The lack of reindeer mean that the economy is instead now supported by fishing, seasonal labor, and the production of traditional indigenous crafts for sale to tourists and to the population of nearby Anadyr.

[12] During the summer, children would live with their families on the tundra following the reindeer, only returning at the start of a new academic year to attend school.

[12] Beyond this steady employment, the fur and meat from the reindeer and other game, as well as mushrooms and berries foraged, provided a vital source of sustenance for Tavayvaam's residents.

[12] It is claimed that the town of Anadyr annexed the "ethnic village" of Tavayvaam in May 1994, and that this was done by then governor Alexander Nazarov with a view to saving money from the autonomous okrug budget.

If the national village had indeed been absorbed into the town of Anadyr then there would have been no obligation for the autonomous okrug to allocate specific funds for the indigenous population there.

[15] Tavayvaam preserves its indigenous culture through the Chukchi language Club Murgin Vetgav and a native crafts society.