“Nukher gathers friends” – a workcamp under such title is planned by SCG within the framework of YTNF for the summer 2008 in Barguzinsky and Kurumkansky regions of the Republic of Buryatia. The workcamp aims to inform the people of Barguzinsky valley of their human rights as well as linguistic and cultural rights by exploiting our most precious human commodity, the youth. “Nukher” in Buryat-Mongolian means “friend,” “guard”. In 2006 “The First Nukher of Genghis khan” was produced by Ulan-Ude film studio “Urga” dedicated to the beginning of life-long friendship between Genghis khan – Temijin and Boorchu, his 1st knight. Since it is the 1st film in Buryat devoted to the heroic forefathers of Buryat nation it has become an important phenomenon in contemporary life of the Buryats. What is it to be a modern nukher? How to adapt new ideas to ancient traditions? How to involve Buryat rural youth into global cultural dialogue making sure their cultural identity is preserved? The workcamp is designed to answer these questions.
Last week an antiracist/social inclusion PMT went to the sites to prepare for the upcoming project. Besides preparation to the workcamp PMT organized a charity tour of a French circus “Les Frères Kazamaroff” to the villages of those northern regions of Buryatia. Together with the artists, who became out good friends and partners we visited Yarikta, Ulyukchikan, Ulyun, Elysun, Baragkhan, Khilgana, and Bayangol where free performances were given on stages of clubs, houses of culture and amateur “people’s theatres”. Cultural events of such level are a rare occasion in faraway villages, so performances became a revelation to the local people. Although we did not have much time for sightseeing and cultural learning there were chances for that thanks to our hospitable hosts – members of local administrations and cultural workers who were willing to share with us their knowledge of history, culture and traditions of the region. We were able to visit a sacred site devoted to the naturally emerged depiction of goddess Yanzhima (Saraswati) on a rock in a locality Yarikto and have conversations with lamas of a nearby Buddhist temple datsan who kindly explained to us spiritual meaning of the site and the history behind it.
During negotiations held by PMT with local administrations agreements concerning the summer camp were obtained. As a result of social partnership activities of PMT rural schools received for their gardens complexes of bio-fertilizers produced according to EM technologies which were donated by “EM Centre” company in Ulan-Ude. Funds for the travel were also obtained from two deputies of the People’s Khural (parliament) of the Republic of Buryatia.