From September 11 to October 9, 2015 “Uly Dala Eli” Republican Historical and Cultural Expedition takes place in Kazakhstan. Providers of the event are the Assembly of people of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kogamdyk kelisim RSI.

The main objective of the expedition is to strengthen the Kazakh identity and national unity by perceiving and promoting the historical, cultural and spiritual heritage of people of Kazakhstan.

Having started from three cities of the republic, i.e. Astana, Pavlodar, Aktau, it will proceed to other oblasts, and its culmination point is a great celebration ceremony dedicated to the anniversary of the Kazakh khanate, which will take place in Taraz. Celebration of this great event referring to the richest historical and cultural heritage of the ancestry is vitally important for the present and future of the country. The history of the Kazakh khanate is an invaluable fount of experience in maintaining and developing the state in very difficult internal and external conditions. The experience in establishing the tradition of consolidation of people at the crucial moment, the history of outstanding Kazakh khans’ activity, such as Dzhanibek, Kerey, Kassym khan, Khak-Nazar, Esimkhan, Tauke khan, Ablay khan, whose wise governance saved the people from genocide and prevented dissolution and total disappearance of the state, are of great interest for Kazakhstani in current conditions of geopolitical and economic crisis.

Many historical objects of the Kazakh khanate period were preserved on the territory of Pavlodar Priirtyshye. This was well demonstrated by the expedition, in which members of the scientific-expert group of the Assembly of people of Kazakhstan of Pavlodar oblast, the academic staff and students of the University, museum workers and representatives of ethnocultural associations took part. Scholars of PSU, i.e. Doctor of Historical Sciences S. N. Mamytova, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences M. E. Issin, Candidates of Historical Sciences G. K. Zhapekova, K. K. Battalov, E. K. Zhussupov, and also students majoring in History formed the expedition.

The specified route of the expedition “Uly Dala Eli” passing through the territories of Aktogay, Irtysh, May and Bayanaul districts, and Ekibastuz demonstrated the heroic past of the ancestry, which might become the role model for growing generation, and favour the cultivation of the sense of patriotism, tolerance, unity, and the establishment of eternal values of Mangilik El.

Collected materials are of a great scientific interest. They will bring an opportunity to more fully characterize the peculiarities of formation of the nationhood’s origins on the territory of Kazakhstan, lives and activity of prominent personalities, such as Abylay khan, Bukhar zhirau, Sultanbek sultan, Mussa Shormanov; Bayan, Bogenbay, Kabanbay, Olzhabay, Zhassybay and Malaysary batyrs, et al., who played a significant role in establishing and strengthening state traditions, preserving territorial integrity and unity.

During the expedition the meetings with the local population on the theme: “The heritage of the perpetual nation is national unity”, conferences on the theme: “The land’s history is the nation’s history”, lectures-presentations on the theme: “Kazakhstan’s model of social consensus and national unity of N. A. Nazarbayev”, campaigns on the theme: “The unique gift”, within the framework of which books were presented to libraries and museums, were held for the purpose of further popularization of the Kazakh model of social consensus and national unity of N. A. Nazarbayev, and creation of the base of the large-scale Internet project titled “The encyclopedia of Kazakhstan”.

While moving through oblasts, members of the expedition were provided with extensive support of local public authorities, ethnocultural associations, area studies specialists, creative intellectuals and the population of an oblast.

Enclosing deep gratitude, we would like to express our confidence that the Pavlodar stage of the expedition “Uly Dala Eli” would not only honorably represent the region to the republic, but it would also favour further development of the historical science of Kazakhstan, specify perspective directions of development of domestic cultural-cognitive and ecological tourism, and also confirm the idea “Mangilik El” of N. A. Nazarbayev. Being armed with invaluable historical experience of our glorious ancestry, we will become stronger, and our state will be perpetual and prosperous for the sake of people!