The Sakhas (Yakuts) have established the Sakha American Cultural Association (SACA), which was incorporated in Washington State on March 22, 2024.

The association’s mission is to promote and preserve Sakha/Yakut culture and language in the USA. Dedicated to fostering a strong Sakha identity, SACA seeks to celebrate the community’s rich heritage while creating opportunities for Sakha people to connect, learn, and share their traditions. Through educational programs, cultural events, language classes, and community initiatives, the association aims to create a vibrant, inclusive environment where Sakha culture can thrive for future generations.

Several families from the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in Russia gathered at Lynndale Park in Lynnwood on June 9, 2024, to celebrate Yhyakh, an ancient festival marking the arrival of summer and the new year. The event included traditional music, dance, rituals, and communal feasting. Participants began with a blessing and then performed the algys, a tradition of prayer and blessings led by a shaman. The Ohuokhai dance, where dancers form concentric circles moving clockwise, was a highlight of the celebration.

Kerem Onat, a member of the Mountlake Terrace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission, helped organize the event. Onat, who has strong ties to the Sakha community, noted that many attendees were refugees from Russia due to the war in Ukraine. He also shared his efforts to help preserve Sakha culture in the U.S. through the Sakha American Cultural Association (SACA).

The Yhyakh festival in Lynnwood may be the first of its kind in North America, marking a significant step for the Sakha people in celebrating their heritage and seeking recognition in their new home. For more details, you can read the full My Edmonds News article here.