University of Eastern Finland leads programme to revive Karelian

The project has been directed by the University of Eastern Finland since 2020. Currently, the project has received funding for this year and the next. The programme is intended to be completed next year.

“Our goal is to support and revive the language, so that the Karelian speaking Karelians still exist, those, who know their roots and culture”, Karelian language and culture professor Helka Riionheimo said. 

The Karelian language has been classified as “critically endangered”, with an estimated total of 11,000 speakers on either side of Finland’s eastern border with Russia.