Presentation of Obinitsa - Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture 2015 at UN in Geneva on Sept. 22, 2015, by Annela Laaneots

2. Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture – Setomaa,
Obinitsa 2015

3. Setomaa
• Divided between
Russia and Estonia
• 12 000 Setos, 2000 of
them living in
Setomaa
• Seto singing has been
entered into the
UNESCO
Representative List of
the Intangible
Cultural Heritage of
Humanity

4. Obinitsa has been more then 20 years one of the leaders
of Finno-Ugric movement

5. Where we are right now
• Until end of August
more then 50 events
• 20 000 participants
• Involved also other
villages in Setomaa, not
only Obinitsa
• Cross-border
(Estonia/Russia)
activities
• Cooperation with other
Finno-Ugric peoples
throughout the year

6. Both sides in Setomaa – in Estonia and
in Russia

7. Strong focus on communication
• www.obinitsa.net in EST, ENG, RUS
• www.setomaa.postimees.ee – special site in Estonian main daily (90
news until Sept 2015)
• Facebook sites in EST, RUS, for ENG using Cultural Capital general FB
• http://etv.err.ee/l/kultuurisaated/seto_kuningriik, 20 video stories
in Estonian National Television
• Videos about all events in obinitsa.net and Youtube
• www.setomaa.ee, www.visitsetomaa.ee
• Special seto evening in Estonian National television
• LIVE – stream of main event, Seto Kingdom Day thru
www.postimees.ee
• Many news in media in Estonia, as well in finno-ugric countries sites
as well

8. Estonian president Toomas Hendrik Ilves
participated the opening event;
Regionaalmaasika – award, supporting regional
development in Estonia

9. Supporting Finno-Ugric cooperation
• Every month
participants from
1-2 Finno-Ugric
countries visited
Setomaa
• Has given
indigenous Finno-
Ugric peoples
motivation and
strength to keep
and develop their
own culture

10. Main event: Seto Kingdom Day

12. During Seto Kingdom Day Finno-Ugric
peoples had:
• special stage for
concerts
• their own
“embassies” to
introduce their
culture
• Finno-Ugric
procession as a part
of Seto Kingdom Day
program

13. Team, who did it
• Core team from
Obinitsa village
• Involved active
people from other
villages as well to
organize events in
their villages
• Mostly volunteers

14. Be part of Finno-Ugric Capitals of Culture 2015 activities:
www.obinitsa.net