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Union of Estonian Tatars

The Union of Estonian Tatars (Eesti Tatarlaste Liit) is an association of the historical Estonian Tatars (Mišär Tatars) whose purpose is to preserve and promote the community's language, culture, history and identity, and to represent the community's interests. The Union focuses solely on the historical Estonian Tatars; exceptions are made only by decision of the board (see “Members”).

Goals

The Union's goals are:

  • Preserving and shaping the cultural identity of the historical Estonian Tatars.

  • Protecting and preserving the Estonian language.

  • Promoting and introducing the Mišär Tatar language, culture and traditions of the historical Estonian Tatars.

  • Uniting the historical Estonian Tatars and representing their interests.

  • Recording, analysing and systematising the Estonian Mišär Tatar language.

  • Organising language teaching for the Estonian Tatars.

  • Keeping the Estonian Tatars' food culture alive.

  • Researching and documenting the history of the Estonian Mišär Tatars, including their connection with the Kipchaks.

  • Respecting freedom of religion and people's personal choices in that regard.

  • Representing and commemorating the historical Estonian Tatars in connection with the old Muslim cemetery.

  • Cooperating with the Estonian History Museum to archive the history of the Estonian Tatars.

Areas of activity

To achieve its goals, the Union works on:

  • representing the interests of the historical Estonian Tatars;

  • strengthening community cohesion;

  • continuously introducing Estonian Tatar culture;

  • introducing the history of the Estonian Tatars;

  • recording the Estonian Mišär Tatar language and enabling its teaching.

Members

Any natural person of historical Estonian Tatar descent who is at least 18 years old and agrees to follow the Union's goals and to participate actively in its activities may be a member. Historical Estonian Tatar descent means descent from an ancestor — a lineal relative — who was a member of the Tatar minority living historically in the territory of Estonia before the Soviet occupation.

The board decides on admission on the basis of a written application from the candidate. In justified cases a person who does not meet the above definition but has a sufficient connection with Estonian-origin Tatars through cultural identity, family ties or kinship may also be admitted as a member.

Source: the statute of the Union of Estonian Tatars; eestitatarlased.ee.

See also

Who is an Estonian Tatar? · The cemetery as the community's backbone · The Estonian era — the best era · Freedom of religion