Greetings from the Sakha people of Arctic Siberia! You might have heard of the coldest (-96F) inhabited area in the world near the North Pole called Sakha (Yakutia). This is my homeland. I was born and raised in Us-Kiuel, a small village with a population of 600 people. There, I learned how to mimic the sounds of nature. At 3 years old, I was already communicating with the animals and birds of the forest. Thanks to my grandmother, who taught me the traditional songs of our ancestors, I participated in and performed at many of our people's summer solstice ceremonies, or Yhyakh. I was also honored with the rare opportunity of meeting the 12th Sky Shaman Savey of the Tungus reindeer herders' tribe in my homeland. From this powerful Wisdom Keeper, I received the blessing of the Spirits. Ever since, I have been singing, drumming, and channeling, allowing the wisdom, beauty, and power of my ancestors to move, sing, and dance through me whenever I perform.