According to the wisdom of the elders, the knowledge of the starry sky held paramount importance among nomadic Kyrgyz people due to practical necessities such as timekeeping, navigation, and seasonal changes. The stars on the sky played a vital role in shaping the life and worldview of ancient Kyrgyz, as they relied solely on the stars for guidance before embarking on new endeavors or journeys. This knowledge was passed down through generations in the form of oral legends and tales, shared under the vast expanse of the night sky around campfires, where elders would point out different constellations and recount captivating stories to their children. This method of learning and knowledge transmission was a distinctive feature of nomadic life and wisdom. Remarkably, modern astronomers acknowledge that the information concerning the positions of stars and celestial movements conveyed in such legends aligns with scientific astronomical data. Additionally, according to the elders, apart from oral traditions, astronomical knowledge was also preserved on the stone surfaces of Saimaluu-Tash petroglyphs in the form of stone carvings depicting star maps.
Research conducted with traditional practitioners and indigenous communities in collaboration with state educational institutions in the country, has revealed that traditional indigenous knowledge and concepts related to astronomy and the solar system are quite understudied and neglected. There are only a few traditional astronomy bearers and guardians, as well as scientific experts capable of integrating scientific data with indigenous concepts and passing it on to the younger generation. Interest in astronomy as such is dwindling in contemporary Kyrgyz society, and there is a lack of adapted publications addressing this topic. The teaching of astronomy as a separate subject has been removed from the school curriculum and integrated into physics lessons instead, resulting in preschool and elementary school students lacking access to basic concepts about stars and the solar system. Despite the abundance of legends and stories from various cultures and genres in the country’s book market, indigenous legends of the Kyrgyz people in the Kyrgyz language are notably absent from library shelves and bookstore displays. Consequently, the younger generation has minimal access to the astronomical knowledge of their ancestors, posing significant challenges to the transmission of this invaluable heritage.
The initiative group, having access to work with a limited number of guardians and enthusiasts of indigenous knowledge in astronomy that remain active today and access to the Saimaluu-Tash petroglyph database, recognizes a pressing need and urgency to revitalize, transmit and adapt traditional knowledge and concepts of astronomy and celestial objects for preschool and elementary school children. This will be accomplished through the publication of a book, aiming to provide open access to the indigenous ancestral wisdom. The outcomes of this project have a strong potential to serve as foundational steps in integrating indigenous astronomy knowledge imbued with scientific data into the educational curriculum of preschools and elementary schools, as well as reigniting interest in the field of astronomy in general.
One of the potential risks or challenges in the project implementation could be encountering criticism and resistance from academic circles that do not fully acknowledge the significance and value of traditional knowledge. However, the Initiative Group is prepared to address this challenge by leveraging its connections with scholars who integrate scientific methodologies with ancestral knowledge. Collaborating with these scientists will provide the project with strong arguments and support during public discussions, helping to navigate and mitigate any potential opposition from academic circles.
The primary goal of the project is to revitalize, adapt, and convey ancestral traditional indigenous knowledge and understandings of astronomy and celestial objects to preschool and elementary school children. This aim will be implemented through the development and publication of an illustrated book containing several indigenous legends explaining the arrangement of constellations, the dynamics of celestial objects, and the narratives surrounding them.
The expected results of the project include the publication of a colorful illustrated book featuring several indigenous legends presented in the Kyrgyz language, unveiling traditional knowledge of arrangement of constellations, the dynamics of celestial objects, as well as their connection with several petroglyph images of Saimaluu-Tash, which are regarded as an indigenous star map by cultural practitioners. Each illustrated legend in the book will have an interactive component – a brief online quiz game accessible through a QR code as well, aimed at reinforcing the information conveyed in the text, providing an opportunity for self-assessment and intellectual entertainment.
The primary method of work involves close and ongoing collaboration with indigenous cultural communities. To bring this project to fruition, our team will engage in collaborative efforts with a network of practitioners, custodians, and guardians of indigenous oral traditions, as well as storytellers and experts in traditional cosmology and astronomy. These individuals will serve as the foremost authorities in adapting the narratives of indigenous legends exploring the celestial bodies and constellations.
Books possess a distinct capability to captivate and sustain the interest of audiences, particularly young individuals. Through their utilization, the outputs of our project play a pivotal role in generating educational content that not only imparts information but also captivates viewers, prompting them to contemplate their own culture and language more profoundly. By fostering a connection to indigenous culture and traditions in the midst of globalization, we believe this approach facilitates sustainable development.