Baltic Finns under alien occupation force

[Hweinlant]

All of them are under severe threat of extinction due to ethnic clensing, genocide and forced assimilation into alien invaders.

Occupied part of Setomaa (Petseri):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setomaa



Occupied part of Karelia (Karelians Isthmus, Karelians Republic):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Karelia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karelian_isthmus



Occupied Vaddamaa (Ingria/St. Petersburg):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Votes


Occupied Izhora (Ingria/St.Petersburg):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izhorians


Occupied Ingria (St. Petersburg/ Leningrad oblast):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingria


Occupied Veps (Republic of Karelia / Ingria):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vepsians


Occupied Ludians (Republic of Karelia):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludic_language


Occupied Karelians (Republic of Karelia/ Ingria):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karelians

[The Ripper]

I don't know how much of an "occupation" there is, seeing as they've basically under gone cultural genocide and hardly constitute any kind of political force in their homelands anymore.

[Hweinlant]

Karelians still number that 90.000 - 100.000, there is still hope. What comes to other groups your grim comment is unfortunately true.

[The Ripper]

Yes, I agree that there is a chance of rehabilitating the Karelian ethnicity, but I think it would require a concentrated effort, probably from Finland and Estonia. The fact that the Karelian language received minority status and can be studied at university level is a good start (in Finland), but I think it would be good to encourage Karelians from the Karelian Republic to come and study it here.

[Hweinlant]

Perhaps even provide basic level cources of Finnish (or Estonian at Estonia) language in 'black speech' for some time after Uni entrance. This could be extended to basic history of Balto-Fennic people in 'Orcish'-language. Reverse engineering/Deprogramming the 'Mordor' influence.

[esaima]

Eh, Votians, Livonians, Izhorians.Unfortunately they are in full died off and it is too late to cry for them.

[The Ripper]

Its interesting that before Soviet rule, ancient Finnic folk customs were far better preserved in areas dominated by the Orthodox church. Just see the Setos and their songs and other traditions, the Karelians with their runo-singing and the Kalevala.

The protestant reformation basically destroyed much of those older layers. Perhaps this would deserve a topic of its own?

[esaima]

Indeed, I totally agree.I can say that Setos are, how to say "more Finnic"than the rest of Estonians.Estonians got (too) strong influences from Germans and all those who ruled Estonia.The Setos have preserved some more old from old elements from Finnic culture.

[The Ripper]

I would also think that its in particular protestant German influence, at least in Finland. The reformation here actively sought to quench pre-christian rituals and beliefs, as well as catholic ones. Coupled with Swedish quest for centralization, i.e. creation of a more integrated, homogenous nation-state, this meant that many customs and traditions were violently suppressed.