Hõimulõimed

Hõimulõimed is an Estonian non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in Tartu that works to raise awareness of Finno-Ugric peoples, promote the Finno-Ugric movement and deepen the involvement of young people in these processes. Its name combines two Estonian words: hõim(u), meaning tribe or kindred peoples, and lõimed, the warp yarns of a fabric. The metaphor is deliberate: just as warp yarns run through a fabric to make it strong and warm, Hõimulõimed seeks to weave heartfelt and lasting ties between Finno-Ugric peoples near and far, fostering a warm sense of togetherness. The organisation grew out of Fenno-Ugria Noored (FUN), an association established in summer 2013 by young activists interested in Finno-Ugric matters. At the end of 2019, the group registered its own non-profit association and has operated under the name Hõimulõimed since then. Its membership is active in Tartu, where it meets regularly at least once a month; meetings are open to visitors who are curious but not yet sure about joining. Hõimulõimed organises youth projects and cultural events, publishes popular-science writing on Finno-Ugric and local Estonian languages and cultures, and cooperates with other Finno-Ugric organisations in Estonia and abroad. Estonian partners include the University of Tartu, the Estonian National Museum, the Fenno-Ugria Foundation, the Finno-Ugric Film Festival (FUFF) and MTÜ Uralic Keskus; international partners include Sukukansojen Ystävät in Finland. In 2020 the association received an award in the 'Ehe Eesti – Eesti ettevõttele eesti nimi' business-name competition, organised by the Mother Tongue Society and others, in the category of newcomer of the year. Among its activities, Hõimulõimed published the book 'Lyydin grammatik. Людиковская грамматика' (Lüüdi grammatika) by Miikul Pahomov in Tartu in 2024, and it organises themed discos and other entertainment events. It also arranges excursions illuminating the past and present of Votes, Izhorians and Ingrian Finns in north-eastern Estonia and of Livonians in the Salaca region, in cooperation with the Estonian National Museum and the Fenno-Ugria Foundation. The folk ensemble Kännu Peal Käbi, which sings in various Finno-Ugric languages and uses music to introduce kindred peoples and their cultures to the public, is closely linked to Hõimulõimed through shared members and activities; the ensemble has performed across Estonia as well as in Finland, Latvia and the United States.

Hõimulõimed's history begins with Fenno-Ugria Noored (FUN), an association established in summer 2013 by young activists interested in Finno-Ugric matters. FUN served as a gathering point for young people in Estonia who wanted to engage with Finno-Ugric cultures, languages and kindred peoples. At the end of 2019, the group registered its own non-governmental organisation (NGO) and adopted the name Hõimulõimed. The name was chosen for its poetic resonance: hõim(u) refers to a tribe or kindred peoples, while lõimed means the warp yarns of a fabric. The organisation's stated wish is to be connected to kindred peoples, establishing heartfelt and lasting ties to Finno-Ugric peoples from far and near, so that all might feel a warm sense of togetherness. Since its registration, Hõimulõimed has operated primarily in Tartu, Estonia, where its membership meets regularly at least once a month. Its aims are to raise awareness of Finno-Ugric peoples, to promote the Finno-Ugric movement and to deepen the inclusion of the younger generation in these processes. To attain these aims, it organises youth projects and cultural events and works together with other Finno-Ugric organisations from other countries as well as the Fenno-Ugria organisation in Estonia. In 2020, MTÜ Hõimulõimed received an award in the 'Ehe Eesti – Eesti ettevõttele eesti nimi' business-name competition, organised by the Mother Tongue Society and other institutions, in the category of newcomer of the year. This recognition highlighted the organisation's distinctive Estonian-language name and its cultural mission. Over the years, Hõimulõimed has built a network of cooperation with Estonian and international partners. Estonian partners include the University of Tartu, the Estonian National Museum, the Fenno-Ugria Foundation, the Finno-Ugric Film Festival (FUFF) and MTÜ Uralic Keskus. International cooperation includes Sukukansojen Ystävät in Finland. The organisation publishes popular-science writing on Estonian local languages and cultures, as well as on Komi, Erzya and Moksha, Livonian and other Finno-Ugric peoples, in Estonian journalism and other periodicals. Among its concrete projects, Hõimulõimed published the book 'Lyydin grammatik. Людиковская грамматика' (Lüüdi grammatika) by Miikul Pahomov in Tartu in 2024. It organises Finno-Ugric themed discos and other entertainment events, and arranges excursions illuminating the past and present of Votes, Izhorians and Ingrian Finns in north-eastern Estonia and of Livonians in the Salaca region, in cooperation with the Estonian National Museum and the Fenno-Ugria Foundation. The folk ensemble Kännu Peal Käbi, which sings in various Finno-Ugric languages and uses music to introduce kindred peoples and their cultures to the public, is closely linked to Hõimulõimed through shared members and activities; the ensemble has performed in numerous Estonian locations as well as in Finland, Latvia and the United States.

• 2024

  Publication of 'Lyydin grammatik. Людиковская грамматика' (Lüüdi grammatika) by Miikul Pahomov in Tartu.

• 2020

  MTÜ Hõimulõimed receives an award in the 'Ehe Eesti – Eesti ettevõttele eesti nimi' business-name competition in the newcomer of the year category.

• 2019

  At the end of the year, the group registers its own NGO and adopts the name Hõimulõimed.

• 2013

  Fenno-Ugria Noored (FUN) is established in summer by young activists interested in Finno-Ugric matters.

A youth-driven, non-profit promoter of Finno-Ugric cultural awareness and cooperation, rooted in Tartu and active in Estonia and internationally.

• 2024

  Lyydin grammatik. Людиковская грамматика (Lüüdi grammatika)

  Book by Miikul Pahomov published in Tartu in 2024.

1. 1Hõimulõimed – Eesti noorte soome-ugri aktivistide tegevus ja mõttedhoimuloimed.ee
2. 2Hõimulõimed – About ushoimuloimed.ee
3. 3Hõimulõimed – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Hõimulõimed – Vikipeediaet.wikipedia.org