The True Nomadics
- Joshua Purcell
- Jul 27, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 13, 2021
What does it mean to be ‘nomadic’?
A nomad is someone who for many reasons, roams from one place to another; a wanderer, with no permanent place to call home for . In a traditional sense, the word ‘nomad’ has it’s origins from a Greek word which translates to “roaming to find pasture”, although nomads may also roam in search of food (nomadic hunters and gatherers) or to make a living (trading nomads).
While the typical nomads are associated with being tribal or ethnic communities, with their way of life spanning thousands of years, anyone who fits this description could be considered a nomad. In our current day society, consider the homeless people who move around in search of food or shelter, or the gypsies literally driving their home from one town to the next to trade their goods or services. Or think perhaps to that high school friend who never got a ‘real’ job and who has spent their years travelling around the world instead.
MONGOLIAN YURT
The agricultural revolution transformed many nomadic communities from hunter-gatherer, travelling tribes to farmers. Instead of making lengthy and exhausting journeys from one place to the next, they realised that they could grow their own food from a plot of land at home! Fast forward to now, and all it takes is a drive to the supermarket to fill the pantry. Better yet, online order.
Society has moved so far away from the nomadic lifestyle that we wonder how people ever lived like that. How could one person carry all their belongings on their back? Their bed, their clothes, their television?! The days of the ‘true’ tribal nomad may seem long gone, however this is not the case. Believe it or not, there are still millions of people around the world who continue to live in their traditional nomadic lives. The draw of a modern, easier life, external pressures from the likes of government, land ownership, and habitat loss from encroachment are all things making it harder for these communities to sustain their traditional ways.
Here is an interesting handful of amazing nomadic communities that still exist!
The Kochi
Based in Afganistan, approximately 1.5 million Kochi people live the nomadic lifestyle. These tribes are pastoral nomads, meaning they roam in search of pastures for their stock. Using camels for transport, they migrate with the seasons. By raising sheep and goats as a source of meat, dairy and wool, they can sell these products in exchange for other food sources such as vegetables and grain.
2. The Maasai
The Maasai tribes, based in Kenya and Tanzania have also stayed true to their nomadic ways, despite being urged by their governments to adopt a more settled way of life. They live among wildlife such as lions, elephants, leopards, zebra and giraffes, allowing their cattle to graze in natural parks. The Maasai decorate their body with piercings, beads and stretched air lobes, and are known for being courageous hunters and warriors!
3. The Irish Travellers
Originating from Ireland as the name suggests, these nomadic communities make up an estimated 0.6% of the population (29,000-40,000 people). While originally believed to have developed as a result of the Great Famine of 1845–1852, DNA analysis suggests that they have actually been around for much longer! Irish traveller communities move around the rural parts of Ireland to provide seasonal labour and trades. Socially isolated from other settled Irish, they are categorised as their own ethnic minority group, and DNA analysis suggests that their genes are as different from the Irish as they originate from the Spanish.
These 3 examples of nomadic communities show that a nomadic life is still possible, despite society pushing towards increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Imagine living like this - a simple and minimalist life, clutter free, mortgage free, and always on the move to new, exciting places.
The founder of Nomadic NZ, Josh Purcell, was know as the ‘nomad’ to some of his friends early on - sort of like the school friend mentioned above who never wanted to settle. Josh travelled far and wide to 60 odd countries, and became as an outdoor adventure guide and expedition leader. His early work exploits and travels solidified his nomadic ways and passion for exploration and adventure. When starting the business, Josh wanted to start a brand that would encourage adventure - people to enjoy being nomadic. The industry seemed flooded with “NOMAD”, so he decided NOMADIC would fit perfectly.
Where do you sit on the nomad vs. settler scale? Could you live like these true nomads?
References
Comments