CIUS initiates Indigenous Crimean Tatar Studies fellowship
20 December 2024
Written for New Pathway, by Andrea Kopylech, CIUS
Quoted from the article in the New Pathway Ukrainian News from December 18, 2024.
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The Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, and Faculty of Native Studies welcome Nara Narimanova to the 海角社区 as our first Ph.D. student in Indigenous Crimean Tatar Studies. This doctoral fellowship highlights new and important intersections between the discipline of Indigenous studies and the field of Crimean Tatar studies.
Leading in the development and delivery of programs that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries, this fall CIUS welcomes Nara Narimanova to the 海角社区—our first Ph.D. student in the newly instituted Indigenous Crimean Tatar Studies fellowship at the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) and the Faculty of Native Studies (FNS).
Delivering global impact in Ukrainian studies since 1976, CIUS recognizes Indigenous studies in Canada as a trail-blazer in the international community of Indigenous scholars, innovating in the pursuit of knowledge, the resurgence of Indigenous knowledge systems, and the development of sustained and successful practices of decolonization.
“At the 海角社区, CIUS worked hard to create a doctoral studies opportunity to pursue Crimean Tatar studies as Indigenous Studies. I believe it is important to engage in the field of Indigenous studies for young Crimean Tatar scholars who could benefit from the productive intellectual accomplishments already achieved in this field,” declares CIUS director Natalia Khanenko-Friesen.
She further explains that since Russia’s invasion and annexation of Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea in 2014, the Crimean Tatars—an Indigenous people of Ukraine—have been striving to maintain their cultural, social, academic, and political life against the background of forced mass displacement from their native territories and political repressions under the Russian regime in the occupied peninsula.
CIUS is committed to supporting and strengthening Indigenous Crimean Tatar studies, aiming particularly to foster a robust intellectual connection between Crimean Tatar studies and Indigenous studies both in Canada and globally.
“In the context of these developments, Crimean Tatar Studies is a crucial area of research for today's Ukraine and Ukrainian studies,” emphasizes Dr. Khanenko-Friesen. “We are thankful to our partners, the Faculty of Native Studies and our Colleagues – Vice Dean Adam Gaudry, Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) Paul Gareau, and Nykkie Lugosi-Schimpf, Associate Professor, for this extremely important and timely collaborative effort—in partnership with our colleagues in Ukraine and internationally.”
Acknowledging the potential global impact of this venture, FNS vice-dean Gaudry states, “We are excited to support Nara's scholarship as she seeks to develop intersections between the discipline of Indigenous studies and the field of Crimean Tatar studies, in particular with her focus on the postcolonial experiences of Crimean Tatars. This partnership between FNS and the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies is an important opportunity for the 海角社区 to champion the study of Crimean Tatar history, culture and society from an Indigenous studies perspective.”
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Nara began her advocacy career in Crimea working for a local civil society organization on the protection of human rights, until the Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014. Since then Nara has been working with Internally Displaced People (IDPs) from occupied regions in Ukraine, including many who are Crimean Tatars. Before coming to Canada, Narimanova worked with the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative to protect cultural heritage and scientific collections threatened by the war in Ukraine. Her research focuses on the postcolonial experiences of Crimean Tatars, particularly in the context of their resistance to colonial and imperialist forces, their displacement, and their ongoing political engagement, not least in support of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Leading in the development and delivery of programs that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries, this fall CIUS welcomes Nara Narimanova to the 海角社区—our first Ph.D. student in the newly instituted Indigenous Crimean Tatar Studies fellowship at the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) and the Faculty of Native Studies (FNS).
Delivering global impact in Ukrainian studies since 1976, CIUS recognizes Indigenous studies in Canada as a trail-blazer in the international community of Indigenous scholars, innovating in the pursuit of knowledge, the resurgence of Indigenous knowledge systems, and the development of sustained and successful practices of decolonization.
“At the 海角社区, CIUS worked hard to create a doctoral studies opportunity to pursue Crimean Tatar studies as Indigenous Studies. I believe it is important to engage in the field of Indigenous studies for young Crimean Tatar scholars who could benefit from the productive intellectual accomplishments already achieved in this field,” declares CIUS director Natalia Khanenko-Friesen.
She further explains that since Russia’s invasion and annexation of Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea in 2014, the Crimean Tatars—an Indigenous people of Ukraine—have been striving to maintain their cultural, social, academic, and political life against the background of forced mass displacement from their native territories and political repressions under the Russian regime in the occupied peninsula.
CIUS is committed to supporting and strengthening Indigenous Crimean Tatar studies, aiming particularly to foster a robust intellectual connection between Crimean Tatar studies and Indigenous studies both in Canada and globally.
“In the context of these developments, Crimean Tatar Studies is a crucial area of research for today's Ukraine and Ukrainian studies,” emphasizes Dr. Khanenko-Friesen. “We are thankful to our partners, the Faculty of Native Studies and our Colleagues – Vice Dean Adam Gaudry, Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) Paul Gareau, and Nykkie Lugosi-Schimpf, Associate Professor, for this extremely important and timely collaborative effort—in partnership with our colleagues in Ukraine and internationally.”
Acknowledging the potential global impact of this venture, FNS vice-dean Gaudry states, “We are excited to support Nara's scholarship as she seeks to develop intersections between the discipline of Indigenous studies and the field of Crimean Tatar studies, in particular with her focus on the postcolonial experiences of Crimean Tatars. This partnership between FNS and the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies is an important opportunity for the 海角社区 to champion the study of Crimean Tatar history, culture and society from an Indigenous studies perspective.”
~ ~ ~
Nara began her advocacy career in Crimea working for a local civil society organization on the protection of human rights, until the Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014. Since then Nara has been working with Internally Displaced People (IDPs) from occupied regions in Ukraine, including many who are Crimean Tatars. Before coming to Canada, Narimanova worked with the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative to protect cultural heritage and scientific collections threatened by the war in Ukraine. Her research focuses on the postcolonial experiences of Crimean Tatars, particularly in the context of their resistance to colonial and imperialist forces, their displacement, and their ongoing political engagement, not least in support of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Written for New Pathway, by Andrea Kopylech, CIUS
Quoted from the article in the New Pathway Ukrainian News from December 18, 2024.