Fact-sheet January 2004 Estonia Today ESTONIAN CULTURE AND LANGUAGE ABROAD Currently nearly 160 000 Estonians live outside Estonia, which makes up about 13% of all Estonians. Approximately 40 000 reside in Russia; approximately 20 000 Estonians reside in the USA, Sweden and Canada . These four countries are home to some 80% of expatriate Estonians. Estonian communities larger than 1000 people can be found in 11 countries. Estonians abroad "presence" to be found in all states within the Union -- from Alaska to Florida. The first extensive emigration of Estonians took place in the second half of the 19th century. Many Estonians left their Today some 40 000 Estonians are living in Russia, home country in the hope of acquiring land. Most of them constituting the largest Estonian community abroad. The settled in farmland in Russia and North America but many Estonians reside primarily in Moscow, St. Petersburg, went also to big cities. For example in 1917, Siberia (with the largest Estonian community in the St. Petersburg with its Estonian community of nearly Krasnoyarsk region – 5 000), the Caucasus and in the Far 50 000 was second only to Tallinn in the number of East. Estonian residents. Presently, over 10 000 Estonians are living in Sweden– 4 Estonians carried on with their cultural and educational life 000 in Stockholm, 2 000 in Gothenburg. everywhere they settled. In all centres with an Estonian As of 2002, 2 594 ethnic Estonians officially live in Latvia, community of considerable size, Estonian societies, among them 532 Estonian citizens. schools and other organisations were founded. For example, two Estonian primary schools in St. Petersburg Exact statistics are not available for England nor for the and one in Estonka village in Abhasia were founded back in Ukraine, but conservative estimates show there to be 1887. Ten years later first Estonian school and Estonian approximately 2 000 Estonians living in England and over 4 newspaper were established in the USA. 000 in the Ukraine. During and after World War II the second extensive out- Currently, there are over 20 000 ethnic Estonians living in migration of Estonians occurred. During the German Canada, including 1 344 registered citizens. The largest occupation (1941 – 1944), about 5 000 young Estonian representation is Toronto with over 12 000 Estonians. men escaped to Finland to avoid German military service. Ethnic Estonians in Canada have continuously been at the Altogether, some 70 000 – 75 000 Estonians fled both the top of the income rankings by ethnicity. The first Estonians Soviet and German occupations in the period 1939 to 1945; arrived in Stettler, Alberta in 1899. at the end of the war, most of them settled in Sweden and In Finland, one of Estonia’s closest neighbours, there are Germany. 12 405 registered Estonian citizens. In the early 1950’s, the majority of Estonians emigrated further to Great Britain, Canada, the United States and Estonian culture abroad Australia, where new Estonian societies and schools were established. In general, the centres of Estonian exile activities until the end of 1930’s were in Russia and after World War II in In addition, the Estonian student corporations and Sweden and North America. In 1944, about 1/3 of the churches were preserved in exile. For example, the members of Estonian Writers’ Union fled to Sweden and corporation Rotalia functioned in Finland, Sweden, US, Germany (some of them subsequently emigrated to North Canada, Germany and other countries during the Soviet America). Among them were such famous Estonian occupation, when they were forbidden in Estonia. As to the authors as Marie Under, Gustav Suits, Karl Ristikivi who churches, the Estonian Orthodox Apostolic Church were also among the founding members of the Estonian continued its activities only in exile from 1944 until the Exile Writers’ Union, established in Stockholm in 1945. restoration of Estonian independence in 1991, Estonian Estonian authors abroad between 1944 and 1986 Evangelical Lutheran Church is still operating in several published some 2 600 works, including more than 800 countries, such as Canada, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, original new works (fiction, poetry, essays, and memoirs). Finland. Estonian musical life abroad has been diverse as well. The According to the 2000 United States Census 25 034 Stockholm Estonian Male Chorus was established back in persons of Estonian ancestry live within the United States. 1944 and since 1948, Estonian Song Festivals have been While the traditional Estonian "cultural centres" in the conducted regularly in Sweden. United States continue to be found in New York, New Jersey and the Pacific Northwest, a migration and The best known Estonian choir in the USA is the New York penetration continues to this day, with an Estonian Estonian Male Chorus, founded in 1950. In 1956, the For further information contact the Press and Information Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Islandi väljak 1, Tallinn, 15049, Estonia Tel. +372 631 7600, Fax +372 631 7617, E-mail: [email protected] www.vm.ee January 2004 Estonian Centre of Musical Art was established in New schools possible once again. For instance, an Estonian York. Primary School was established in Moscow in 1990. Because of a lack of students, it was closed in 1995. At In Canada, the Toronto Estonian National Theatre and the present, the Estonian Society in Moscow and in St. Montreal Estonian Theatre have staged several Estonian Petersburg, with financial support of the Estonian Ministry of musicals. The Toronto Estonian Male Chorus and the Education and Research conduct regular multi-level Toronto Estonian Mixed Chorus are also well known to courses of Estonian. Estonians in Canada. In the academic year 2002/2003 there was only one Estonian language theatre troupes operate and perform in Estonian language school in Russia - the Second High Göteborg and New York as well. School in Petseri (Pechori in the Pskov region) with about Ernst Idla, the renowned Estonian gymnastics educator, 30 pupils. The Estonian societies in Moscow, St. lived and worked during his last 36 years in Stockholm, Petersburg and Krasnodar region maintain regular achieving world fame with his gymnastics school and the Estonian language courses, which are supported by the performances of his gymnastics teams. In Stockholm in Estonian Ministry of Education and Research. In addition, 1977, the IDLA Centre for Women’s Gymnastics was Estonian language courses are offered at the Volski opened. Institute in Pskov. On the initiative of some Estonian A number of Estonians living abroad today are world societies, there are supplementary schools (on Sundays) famous. Composer Arvo Pärt and professor of linguistics for Estonian children in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Krasnoyarsk. Els Oksaar live and work in Germany. In the USA, there is Kalev Mark Kostabi, a renowned painter with his art centre The Verhny-Suetuk village in the Krasnoyarsk region was in New York; as well as orchestral conductor Neeme Järvi one of the many villages founded by Estonian émigrés at and his two sons; not to mention top-ranked model the end of the 19th century. For more than a century the Carmen Kass. In Sweden, TV star Kristjan Luuk and pianist villagers have been able to preserve their Estonian Käbi Laretei are widely popular. In USA, Indiana, Felix language and culture. For the fourth year, there are 40 Oinas is a professor emeritus, who started teaching Estonian children currently being taught by an Estonian Estonian at the Indiana University in 1963. In addition, he teacher assigned by the Ministry of Education and was also the professor of folklore, Slavonic languages and Research of Estonia. literature. The University of St. Petersburg is the only Russian university with an Estonian born professor of Estonian Schools in Europe, Northern America and language and culture. Estonian is also taught at Pskov’s Australia Volny Institute, Moscow’s Institute of International Relations, Mari State University and at St. Petersburg’s, Moscow’s, Most of Estonian schools abroad are supplementary Krasnojarski’s, and Tšerepovesti’s Estonian Societies, at schools aimed at teaching the Estonian language and Abhaasias Salme (Getšrõpši), the Sulev Village School and culture to young Estonians living abroad. In some countries at Punane Lageda’s Estonian Society “Eesti Aiake”. The (e.g. in Sweden, Canada and Australia) state funds are Estonian Ministry of Education and Research pays for the allocated to Estonian schools and for language acquisition. Ahhaasia teachers and supports Russian schools and In 1988, 24 Estonian schools worked in Sweden whereas 7 universities by sending Estonian teaching materials. schools operated in the USA and Canada, taken together. The restoration of Estonia’s independence in 1991 sparked Estonian schools working abroad in 2003: new interest among young people in learning Estonian. - Canada. The Estonian schools in Toronto consist of In Canada, many schools have been operating for a three different levels: nursery, primary and high school. number of years. For example, the Montreal Estonian (where more than 2 000 pupils have graduated over School and the Estonian Supplementary Primary School in th the past 50 years, either at primary or secondary levels) Toronto recently celebrated their 40 anniversaries. The and the Estonian Supplementary School in Hamilton. Estonian Secondary School in Toronto has been working The Toronto Estonian schools celebrated their 50th for more than 25 years. anniversary in 2003. Since 1979, the Estonian language has been included in - USA. The Centre of Estonian Schools and the Estonian the national educational system in Australia, where minority Schools in Baltimore; Connecticut; Chicago, language schools work in Sydney and Melbourne. Lakewood, New Jersey; Los Angeles and New York. Approximately the same number of pupils have Schools in Russia attended Estonian schools in the USA as have in Canada. After the Revolution of 1917, there was a period during which Estonian schools were actively being established in - Sweden.