― 27 ноября 2023 г.
Cultural Bridge Symposium on Turkic Peoples and Native Americans
The event hosted by the Turan University and the Municipality of Maltepe featured a paper presentation by Assist. Prof. Dr. Timur B. Davletov and Expert on Siberia representing the International Organisation of Turkic Culture, TURKSOY Dr. Assist. Prof. Dr. Timur B. Davletov who took part in the event as a guest speaker and discussed common cultural, religious, genetic, anthropological and mythological features of American Indians and Turkic peoples, while also shedding light on the migration of the ancestors of Turks from Asia to America from an archaeological, craniometric and morphological point of view.
The symposium coordinated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gulzhanat Tayauova, Vice Rector of Turan University in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Visiting Professor at George Washington University, USA, started on November 24th, 2023 at the Yaşar Kemal Cultural Centre with the opening speech delivered by Ali Kılıç, the Mayor of the Municipality of Maltepe.
The academic event which brought together scholars and participants from Asia, America and Europe along with various scholars from Türkiye, Kazakhstan, the USA and Siberia, was held in four sessions and featured paper presentations and speeches by the Honorary Statesman of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ambassador and former Senator, Member of the International Academy of Higher Education Institutions Prof. Dr. Akhmet Adil, Rector of Turan University, President of the Association of Higher Education Institutions of Kazakhstan Prof. Dr. Rakhman Alshanov, Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan, First Vice President of the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan, the General Director of the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies and former MP Prof. Dr. Serik Seidumanov, the Deputy Coordinator of International Relations of Ege University and E.U. Institute of Turkish World Studies Department of Turkish Folklore Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serik Seidumanov, the Deputy Coordinator of International Relations at Ege University and Faculty Member of the Department of Turkish Folklore at the Institute of Turkish World Studies, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pınar Fedakar, the Faculty Member of the Department of American Culture and Literature at the Hacettepe University. Prof. Dr. B. Meldan Tanrısal, Dr. Timur B. Davletov, the Expert on Siberia and Faculty Member of the Graduate Programme of Cultural Studies of the Cappadocia University, Dan Simplicio, Anthropologist from the State of New Mexico, USA, Crow Canyon Archaeological Centre Cultural Specialist, a representative of the Zuni Pueblo Tribe, the former President of the Turkish Coalition of America and Lincoln McCurdy, the Founding Director of Creative Emergence LLC, Chad Pfeiffer, a representative of the Navajo Tribe in the State of New Mexico, USA, along with Jana Pfeiffer, member of the Task Team on Disappeared and Murdered Indigenous Peoples of the Americas and a representative of the Navajo Tribe.
While all participants expressed their wish as to the fact that the symposium should be held every year, it was also emphasised that for the first time in the Turkic World, Turkic nations and Native American societies were brought together on an academic platfor. Hence, participants stressed that this event should be considered as a historical starting point and that from now on such events fostering scientific research and cultural activities should be further carried out as it is time to establish and consolidate this cultural bridge connecting Asia, Europe and the Americas.
