The Altai: Hunters and Herders of Mongolia

‘The Altai’ captures the authentic culture and traditional lifestyle of Mongolia’s Kazakh eagle hunters, horsemen, and semi-nomadic herders in the rugged Altai Mountains. 

For centuries, Kazakh people have bonded with golden eagles, training them to hunt. This ancient custom, passed from father to son, is a source of pride among Kazakh communities whose livelihoods depend on their animals and land. The beautiful yet unforgiving Altai landscape, with vast valleys and jagged ridges, demands much from traditional herding families, leaving little time for personal ambitions. 

Increasingly, rural Mongolian parents send their children to boarding schools in towns, hoping for a better future. Despite living his whole life in the mountains, eagle hunter Alankush wants more for his children, valuing education to secure city jobs. This ambition for a better life may lead to the eventual disappearance of a culture that has thrived for generations, now facing pressures of modern living even in remote communities.