Fenno-Ugria summer school 2025

The fourth Fenno-Ugria Summer School, held at the Liivarand Hotel in Narva-Jõesuu on 28-29 June 2025, focused on topics related to the Finno-Ugric heritage of Ida-Viru County and was combined with the opportunity to visit the ESTO festival events in Narva.

After the Finno-Ugric flag was raised on 28 June, advisor Jaak Prozes gave a presentation on “What do we know about the Finno-Ugric peoples of Russia today, what are they doing, and what is their situation?” The presentation was briefly commented on by Anna Kuznetsova, who is of Komi origin and has recently visited her relatives in Russia.

In her presentation, artist and lecturer Kärt Summatavet focused on the Finno-Ugric themes and symbols in the art of Kaljo Põllu and how the interpretation of Finno-Ugric themes in his work is linked to the courage of national self-expression.

Kristiina Tambets, head of the University of Tartu Center of Excellence “Estonian Roots” and professor of archaeogenomics, spoke about the history of the Finno-Ugric peoples, or where we come from and how DNA research has progressed. It was noted that genetic kinship is primarily related to geographical proximity, but also to the migration of peoples.

In his speech “My Finno-Ugric memories and reflections,” political scientist Rein Taagepera shared his memories of the 1990s, when he taught Finno-Ugric students from Russia as a lecturer at the University of Tartu. He also recalled the story behind his book “The Finno-Ugric Peoples and the Russian State”.

Natalia Ermakov, president of the Estonian Union of Nationalities, and participants in a camp for young people with Finno-Ugric roots, which was taking place at the same time in Narva-Jõesuu, talked about how to connect the past with the future through play, and also presented games that they planned to create during the camp. The young people also performed Estonian pop songs and classical guitar pieces.

At the end of a busy day, Anti Lillak led a discussion on “Issues concerning the future of the Finno-Ugric movement and cooperation from Estonia’s perspective.” Although interaction with the Finno-Ugric peoples of the Russian Federation has stalled due to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and the resulting breakdown in cultural relations between the countries, the message remained: “Let’s not pull the plug just yet!”

On the second day of the summer school, June 28, an excursion to Narva-Jõesuu and Vaivara was led by historian Madis Tuuder and Ivika Maidre, a guide at the Vaivara Blue Hills Museum. The summer school participants received a thorough overview of the Battle of the Blue Hills in the summer of 1944 during World War II and the resistance of the 20th Estonian SS Division on the Narva River against the advancing Soviet army.

After the excursion, they joined the Ingrian Song and Dance Festival in Hele Park in Narva-Jõesuu.

On 28 June, a three-day pop-up exhibition by Piret Räni, based on the Finno-Ugric Calendar 2025, opened at the University of Tartu Narva College. The opening of the exhibition was attended by guests of the conference on youth bilingualism gathered at the college as part of ESTO, including young people of Estonian descent living abroad, as well as Narva Mayor Katri Raik and the college’s management.

Representatives of Fenno-Ugria also attended the opening of ESTO in Narva: they participated in the parade from Narva Town Hall to Narva Castle, as well as the Estonian music disco “Salakõrts” at Vaba Lava and the mass and performance of Cyrillus Kreegi’s “Requiem” at Narva Alexander’s Church on 29 June.

See more photos here.