Estonia-Swedes: A Diaspora with Roots
International Interdisciplinary Conference 18–20 March 2026
Estonian National Museum
18 March
11.00- 12.30 Greetings, practical announcements, plenary session.
Plenary session by Jörgen Hedman. The Swedes in Estonia
12.30 – 13.15 - Lunch break.
I 13.15 – 14.45
Margareta Hammerman. The Estonian Swedes' flight across the Baltic Sea.
Josefine Sjöberg, Ann-Catrin Östman. Refugees within the Russian Empire? Estonia-Swedes as irregular migrants in the Finnish Archipelago ca 1810–1840.
Glenn Kranking. “60 Bloody Letters”: Elmar Nyman’s Collection of News from Estonia’s Swedish Community in the Early Nazi Occupation.
14.45 – 15.00 Coffee break.
II 15.00 – 16.30
Ivar Rüütli. Ten Years of the Estonian-Language “Eibofolke” – Reflections on Translation.
Christopher Thiele. Recent SOV projects enabled by Våra Anor.
Anu Pink, Maret Tamjärv about compiling the book on Estonia-Swedish folk costumes.
16.30 – Opening of the exhibition “Five Brides” in the foyer in front of the exhibition “Estonian Swedes.”
19 March
9.30 – Morning coffee
III 10.00- 11.30
Sofia Joons. Song-Collectors from Near and Afar. A comparison of insiders’ and outsiders’ perspectives on Estonia-Swedish music culture.
Kristel Rattus. Estonia-Swedish identity in biographical interviews.
Piret Põldver, Reeli Reinaus. Collecting and researching Ruhnu local lore.
11.30 – 11.45 Coffee break.
IV 11.45 – 12.45
Henry Timusk, Kata Varblane, Elisabeth Hedfors. Vormsi island, yesterday, today and tomorrow. An example of implementation of the Estonia-Swedish cultural heritage.
12.45 – 13. 30 Lunch break.
V 13.30 – 14.30
Anna Liisa Regensperger on the museum programs related to the Estlandssvenskar-exhibition at the Estonian National Museum.
Elisabeth Hedfors. Lecturing Swedes without any pre-knowledge about the Estonia-Swedish history.
14.30 – 14.45 Coffee break.
VI 14.45 – 16.45
Round-table.
16.45 – 18.00 Guided tour
18.15 Dinner
20 March
VII 10.00 – 11.30
Eva Liina Asu. Overview of the RUNSKA project: Documenting and promoting Runska, the endangered Estonian Swedish dialect of Ruhnu Island.
Eva Liina Asu, Miina Norvik, Karl Pajusalu. The position of Ruhnu Estonian Swedish in the linguistic contact area of the Gulf of Riga.
Ida Västerdal. Genitive inflection in the Nuckö dialect.
11.30 – 11.45 Coffee break.
VIII 11.45 – 13.45
Tiina Kull. A Glazed Bodice for the Island Bride: Imported Fabrics in the Wedding Traditions of Ruhnu.
Edgar Mirjamsdotter. The Aibo Tapestry: Cultural Transmission through Threads.
Mariliis Vaks. Research on the wooden artifacts of Estonia-Swedes at the Estonian National Museum.
Maria Lindén. The preservation and regional variations of the Finnish Swedish folk costumes.
13.45 Lunch break.
Concluding remarks.