News

The director and actor Jaan Tooming, who considered Finno-Ugric ways of thinking important to Estonians, has passed away. Inspired by the work of Uku Masing, he reflected these thoughts in his theatre productions.

In January, the course Introduction to Estonia and Finno-Ugric Cultures was held as a part of Tallinn Winter School by Tallinn University. A six-day workshop …

On 1 November, in commemoration of the Udmurt writer and social activist Kuzebai Gerd (1898–1937), the Kindred Peoples' Programme traditionally announced the winners of the Literary Award.

The 2023 Uralic Ethnic Studies Award was awarded to Eva Toulouze and Nikolai Anisimov for their research into 21st century Udmurt culture.

The theme of this year's Finno-Ugric Days is 'Courage', referring to difficult times and the courage to remain ourselves. A series of events in Tallinn and Tartu will bring together Finno-Ugric musicians, artists, writers and scholars. There will be an academic conference on Latvian indigenous peoples, a chance to listen to traditional music and listen to classical music. The month will end with hot club nights in Tartu and Tallinn.

The Estonian-made and co-produced documentary film ‘Smoke Sauna Sisterhood’, or ‘Savvusanna sõsarad’ in South Estonian has received much international attention. The movie, directed by Anna …

The awards recognise the research work of kindred peoples who have do not have sovereign states. The awards are given for a monograph, collection or …

As part of Tallinn University’s Summer School, the School for Finno-Ugric Bloggers took place on August 21-24. The results of the School were further discussed …

In May, the Estonian Language Board suggested eight proposals regarding the legal status of the South Estonian languages, Võro and Seto.

The XIII Estonian Youth Song Festival “Holy is the Land” took place in the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds from 30 June to 2 July. The …

The seminar "How to conceptualise Russia" was organised by Fenno-Ugria in Maarjamäe Castle in Tallinn on 31 May. The seminar was supported by the Open Estonia Foundation/Active Citizens Fund and it took place within the framework of the project "Democracy School for Finno-Ugric communities in Estonia".

The crisis and traumas related to Russia's aggression in Ukraine affect not only representatives of Finno-Ugric minorities living in Estonia with Russian citizenship, but also Estonians: there is mutual learning. Estonians and Finns, as small nations and Finno-Ugric people, have been forced to adapt to very rapid social changes due to the changed geopolitical situation and the war, and that is not always easy. This was discussed at the OEF/Active Citizens Fund project seminar held on 13 May in Tapa.