Pat Kane

Photographer

www.patkanephoto.com

Sacred Steppe

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Sacred Steppe is a body of work made from Sept 2023-Oct 2023 in Mongolia with Kiliii Yuyan for National Geographic. I was invited to join Kiliii to cover a story about Indigenous-led conservation as part of the National Geographic Society's 2nd Assistant Program – a mentorship that pairs current National Geographic photographers with National Geographic Explorers. This story is about the herders of Mongolia's Altai Mountain region, and how spirituality plays a role in land, wildlife and cultural protection. In Kiliii’s words, “our job as photographers is not only to show readers that Indigenous people have protected their land and wildlife for centuries, but to remind ourselves that we all need to treat the natural world as sacred and vital to our survival, so that we can keep living on this planet.”

This project was funded by The National Geographic Society.

Buyanbadrakh Erdenetsogk leads ... the Altai Mountains, Mongolia.

Buyanbadrakh Erdenetsogk leads Bazar Losol and Batbayer Nyam Sambuu in prayer at a ceremony to honour the snow leopard in the Altai Mountains, Mongolia.

Erjen Khamaganova and Altantset...yer flags near Darvi, Mongolia.

Erjen Khamaganova and Altantsetseg Bengendamba put incense on a fire at a shrine adorned with prayer flags near Darvi, Mongolia.

Gansukh Purevdorj, Altengeral M... ceremony near Darvi, Mongolia.

Gansukh Purevdorj, Altengeral Mukhaash and Gandulam Tsairai listen to Buyanbadrakh Erdenetsogk’s messages he received from the spirits during a fire ceremony near Darvi, Mongolia.

Tea is strained at a cultural f...al festival in Khovd, Mongolia.

Tea is strained at a cultural festival in Khovd, Mongolia. A young woman from Darvi, is dressed in traditional clothing at a cultural festival in Khovd, Mongolia.

Goat and sheep herders that liv...d wish them a long, happy life.

Goat and sheep herders that live near the village of Darvi, Mongolia, gather in a ger (yurt) for a haircutting ceremony - a celebration of a toddler where guests gather to sing, eat and cut locks of hair from the child and wish them a long, happy life.

Goat head meat is served to gue...al festival in Khovd, Mongolia.

Goat head meat is served to guests inside of a ger at a cultural festival in Khovd, Mongolia.

A storm over the Altai Mountains near Darvi, Mongolia.

Tumen Ulzii Ivshintseren lights...f her ger near Darvi, Mongolia.

Tumen Ulzii Ivshintseren lights the stove inside of her ger near Darvi, Mongolia.

A portrait of Tumen Ulzii Ivshi...winds that rip over the steppe.

A portrait of Tumen Ulzii Ivshintseren and Sanjsambyu Soononkhuu inside of their ger, near Darvi, Mongolia. The couple are nomadic herders and move seasonally. In summer, they settle near the village but in winter, they retreat into the mountains where the grass is longer and easier for their herds to access. The mountains also shield them from the intense Mongolian winds that rip over the steppe.

Buyanbadrakh Erdenetsogk, Altan... body and cure stomach illness.

Buyanbadrakh Erdenetsogk, Altantsetseg Bengendamba and Amka walk near the 108 Springs, a series of streams near Darvi, Mongolia. The water of the streams is said to purify the body and cure stomach illness.

Herders take shelter from the f... culture of western Mongolians.

Herders take shelter from the falling snow at an annual festival in Khovd, Mongolia which celebrates music, food, tea-making and traditional culture of western Mongolians.

Erjen Khamaganova rests before ...Mountains near Darvi, Mongolia.

Erjen Khamaganova rests before a ceremony in honour of the snow leopard in the Altai Mountains near Darvi, Mongolia.

Details of prayer ribbons at a ..., a respected Mongolian shaman.

Details of prayer ribbons at a holy site near Darvi, Mongolia. A prayer book rests on the headdress of Byandbadrakh Erdenetsogk, a respected Mongolian shaman.

Buyanbadrakh Erdenetsogk offers...holy site near Darvi, Mongolia.

Buyanbadrakh Erdenetsogk offers milk to the spirits at a holy site near Darvi, Mongolia.

An aerial view of a ger and the...n terrain near Darvi, Mongolia.

An aerial view of a ger and the mountain terrain near Darvi, Mongolia.

A girl and her sisters play as ...o pasture near Darvi, Mongolia.

A girl and her sisters play as a herd of goats is brought out to pasture near Darvi, Mongolia.

Batbayer Nyam Sambuu and Tumen ... of a ger near Darvi, Mongolia.

Batbayer Nyam Sambuu and Tumen Ulzii Ivshintseren laugh during dinner inside of a ger near Darvi, Mongolia.

Petroglyphs of the sun and moun...rop outside of Darvi, Mongolia.

Petroglyphs of the sun and mountain goats are carved into the rocks on an outcrop outside of Darvi, Mongolia.

Goats are tied together, ready ... to make tea, vodka and cheese.

Goats are tied together, ready to be milked, outskirts of Darvi, Mongolia. The milk will be used to make tea, vodka and cheese.

Sanjsambyu Soononkhuu and Tumen...volves around food preparation.

Sanjsambyu Soononkhuu and Tumen Ulzii Ivshintseren get help from a fellow herder in butchering a sheep near their ger. The sheep is part of their herd and the meat will be used for food for several days. Most of the herding life in Mongolia revolves around food preparation.

Gansukh Purevdorj and Buyanbadr...d and a protector of livestock.

Gansukh Purevdorj and Buyanbadrakh Erdenetsogk begin a horse consecration ceremony near Darvi, Mongolia. In most herding communities, horses and goats are consecrated at a ceremony lead by a shaman, and is deemed sacred and a protector of livestock.

Two youth hold down a horse as ...re put on near Darvi, Mongolia.

Two youth hold down a horse as horseshoes are put on near Darvi, Mongolia.

Grain is placed between two car...aman, Buyanbadrakh Erdenetsogk.

Grain is placed between two carvings depicting a horse before a welcome ceremony by shaman, Buyanbadrakh Erdenetsogk.

A shrine adorned with prayer fl...Mountains near Darvi, Mongolia.

A shrine adorned with prayer flags is pictured on the foothills of the Altai Mountains near Darvi, Mongolia.

A group of performers take part...spirits - near Darvi, Mongolia.

A group of performers take part in a “long song” - a traditional song that pays homage to the land and spirits - near Darvi, Mongolia.

Herders round up sheep and goat...e white sheep with black heads.

Herders round up sheep and goats at an auction near Darvi, Mongolia. The herders put their names in a draw to see who can get the best livestock to add to their herds. The most prized livestock are the white sheep with black heads.