I am a slave

I recently read an article in National Geographic Explorer about the Komi people. You can read the article here. It was an awesome article and made me want to get outside. So yesterday, I hiked Slaughter Canyon at Carlsbad Caverns NP.

Part of the article talked about why the people choose to continue to live the life they do. One of the reindeer herders was quoted as saying

"They have given up living all the time with their reindeer. We Komi are still vödzyny—nomads. I'm proud that I speak Komi. I prefer this way of living—always moving with the animals and our families. I lived in town once and worked. I know what town is. Living with the oleni, making everything we need, and requiring very little else—that means we are free."

I found his last line very interesting, being free. Because they make everything they need, they are completely free.

I am not free. I live in a city, am dependent on farmers for my food, am dependent on factories for my clothes, am dependent on the city for my water. I would love to be more independent. Growing up, one of the only skills I learned was hunting. I can take an animal and process it into meat. I have not learned how to tan the hide. I did not learn how to make clothes, but can sow on a button. I would love to grow vegetables and herbs, but do not have a yard. I would love to be able to tan a hide and make clothing out of it. I would love to be free.