Online conference – Finno-Ugric and North-American Indigenous People

This fall, VEMU is organizing a series of events dedicated to investigating the experiential commonalities and differences between the Finno-Ugric peoples and the Indigenous peoples of North America. From September to December, VEMU will host lectures and film evenings dedicated to the Finno-Ugric peoples. 

On Thursday, October 7th at 1pm (EDT), will be an international virtual conference discussing both universal similarities and also clear differences in the experiences of Indigenous peoples around the world who have suffered under colonialism. 

How do we grapple with the devastating history of these (small) populations? How do we keep these languages, cultures and traditions from disappearing? What are some successful survival strategies? What is the source of strength of indigenous peoples? These, among other questions, will be explored. All are welcome to attend.

In collaboration with Fenno-Ugria (Estonia) and E. Tampõld Chair of Estonian Studies at University of Toronto

PROGRAM

When: October 7, 2021 at 13:00-17:00 EDT / 20:00-24:00 EEST
Where: Zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81717188536 Meeting ID 817 1718 8536
Organizers: Museum of Estonians Abroad/VEMU (Canada), NGO Fenno-Ugria (Estonia)
Moderator: Prof. Andres Kasekamp, Chair of Estonian Studies, University of Toronto

13:00-13:10 Piret Noorhani (Museum of Estonians Abroad/VEMU, Chief Archivist): Introduction

13:10-13:40 Dr. Laara Fitznor (University of Manitoba, Associate Professor of Faculty of Education): Indigenous Voices Speaking Back to Colonial Impacts Through the Power of Story

13:40-14.10 Dr. Merli Tamtik (University of Manitoba, Associate Professor of Faculty of Education): Education of Indigenous Peoples of Canada – A Path to Empowerment or Colonization?

14:10-14:40 Eric Johnston (Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, Cultural Program Manager): From Worldviews to the Mental Experience of the Nation-State

14:40-15:00 Coffee break

15:00-15:30 Dmitrii Harakka-Zaitsev (Chair of Consultative Commitee of Finno-Ugric Peoples, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues expert 2017-2019): Finno-Ugric Cultural Cooperation: Roots, Tendencies, Examples

15:30-16:00 Art Leete (Tartu University, Professor of Ethnology): Colonial Ambivalence of the Finno-Ugric Ethnography

16:00-16:30 Eva Toulouze (INALCO/University of Languages and Cultures in Paris, Professor in Finno-Ugric Studies; Tartu University, Research Fellow in Ethnology): An Overview of the Religious Situation in the Udmurt Regions (Udmurtia, Bashkortostan, Tatarstan)

16:30-17:00 Discussion