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Description
Due to the influence of the Russian-language information space and the lack of media literacy, the Finno-Ugric communities of Russian origin living in Estonia are often under the influence of the Putin regime''s ideological manipulations. We want to create a Democracy training for Finno-Ugric communities in Estonia in order to allow them to understand the new geopolitical situation and to deal with it.
The understanding of the domestic and foreign policy of the Finno-Ugric communities in Estonia has proven to be weak at times and needs to be better. In this situation, the Finno-Ugric communities of Russian origin need foreign and domestic policy seminars in order to improve their insight into media literacy and propaganda, as well as training to deal with their identity crisis.
The Finno-Ugrian Institution in Estonia has the opportunity and obligation to intervene in this situation by organizing domestic and foreign policy and communication training for the local Finno-Ugric communities. These communities will, therefore, have better explanations of the events that happen in Russia and Ukraine, and will have a more shaded perception of the information they receive. As a result of the training, the understanding of domestic and foreign policy has improved. A better understanding of propaganda and communication techniques is useful both in organizing one''s own view of the world and also in communicating with compatriots in Russia. Improved negotiation skills and self-reliance skills enable better coping with a mental crisis. Norwegian partner Pikene Pa Brojen will share with the participants of the project personal insights into Norwegian-Russian and Sami cross-border cooperation in a new geopolitical reality.
Summary of project results
The goal of the project was to increase the civic activity of the Finno-Ugric and other minorities operating in Estonia, to strengthen the connection with Estonian society, to increase their political education and awareness, media literacy and self-management skills in crisis situations.
Throughout the project, there was intensified communication between organizations dealing with Finno-Ugric and other minorities and activated members to encourage them to take part in joint activities.
The following events took place during the project:
- Training day on coping with crises and trauma in Finno-Ugric cultures at Tapa Culture House
- Seminar on how to make sense of Russia in Maarjamäe Castle
- Ethno-musicians performed at the Ukrainian School of Freedom in Tallinn
- Summer school "Shame and guilt in Finno-Ugric cultures" in Kadrina manor
- Seminar on how to survive in the information war in Tallinn and Tartu
- Seminar on culture and security in Tartu
Courage of national minorities, civic activity and connection with Estonian society strengthened:
advocates and activists of Finno-Ugric societies became active, hopefully as a "watchdog" in spreading objective information about the political situation in Russia and Ukraine
on the basis of new knowledge. The connection of Russian-speaking and often also Russian-citizen Finno-Ugric or other ethnic minority people living in Estonia with Estonian society was strengthened, which was beneficial to the integration processes and should in the long run generate their interest in Estonian citizenship.
Summary of bilateral results
Project partner’s Pikene pa Broen respresentative Evgeni Goman was a guest at the summer school of Fenno-Ugria, held in Kadrina Manor, South-Estonia. (Suvekool "Häbi ja süü soome-ugri kultuurides" - Fenno-Ugria) He, as a former minister of culture and theater director of the Murmansk region, currently working in Kirkenes, spoke about life on the border between Norway and Russia. He presented his recent art projects with a political focus. He also participated in the more informal discussions with the Finno-Ugric people''s representatives at the summer school. An interview with him was published in cultural weekly Sirp https://www.sirp.ee/s1-artiklid/c9-sotsiaalia/uhe-oblasti-kultuuriministri-tous-ja-langus/ (the interview will be also published at our yearbook “Soome-Ugri Sõlmed 2023” (forcoming in June, 2024).Project participant organizations gained mutually interesting information about the situation and mentality of people on the border region of Northern Russia and Norway.