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Mongolian Trip 2006:
Susan's Journal Entries

The Sound Essence Project Core Area of Cultural Sustainability focuses on the following key components.

1. Traditional Arts

2. Storytelling

3. Feature and Documentary Film

4. Cultural Pilgrimages

Traditional Arts

The Sound Essence Project worked with a group of women in Undershill, Dungobi who are sewing purses with traditional patterns embroidered on them. Another group of women in the same village are felting and making slippers, booties and seat covers. Their labels read MONGOLIAN WOMEN CREATE SELF SUSTAINING INCOMES BY RE-ESTABLISHING TRADITIONAL ARTS. The women mail us their products and they are sold in the United States. One hundred percent of the money is returned to the women. They are then able to buy coats and boots for their children and coal in the winter to heat their homes.

Later in 2006, we will launch our second microfinance project. This group of women in Erdenet will design and produce traditional patterns on leather along with bags and purses to sell in Mongolia and various places around the world. Look for this up and coming leather project with traditional designs.

The Sound Essence Project and a gentleman in Washington were instrumental in bringing Chimeddorj to Bellingham for an art show at The Blue Horse Gallery, the summer of 2005. Chimeddorj is internationally recognized for his painting of horses. We were very grateful that we were able to view his artwork and to continue to work with Chimedorj in the future.

Our travels in Mongolia will continue, and we will continue to support in any way that is possible, traditional art in Mongolia and the United States.

Storytelling

The heart of our work is an emphasis on cultural sustainability. The Sound Essence Project works to preserve traditional practices with sustainable ways of life.

The Mongolian Storyteller’s Project is committed to supporting the continuation of traditional stories and healing practices of Mongolian Elders, whose traditions are presently at risk due to economic and cultural hardships. This project is a way of reviving traditional wisdom and stories among Mongolian Elders and among Mongolian youth.

Traditional myths and stories provide a vital link to Mongolia’s spiritual heritage, and support cultural traditions to the nation’s youth during a time of intense modernization and change.

Bolortsetseg Chimegregzen Smith will translate the stories with an emphasis on understanding how they teach and heal. We will also work with Shagdarjarjavin Chimeddorj, a Mongolian artist from Ulaan Baatar, to bring the stories alive in a book with artwork.

The stories will also be developed into a documentary film and theater pieces at a later date. This will be under the guidance of Bolortsetseg Chimegregzen Smith , Shagdarjarjavin Chimeddorj, and Susan Bradbury.

Feature and Documentary Film

Sound Essence Productions brings together a diverse group of innovative filmmakers and social artist. Synergistic skills and interest create a forum for dynamic storytelling and advocacy.

Sound Essence Productions is a division of The Sound Essence Project, which is a not-for-profit organization. The videos and film draw their support and resources from grants and in-kind donations. Any profits generated from these projects are reinvested to support the organization at large and scholarships given to Mongolian Youth. Sound Essence Productions develops partnerships with other groups and individuals who are aligned with its mission and commitments.

The medium of film and video is a powerful tool for communicating the impact of the choices we make as individuals and societies on the lives of others. We are a group who believes that a story well told can change hearts, minds, lives and communities. We invite you to be a part of our vision in motion.

The Sound Essence Project is extremely pleased to be working with filmmaker Eero Johnson (videoone.biz) to create a feature length documentary of the people of Mongolia, their stories, and their connection with nature. Please click on the following link to view the movie trailer.

A Land Without Fences: The Mongolian Storyteller's Project

Cultural Pilgrimages

The Sound Essence Project ventured to Mongolia for a month, the summer of 2005. Board members Susan Bradbury, Britt Walker, Advisory board member Stella Ireland, and filmmaker Tom Ensign, headed to Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia with anticipation.

The heart of our work is cultural sustainability in Mongolia. We all were aware that our patterns of thinking and how our thoughts determine the value we place on a culture, an ecosystem, a nation. Our determination was to be culturally sensitive to the culture we were entering into. We continue to learn about the deep roots of nomadic ways of life.

Cultural heritage is celebrated and preserved through 1) oral transmission of stories 2) written works 3) ceremonies and celebrations and 4) art. A large focus of our time in the countryside was to meet Mongolians that were willing to share their stories with us.

The Mongols are deeply connected to the land. The countryside people live in synchrony and harmony with their ecological system. Their production of food is local and bioregional. Consumption and generation of waste is minimized.

While traveling through the countryside our thoughts rested on sustainability relating to continuity of economic, social and environmental aspects of society.

Most landscapes are influenced by cultural patterns of human use. The ever changing mosaic of habitat. The vast landscape and big sky made it difficult for us to see clearly the changes that had occurred over time.

We heard about Zud during 1999-2001 when the temperatures reached -40F and 2 million animals died. The people also spoke of overgrazing and the dust storms that are created with the loss of grasslands.

The Mongolian people we met on the way very generously opened their gers and lives to us. We were served Mongolian tea, bread and butter and yogurt. Many times a story or song was told and the ability to witness and film our experiences.

Our discussions around the campfire every night were based on the question how could we be of assistance to help maintain this way of life?

The Mongolian Storyteller’s Project is our contribution to preserve some of the traditional stories. We have pledged to go to Mongolia for the next 5 years to collect and record stories for an eventual documentary, book, and Storyteller’s Festival. We filmed Tsaatan and Darhad people telling traditional stories and singing traditional songs last year. We will continue the summer of 2006 to travel to the Arkhungai region filming storytellers.

Board member Bolortetseg C. Smith, has been instrumental in translating the stories.

Our pilgrimage lead us to Erdenet to award 4 students college scholarships.

We are committed to seeing Zulzaya Bayanbat, Oyan-Nomin Otgonbayar, Solongoo Adilbish, and Bayarjargal Batsaikhan through 4 years of college. Erkhembayar, an art student is working in Ulaan Baatar under Chimeddorj’s guidance. He also received a college scholarship.

We laid the foundation for a microfinance project, The Blessing Bakery, which began the winter of 2006. Cookies and breads are being made and sold in Erdenet.

This was a life changing journey for all of us. Susan, Laura Jimerson, and filmmaker Eero Johnson will head to Mongolia in the summer of 2006 to continue the work begun, and to implement a tree planting project. This is designed to create a sustainable environment, jobs, and a source of sustainably managed wood for the people. Read about our current adventures in Mongolia in 2006 here, in Susan's daily journal.

Mongolian Journal 2006