"Legends of Tomsk Tatars": Tomsk residents created an authentic board game about the city's indigenous population.

To create an authentic gift set, Tomsk State University graduates Karina Kolesnikova and Arina Liventsova studied similar publications about other cultures, as well as local Tatar legends, mythology, ornamentation, color scheme, and decorations.

"There are several books dedicated to the history of Tomsk, but there is no comprehensive collection of local Tatar legends for children. There are also no board games on this topic," told The project's authors. "At the same time, there's a problem with children's perception of information: legends are passed down orally by teachers, which is why students' interest in the topic is waning."

The "Legends of the Tomsk Tatars" set includes the game itself and an illustrated collection of Tatar legends. What makes these legends unique is their connection to the history of Tomsk's founding and development. For example, Tatar tales feature Prince Toyan—the same man who, in 1604, went to the court of Tsar Boris Godunov with a request to build a city on the Tom River to protect against attacks from neighboring cities.

"We decided not to include characters as such in the game. The essence of the game is that its participants unite into a tribe and work together to overcome various external adversities. Their fate is predicted by the game master—a shaman who expresses the will of the spirits," explains Karina Kolesnikova. "The game is age-appropriate for seventh- and eighth-grade students, and its duration fits within a classroom lesson."

Now the Tomsk residents plan to find funding to promote and distribute their historical set to everyone.