The initial peopling of the Arctic took place largely due to the combination of forces, mobility and adaptability of humans and reindeer. This interaction became a tradition in the nomadic practice of Arctic reindeer herders, for example, the Nenets and Chukchi. The level of mutual understanding between human and animal may be called “reindeer thinking” – empathy and co-support, trust and comfort in wandering together. It is migration where the common rhythm and cohesion of the joint animal-human “herd” is most clearly manifested. “Reindeer thinking” is expressed in the nomination of the lunar months, personal and clan names (among Chukchi Venkainan ‘Calm Reindeer’, among Nenets Serotetto ‘White Reindeer Owner’, etc.), in the images of pagan gods, sacrifices and rituals. Samoyed shamanism, judging by the abundance of images of the reindeer-spirit in it, developed in the dialogue of the shaman-tamer with faithful animal, the taming of which gave power over the wild nature and over the space of the tundra. The Chukchi believe that reindeer speak their own reindeer language. What is more, the wild ones speak well, but the domestic ones speak poorly, their language has deteriorated. People can understand the language of reindeer and even speak it. According to Nenets tales, reindeer understand people, especially the leaders of the sleds, who with their gestures and sounds warn of mistakes and suggest the right path. The credo of the Arctic nomads is that it is good for a reindeer herder if it is good for his reindeer. Nenets herders reason: “A human should live for the reindeer; if this is not so, then he is not a nomad. Without a reindeer, we are nothing.”