Yakutsk conference celebrates 225 years of Yakut literary heritage and Afanasy Uvarovsky's legacy

A nationwide conference titled 'Early Written Monuments and the Paths to Yakut Literary Tradition' is being held in Yakutsk on 2 December. The event marks the 225th anniversary of Afanasy Uvarovsky, the earliest known Yakut language author, and the 125th anniversary of Alexei Kulakovsky’s first published work. The conference is hosted by the Institute for Humanities Research and Problems of Indigenous Peoples of the North, a branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Siberian Division. Sardana Boyazkova, the institute’s director, is leading the event.

Over 100 participants are attending, including scholars from Russian cities, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. The programme features academic discussions on methodologies for studying national literatures and the exchange of research perspectives.

An exhibition dedicated to Uvarovsky’s legacy and the cultural heritage of the Zhigansky District is open alongside the conference. Rare items on display include the first known portrait of Uvarovsky, an 18th–19th century Evenki ritual branch, and a fur triptych panel. The conference highlights Yakut literature, which is currently experiencing a period of rapid growth. It brings together experts to explore the origins and development of Yakut written tradition. The event contributes to the preservation and study of regional cultural heritage.