The Evenks live in Siberia, in the east side of the Jenisei River. There are approximately 28 000 Evenks. The autonomic Evenkiysky District is sparsely inhabited taiga. There are no roads and reindeer and helicopters are used as means of transport. The connections to the rest of the world are poor and the climate is harsh especially in the winter. The primary sources of livelihood are reindeer management, hunting and fishing. The Evenks are nomands, who wander along with the reindeer. “Taiga Nomads” portrays the life of the Evenks in the last year of the Soviet administration.

Nikolai Pavlovits has experienced a lot; the coming of the Soviet Government to the area in 1930, the war and the black spot of the present as well. Regardless of the leg lost in the war and over 70 years of age, Nikolai still lives in the taiga. His own children were killed in the war and he has a foster son, Vasha. To him, Nikolai has taught all the skills and knowledge that are needed to survive in the taiga.