VI
EN
If you search for the term "Sherpa people" online, the results will mostly be information about their origins and why this ethnic group possesses such extraordinary health. In short, the Sherpa are an ethnic group living in eastern Nepal with a total population of around 150,000 people. They are usually concentrated in the Himalayan region.
Thanks to their habit of living at altitudes of over 4,500 meters above sea level, the Sherpa people have an excellent ability to adapt to the thin air, allowing them to live normally at such high altitudes without any health problems compared to those living at lower elevations.
The Sherpa men stopped to rest during their carrying trip.
Thanks to this, Sherpas have always been indispensable, supporting mountaineers in conquering the highest and most challenging regions in the world.
Mountain climbing is the only way out of poverty.
Despite their extraordinary physical strength, the lives of the Sherpa people are relatively difficult. The Himalayan region is a relatively remote area, and due to its high altitude, access to healthcare, education, and even employment is challenging. Furthermore, the harsh weather and climate, along with barren land, make farming and livestock raising impractical for the people there.
The stone walls were built entirely by hand and without any binding material to protect the crops on the already barren land.
Nature has bestowed upon this land a picturesque landscape and towering mountains that have become a destination for many adventurers, making tourism a rare lifeline for the Sherpa people. Those with good health and mountaineering experience often become guides for mountaineering and trekking groups of all levels when they come to the Himalayas in Nepal.
Others become porters, carrying goods and luggage for tourists, and recently, with the increase in tourism demand, teahouses, cafes, and souvenir shops have appeared in Sherpa villages to cater to the personal needs of tourists.
Carrying supplies is a common job for Sherpas during the mountain climbing season.
At first glance, it might seem that these Sherpas only have to do harder labor than ordinary people, but few realize that they are often the first to be sacrificed when any natural disaster or catastrophe occurs during their mountain climbing expeditions.
The guesthouse business and souvenir sales have also been providing income for the Sherpa people recently.
The Discovery documentary about the 2014 Everest disaster, titled "Everest Avalanche Tragedy," most vividly portrays the lives of these unsung heroes. The 2014 climbing season was horrific for the people of Nepal in general and the Sherpa people in particular, with 13 deaths and 3 missing after an avalanche, all of whom were local people.
The value of the Sherpas was not yet appreciated at that time. To tourism business owners, they were simply people hired to do logistical work at relatively low costs, and their annual income was often insufficient to cover insurance, while they had to compromise their safety.
An elderly Sherpa still works as a porter.
The grief is not only felt by those who lost their lives, but also by their families. Many of those who perished were very young men, with elderly parents, wives, and children to support. Many families tried to dissuade their husbands and sons from climbing the mountain, but without climbing, they had no other means of livelihood to feed their families. Their lives were left in a dilemma.
Mingma Tshering participated in the Everest expedition in 2014 and was fortunate enough to survive.
Mingma Tshering (33 years old) is a Sherpa who works as a tour guide and has successfully conquered Mount Everest once. He was on the 2014 trip and was just two minutes away from the avalanche. Most of those killed and missing were his friends. Mingma shared that he was heartbroken to witness that horrific scene. To this day, he continues to work as a guide for mountaineering groups.
The future of the Sherpa people
Following the tragic events of 2014, Sherpas went on strike for the first time, demanding fair compensation for their hard work and safety. Facing pressure threatening the tourism industry, the Nepalese government paid 2 million rupees (US$15,620) in insurance benefits to the families of each deceased, although this was lower than the US$20,800 demanded by the Sherpas. Tourists and various organizations also provided financial assistance to the families of the victims. However, these figures pale in comparison to the losses suffered by the Sherpa families.
Due to the strenuous nature of the work, the main breadwinner in most Sherpa families is the man. Women and children at home usually do housework or sell goods to tourists. The photo shows a Sherpa girl selling vegetables to tourists.
Many issues affect the lives, work, and social security of Sherpas, one of which is government policy. When asked if the people would create similar organizations themselves if the government didn't establish welfare organizations for those working in dangerous jobs, Mingma Tshering said: "Even if people did create them themselves, those organizations wouldn't be able to go anywhere. When people are lacking material resources, they have to prioritize their own interests first. And an organization created for the benefit of a single individual naturally cannot succeed."
Many generous donors contribute money to open schools and donate clothing for Sherpa children.
Despite receiving recognition and higher pay than before, the lives of Sherpas have not improved significantly. Perhaps their lives will improve if tourists like us continue to recognize the value they bring to the community.
