For almost four years, within the framework of several projects, the RDF has been working to collect, analyze and disseminate traditional knowledge, the secrets of ancestors about nomadic life. Over the years, the RDF has collected many methods, recipes, technologies, stories, legends from the mouths of the keepers of traditional knowledge in our country, as well as in Turkey and China. Especially memorable were the exhibitions of traditional knowledge at the Kok-Oyrok jailoo of the Kemin region and in a place near Kok-Zhangak of the Suzak region. There were discussed the most relevant areas of traditional knowledge that are of interest to young people, farmers, livestock breeders, and teachers of agricultural colleges.
Network "Kyrgyz El Akyl Kazyna" is aimed at preserving what we can still manage to preserve from the people's treasury of the wisdom of our fathers, to help today's livestock breeders make their life in the harsh conditions of the mountains safer and more pleasant, just as our ancestors lived, studying the harmony of coexistence with nature.
The history of the network
The idea of creating a pastoral network came during the summer exhibitions and fairs. Participants of traditional knowledge projects supported the idea of the RDF to create a Network that would unite all those people and organizations who are interested in and care about the preservation and transfer of traditional knowledge. Within the framework of the Network, it is possible to combine, generalize, and collect all the accumulated experience, knowledge and information about various methods of grazing, treating animals with improvised natural remedies, rules and recipes for the use of medicinal herbs, the secrets of raising horses and pacers, caring for yaks in alpine conditions, using camels in everyday life and in migrations, rituals and traditions of nomadic life, educational games for young people.
The first informal meeting of 10 people was held after the training for trainers-pastoralists, organized by the RDF in the Ak-Tash recreation centre. Then the main directions of the Network's work and ways of collecting and transmitting information were discussed.
It was also agreed to use the Fund as an executive body for the Network since the RDF has a database of pastoralists. Members of the informal Network passed recipes to each other, recommended people who knew one or another method and created plans for joint work at the level of Chui oblast. After they had the opportunity to meet again with the initiators of the network when they conducted "Zhayit mekteb" at four pastures. Topics were on training and education of horses and pacers, breeding yaks in alpine conditions, rational use of pastures according to ancestral technology, nomadic cuisine, natural colouring, installation and storage of a yurt, decoration of a yurt, treatment of animals, rituals and traditions of nomadic life, medicinal herbs.
Goals and Objectives of the Network
- Providing support to various organizations that work in the field of livestock development and improvement of pastures, the revival of cultural heritage, through the exchange and provision of information within the scope of the network,
- Collection and generalization of the accumulated experience of using traditional knowledge of network participants with the help of RDF and other organizations,
- Advisory assistance on training using traditional knowledge teachers and trainers,
- Organization of outdoor demonstration master classes (on rituals, handicrafts, kitchen),
- Opening a page on the official website of the RDF updating as events occur,
- Access to other traditional knowledge networks through RDF and other organizations,
- Opening of the seasons of ethnic tourism with the demonstration of ceremonies and rituals of nomadic activities of the Kyrgyz based on initiative groups,
- Promotion of traditional knowledge in the media,
- Raising the issues of preserving traditional knowledge at the state level and protecting the rights to traditional knowledge.
Members of the Network:
Network Leader:
Dzhanyshbaeva Altyn, NGO "Onor Bulagy"
Initiator group:
Ryskeldieva Zulayka - artist, designer Museum "Tashtar Keremeti", Ton district, Issyk-Kul region
Monoldorova Zhyldyz - bubu, psychic, leader of the Cheksiz Kut self-help group, Kemin town, Chui region
Algozhoeva Zhanar - a collector of medicinal herbs, p. Novo-Pokrovka, Chui region
Abdrakhmanova Jyrgal - group leader, Federation of the Elderly, p. Kayindy, Kemin district, Chui region
Nusupova Roza - researcher of methods, rituals for reconciliation, harmony between peoples, Jalal-Abad
Abdyldabekov Myrzabek - livestock farmer, s. Chaek, Zhumgal district, Naryn region
Aydarova Bukon - Methodist of Talas Agricultural and Economic College, Talas
Umarov Kambaraaly - yak farmer, s. Kyzyl-Eshme, Chon-Alai district, Osh region
Ashyrbekov Abyshka - lecturer at Talas Agroeconomic College
Jailoobekov Chubak - jockey, trainer of pacers of the agricultural cooperative "Aikol", Ton Rai