By Zarema Mustafaieva
Crimea is Ukraine (Крим — це Україна) represents far more than just the beautiful landscapes, music, cuisine, and traditions of the peninsula. It’s a recognition of the enduring bonds that have united Ukrainians and Crimea’s indigenous people — the Crimean Tatars — through centuries,” noted Adriana Krasnianski, who served as the evening’s emcee at the Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago, setting the tone for the celebration.
The evening transcended typical cultural presentations through its innovative format and substantive content. The centerpiece was an expertly curated exhibition, brought to Chicago by the Crimean Tatar Foundation USA and created in partnership with Purdue University’s John Martinson Honors College.
In a powerful segment of the program, the Foundation’s presidents were allocated eighteen minutes to bridge past and present — moving from the exhibition’s historical artifacts to current-day realities of life in occupied Crimea, providing attendees with both cultural context and contemporary perspective.
A special highlight of the evening was the performance by the Women’s Bandura Ensemble of North America. Founded in 2011 and being the only all-female ensemble of its kind outside Ukraine, the group is known for performances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Their rendition of a Crimean Tatar folk song accompanied by the Ukrainian bandura created a unique cultural bridge between the two peoples.
“‘Crimea remains the cradle of Ukrainian civilization,’ declared Ukrainian Consul in Chicago, Serhiy Koledov, in his address to the gathering. Commending the joint initiative of the Ukrainian National Museum and the Crimean Tatar Foundation USA, he emphasized how their work in preserving historical memory serves as a crucial counterpoint to occupation policies. The Consul paid special tribute to Reshat Ametov, the first victim of the 2014 occupation, whose sacrifice he described as a powerful symbol of resistance. ‘While many focus on 2022, the war actually began in 2014 with the seizure of Crimea,’ Koledov reminded the audience, reaffirming Ukraine’s unwavering commitment to restoring its territorial integrity and protecting its indigenous people.
The evening’s atmosphere was steeped in authenticity: guests, following the dress code, wore elements of Crimean Tatar national attire — women in fez, marama, and long dresses, men in kalpak and kushak. Traditional dishes — chebureki, sarma in grape leaves, baklava, and aromatic coffee — complemented the cultural immersion.
“Chicago’s Ukrainian community, one of the largest in the United States, has always been known for its unity and readiness to support compatriots,” note the event organizers. Indeed, the diaspora, formed by several waves of emigration, demonstrated remarkable unity in supporting Crimea’s cultural heritage.
This event was not merely a demonstration of cultural richness but also an important reminder of the unbreakable bonds between Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar peoples, their shared commitment to preserving identity and cultural heritage in today’s challenging circumstances.
The evening served as a powerful testament to how cultural traditions can bridge distances and unite communities, even as their homeland faces ongoing challenges. Through music, cuisine, and shared stories, participants celebrated the enduring connection between Ukraine’s ethnic groups and their collective resilience.