The Alyutors are divided by occupation into two groups: sedentary (coastal) and nomadic (reindeer). As a result of exchange, both groups were traditionally provided with the necessary components of food ration and production of tools. The reindeer herding of the Alyutor people was small herd herding, and the herd was collectively owned by 4-6 families of relatives. Almost every ‘sedentary’ Alyutor had one or more reindeer in the herd of his ‘nomadic’ relative. As a result of modernisation of the traditional economy and deterioration of the environmental situation, reindeer husbandry among the Alyutors has lost its former significance and is now an auxiliary trade, a variant of herding.
The traditional economy of the Alyutor people was a combination of reindeer herding, fishing and sea-farming. During the peak salmon season, from mid-June to mid-September, the Alyutor people engaged in fishing, organising themselves into large artels on the basis of kinship and moving to the river mouths. Most of the fish caught by seines was used for yukola, which was mainly consumed by the Alyutors in processed form during the year. Unprocessed yukola was used to feed sled dogs. The Alyutor people were engaged in sea fishing in the spring and autumn seasons, travelling 5-10 km from the shore on the ice. The Alyutors hunted in groups of 7-8 people, mainly for small seals - lahtak and seal. Meat of sea beasts was eaten fresh and prepared in store, fat was used for lighting, hides were used for belts and soles. From December to February they hunted furbearers: fox, wolverine, otter, ermine.
Source: http://www.nashasreda.ru
