Q: Who are the Kalmyks?
A: Kalmyks are essentially ethnic Mongols from Western Mongolia who fled Mongolia in the 17th century and later established their own Republic called Kalmykia in Russia.
Q: What is Kalmyk Legacy?
A: Kalmyk Legacy is a free series on YouTube which features episodes highlighting the complexities of Kalmyk life, history and culture.
Our First Project:
Our first short documentary featured the life story of Alexei Ivanchukov, a Kalmyk man born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria who was among the first group of Kalmyks to immigrate to the United States in 1951 with the support of the Tolstoy Foundation. In April 2011 this initial project was showcased at the 37th Annual New Jersey Folk Festival at Rutgers University.
A: Kalmyks are essentially ethnic Mongols from Western Mongolia who fled Mongolia in the 17th century and later established their own Republic called Kalmykia in Russia.
Q: What is Kalmyk Legacy?
A: Kalmyk Legacy is a free series on YouTube which features episodes highlighting the complexities of Kalmyk life, history and culture.
Our First Project:
Our first short documentary featured the life story of Alexei Ivanchukov, a Kalmyk man born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria who was among the first group of Kalmyks to immigrate to the United States in 1951 with the support of the Tolstoy Foundation. In April 2011 this initial project was showcased at the 37th Annual New Jersey Folk Festival at Rutgers University.
Our Director:
Dechen Kelden, otherwise known by her pen name Young Turquoise Bee, was born and raised in the Kalmyk community of New Jersey. She was born to a Kalmyk mother and a Tibetan father. Her mother, Anna, was among the first group of Kalmyks who were born in the United States while her father was a refugee who fled Tibet in exile in the year 1959 as a result of the Chinese occupation of Tibet. Dechen focused her studies on social psychology at Sarah Lawrence College and developed a keen interest in linking psychology to historical events including genocide and mass displacement of people. She hopes that through this YouTube series people all over the world will learn to understand the complexities of the Kalmyk identity and for Kalmyks to better understand each other and themselves. Dechen currently works as a marketing representative in the field of environmental insurance. |
Our Producer:
Tenzin Wangchuk Tasur otherwise known by his rap name Exiled Prophet is the tech genius and videographer behind the Kalmyk Legacy series. He was born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal. Tenzin is of Tibetan descent and has come to love and understand the Kalmyk community of New Jersey. He has recognized many similarities between both ethnic groups, both culturally and historically and hopes that this series helps to further develop the friendship between Kalmyks and Tibetans. Tenzin is a graduate of Baruch College where he focused his studies in Digital Marketing and Computer Information Systems. He currently works in the field of Digital Marketing. |
Our Interns:
Our wonderful interns Anna Sulimenko, Tenzing Tashishar and Yeshi Lhakyi currently help transcribe each interview we do. Their detailed documentation of the information presented in each interview makes everything we do so much easier. We would be lost without them.
Our wonderful interns Anna Sulimenko, Tenzing Tashishar and Yeshi Lhakyi currently help transcribe each interview we do. Their detailed documentation of the information presented in each interview makes everything we do so much easier. We would be lost without them.
Music:
Our episodes feature music from the artist Tsagaan Zam who is currently based in Kalmykia.
Photography:
Most of the photography shown in the series is the work of Anna Kelden.
Our episodes feature music from the artist Tsagaan Zam who is currently based in Kalmykia.
Photography:
Most of the photography shown in the series is the work of Anna Kelden.