Samsun Circassian Association

Samsun Circassian Association was found in 1966 (titled at that time as Samsun North Caucasus Cultural Association). The aim of the association is trying to prevent its members from assimilation, to form cultural unity. By compiling our traditional cultural values and developing them in harmony with the contemporary world culture, it is to make its members more beneficial to the society and to provide solidarity among the members as intellectual citizens who respect the traditional cultural values and know the realities of the country and the world. In Samsun Circassian Association, there are many commissions and clubs such as Youth, Language (Mothertongue), Women, Funeral & Wedding, and Children Club which is known as ‘Young Narts’. Through these commissions and clubs, Samsun Circassian Association has been operating many activities in order to prevent assimilation, to raise awareness about Circassian Culture and Policies in both local and national scale such as remembering the history of ‘The Great Genocide and Exile of Circassians/21 May 1864’ Since 1996, Shible (Thunder God of Narts) Folk Music and Dance Ensemble has performed many concerts in Samsun and around Turkey. Still, young people from high school and college and young working people are participated in this ensemble in order to learn how to perform traditional Caucasian dances and learn how to play traditional musical instruments, such as Shchepshine, Apapshine, Phkach’ch and also modern instruments such as different types of accordions. By doing so, traditional dances are not forgotten, and by organizing these kinds of demonstrations in different times of a year, Circassian people attending these demonstrations, realize that these traditional music and dances are remembered. In terms of stage arts; on the other hand, this dance club helps to enable to form the mixture traditional dances into modern dances. On the other hand, there is a ‘Nart Children Club’. Children between age of 6 and 12 are gathered in this club. They not only learn how to perform traditional Caucasus dances, but also help themselves to experience socialization process aside from school and home. They also learn about their culture and tradition. In this club, intended for children, there are activities like watching cartoons from Circassia which are generally consisted of ‘Nart Sagas’, taking homework such as learning a certain sentences and words in their ‘Native Language’ from elders in their families, which helps to interact one generation to another. Commission of Women helps Circassian women to gather in a certain place. Moreover, they organize in Xase (Circassian word of Association) by class of handicrafts which is a Circassian traditional crafts on clothes and accessories. Not only these kinds of classes they perform but also they try to help college students who struggle economically in Samsun. They communicate with youth by doing that, and constant connection between women and youth is created. In Circassian society, wedding and funeral ceremonies take great place. In terms of solidarity and social cohesion, attending Circassian people’s both wedding and funeral ceremonies enables ‘Xase’ to interact with people and helps to create crucial bond between its members and organization (Xase) There is also another course and commission in Xase which is titled as ‘Native Language Commission’ and ‘Adyghabze Course’ which has been formed since 2011. In order to learn how to speak basic words and sentences in Circassian language, this course takes a vital place in activities of Samsun Circassian Association. Generally, the course contains techniques about ‘daily spoken language’. Youth Commission in Xase is consisted of all young participants such as high school students, college students, and working people between ages of 19-25. Young people are very important and have crucial position in organization because they are all participated in all areas Xase’s organizations. You can see them participating in Native Language Course and Commission, performing in Folk Music and Dance Ensemble, attending Funerals & Weddings, and also help trainers in Nart Child Club Dance Training, etc… They also help xase to organize special events at special days such as ‘International Native Circassian Language Day’, ’21 May 1864-Circassian Genocide and Exile Day’, etc… This commission is also responsible to strengthen communication between young people, for doing that, they organize meetings one or more at xase in every month.