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Lennart Meri pilt
Lennart Meri

Lennart Meri Waterfowl Fund

established by Tõnu Seilenthal in 2007.

Lennart Meri Waterfowl Fund was established with the objective to preserve the memory of this remarkable Estonian statesman and researcher of Finno-Ugric peoples, and to support creative and social activities among youth for the benefit of Finno-Ugric peoples. Seed capital of the Fund was 100 000 Estonian kroons (ca 6400 EUR). The Fund is managed by a 5-member board and administered by NPO Fenno-Ugria.

Lennart Meri documentaries

Veelinnurahvas or “The Waterfowl People” is a documentary by Estonian Lennart Meri (1929-2006) released in 1970. It depicts the contemporary life of several Finno-Ugric and Samoyedic people in Northern Europe and Siberia. 

Various scenes, timing from the Estonian edition:

  • 7:30 – 8:00. Nenets woman cutting decorative patterns from reindeer hide.
  • 9.00 – 10:05. Khanty man checking fish traps.
  • 10:05 – 13:10. Khanty man hewing and sewing a boat.
  • 18:35 – 27:40. Komi hunter skiing with traditional skis, setting and checking traps & making a fire during the winter.
  • 27:40 – 32:45. Mari people processing hemp fibres, making bast shoes.
  • 43:10- 50:00. Karelian woman making bread. Karelian wood architecture.
“The Waterfowl People” is a documentary by Estonian Lennart Meri (1929-2006) released in 1970 / YT fennoDoc

Meri later produced six other documentaries about these people. These films area available on DVD with English subtitles under the title Lennart Meri soome-ugri rahvaste filmientsüklopeedia DVD (“Lennart Meri’s Finno-Ugric Peoples Film Encyclopedia DVD”).