From Pastoral Nomadism to Global Urbanism: The Complex Journeys of the Kalmyks in America and Russia
The Kalmyk Diaspora Archives Project launched an exhibit about New Jersey's Kalmyk American community on January 20, 2017 at Rutgers University’s Douglass Library. The exhibit, curated by Mr. Nikolai Burlakoff, tells the journey of the Kalmyks from what is now Western China to the steppes of southern Russia to the east coast of the United States. The exhibit included photographs, literature, videos, multimedia and artwork.
At the New Jersey Folk Festival, on Saturday, April 29, Mr. Nikolai Burlakoff will deliver the final report about the Kalmyk Archives Project and the exhibit, "From Nomadism to Global Urbanism." All members of the Kalmyk community, and those interested in the subject of archiving materials, are invited to attend. His report and discussion will be held from from 11:00 AM to 11:25 AM (EST) in the Seminar tent (the white and blue Mongolian ger). Everyone is welcome, admission is free and the event will be held rain of shine. For complete information about the Festival visit: their website.
Article titled "On Exhibit at Douglass Library: From Pastoral Nomadism to Global Urbanism"
Article titled "From China to Russia to the U.S. and Western Europe"
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Mongolian Children’s Aid and Development Fund (MCADF) Assists Dalanzadgad
In October 2016 the Mongolian Children’s Aid and Development Fund (MCADF) provided aid to the town of Dalanzadgad in Mongolia’s Southern Gobi Province through the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Participants of the two day workshop were instructed on how to develop local ecological and biological education.
Below are photos of the cover and the first page of a art booklet published by WCS after the they held a wildlife art contest for school children during the World Biodiversity Day in 2016. The booklet's title is "My Motherland's Nature and Wildlife, Through My Eyes", and copies were distributed this year to children who participated in the contest. The first page pictured below includes a greeting explaining that the drawings in the booklet were supposed to depict some of the most rare wild animals and plant life in Mongolia and that the art was a way for both children and adults to learn about the importance of wildlife.
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Decimation of Mongolia’s Saiga Antelope
The population of Mongolia’s saiga antelope, a critically endangered species that live in Mongolia’s Khovd province, have plummeted in recent months. An estimated 2,500 saiga have perished due to a virus since the end of January, 2017. The antelope are also targeted by wildlife traffickers.
For the Full Article, Click Here
To learn more about the Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS) efforts to aid the saiga please visit their website
To make a donation, visit their donation page. Using the provided box, please indicate that you wish your gift to support "saiga".
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Anda Union Performs at the Highline Ballroom in New York City
On Tuesday, February 7th, 2017, the Inner (Southern) Mongolian folk music band Anda Union performed at the Highline Ballroom in New York City. The band had also performed at the 2011 Chinggis Khaan Memorial Ceremony in Princeton, New Jersey. The concert spanned about 90 minutes, with songs such as Otriin Aduuchin, Bombordoi, and Galloping Horses. Singer Qiqigmaa performed a touching rendition of her own composition, "Minii Buryat".
For More Information About the Band, Click Here
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Khusugtun Performs at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City
On Friday, March 10, 2017, the Mongolian folk music band Khusugtun performed two sold out shows at the Rubin Museum of Art, as part of their tour in the United States. The band is internationally recognized for their acapella arrangements using khoomei and several different traditional Mongolian instruments and won second place in "Asia's Got Talent 2015". The concert spanned over 90 minutes, during which the band played twelve songs, including both traditional pieces like "Twelve Years" and "Altargana", as well as their own compositions like "For Daughter".