Chakchak: Languages and Cultures Foundation

09/28/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday for Erzya Mythology, the first installment of our 2026–2027 Hidden Mythologies lecture series! We appreciate everyone who came out to learn, listen, and celebrate Erzya culture with us!

Our most sincere thanks to Vlasta Pilot, Erzya folk practitioner, educator, artist, and creator, for sharing the rich mythological traditions of the Erzya people with us. https://thevlasta.substack.com/

Our deepest gratitude to the IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology for once again providing us with a wonderful space for our lecture series, and for their continued support of our foundation.

A very special thank you to the Bloomington Arts Commission for sponsoring this program and helping us continue to bring Central Eurasian languages, cultures, traditions, and performances to the Bloomington community!

We are so excited to have begun another year of Hidden Mythologies, and we hope to see you at our next lecture!

If you would like to help our organization bring even more wonderful programming, cultural events, and special performances to our community, please consider donating at https://www.chakchakfoundation.org/donate

09/21/2026

Join us this Saturday at the IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology for the inaugural event of our 2026–2027 lecture series. Our special guest, content creator and native practitioner of Russian and Erzya folk traditions Vlasta Pilot will speak about Erzya Mythology!

06/15/2026

We are thrilled to share that Chakchak has been awarded a $1,000 grant from the Bloomington Arts Commission in support of our Hidden Mythologies Lecture Series!

This funding will help us continue bringing engaging speakers, thought-provoking discussions, and diverse cultural perspectives to our community as we explore myths, legends, and storytelling traditions from around the world.

We are deeply grateful to the Bloomington Arts Commission for investing in local arts and cultural programming and for supporting opportunities that foster learning, dialogue, and cross-cultural understanding.

Thank you for helping us make the 2026 Hidden Mythologies Lecture Series possible—we can't wait to share what we have planned!

04/16/2026

Please join us on Saturday, April 25 for the next installment of the Hidden Mythologies of the Volga and Ural Region lecture series. During this lecture, Dr. Golshat Safiullina will speak about Mordva mythology and we will enjoy a musical performance of traditional folk songs by Daryana Antipova as well as enjoy fugues by young Mordva composers Tatiana Kezina and Polina Ushanova performed by Dr. Inna Moiseeva (piano) of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

03/31/2026

Thank you to everyone who came to Bashkir Mythology, the third lecture in CHAKCHAK's Hidden Mythologies of the Volga and Ural Region lecture series.

Thank you to Dr. Golshat Safiullina for teaching us about Mari (Cheremis) myths, including Ġäyšä-Fatima the protective spirit, the demon (and sometimes benevolent helper!) Azhdaha, and the friend and helper to the batyrs (heroes) Tulpar.

Our most sincere thank you to pianist Dr. Inna Moiseeva, soprano Victoria Popritkin, and bass Ron Kalinovsky from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music for their beautiful performance of arias from the opera Tulyak and Susylu by Nazib Zhiganov! Bravo!

Special thanks to Central Eurasian Studies at Indiana University, Inner Asian & Uralic National Resource Center, and Robert F. Byrnes Russian and East European Institute for their constant support of Chakchak and our lecture series.

And our deepest gratitude to the IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology for providing us the performance space, and being ongoing ardent supporters of our foundation.

See you all on April 25 for the final lecture of the Spring semester: Feminism and Mordvin Mythic Panteon: Women Rule the Sky!

If you would like to help Chakchak bring even more wonderful programming and special performances, please consider donating at https://www.chakchakfoundation.org/donate

03/18/2026

We are excited to share that you can now support our mission directly through our official donations page! As a designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, all donations to Chakchak are tax-deductible.

Every contribution helps us preserve and promote the rich linguistic and cultural heritages of underrepresented and Indigenous communities of the Russian Federation.

Thank you for being part of this important work!

Support Our MissionYour generosity helps us preserve and celebrate the languages and cultures of underrepresented and Indigenous ethnic communities of the Russian Federation. By donating, you make it possible for us to:Create and share free learning resourcesHost cultural events that celebrate diver...

03/18/2026

Please join us on Saturday, March 28 for the next installment of the Hidden Mythologies of the Volga and Ural Region lecture series. During this lecture, Dr. Golshat Safiullina will speak about Bashkir mythology and we will enjoy a musical performance of arias from the opera "Tulyak and Susylu" by Nazib Zhiganov, performed by Victoria Popritkin (soprano), Ron Kalinovsky (bass), and Dr. Inna Moiseeva (piano), of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

03/02/2026

Thank you to everyone who came to Mari Mythology, the second lecture in CHAKCHAK's Hidden Mythologies of the Volga and Ural Region lecture series.

Thank you to Dr. Golshat Safiullina for teaching us about Mari (Cheremis) cosmogonic myths and spiritual practices, including the legendary emergence of the world from a duck's egg, Kugu Yumo (the Great White God), Shochyn-Ava (the Fertility Goddess), and küsoto (traditional rituals peformed in sacred groves).

Our most sincere thank you to Dr. Inna Moiseeva and Ophir Dahari from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music for their beautiful performances of Mari-inspired pieces by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius! Bravo!

Special thanks to Central Eurasian Studies at Indiana University, Inner Asian & Uralic National Resource Center, and Robert F. Byrnes Russian and East European Institute for supporting our event.

And our deepest gratitude to the IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology for providing us the performance space, exhibiting pieces from their collection, and being ongoing ardent supporters of our foundation.

See you all on March 28 when our series continues with a lecture on Bashkir mythology!