Mountains, brothers Asker and Huanthan. Both brothers are now training Aigerim, the 12-years old daughter of Asker, hoping she could continue the tradition.
Aigerim is a 12-years old female eagle hunter being trained as the next generation of eagle hunter
Asker and Huantan , Aigerim's father and uncle, are passing down the eagle hunting tradition to her, a tradition that is predominantly passed down from father to son.
Nargulan, the elder brother of little Aigerim has no intention to become an eagle hunter as dealing with the huge bird. Nevertheless, witnessing Nargulan riding his horse, he is also another great horseman at a tender age.
