Project launch (14-15 October 2024)

The first get-together of the project partners took place over two days in October at the Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics, University of Tartu. All partners were present: Eva Liina Asu-Garcia, Miina Norvik, Karl Pajusalu, Vootele Valter and Johannes Sarapuu (University of Tartu), Ida Västedahl and Henrik Rosenkvist (University of Gothenburg), Anna Greta Ter-Borch and Eva Lorentz (Runöbornas förening), Mihkel Urmet and Eeva Lauk (Ruhnu Kultuuriruum) and Uldis Balodis (Livonian Institute). Also, Kai Sommer, teacher of Swedish at Ruhnu school, and Bridget Moran-Nae (replacing Valts Ernštreits from the Livonian Institute) participated during the first day.

The first day was filled with presentations. During the second day there was a meeting of linguists from the University of Tartu and University of Gothenburg in the morning and a joint visit of all the project members to the Estonian National Museum in the afternoon. We had a private viewing of various documents and artefacts (including a splendid bridal crown) from Ruhnu held in the collections of the museum, and heard about preparations for the large Estonian Swedish exhibition that opens in May 2025.