On the occasion of the opening of Hancock’s year as Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture 2026, the Inyazor (Chief Elder) of the Erzya people, Syres Bolaen, addressed the people of Hancock in the Erzya language
English subtitles are included and the full text in English is pasted below the video.
Dear friends!
I am greeting you on behalf of the members of the association “Finno-Ugric Path”, which includes representatives of the Moksha, Erzya, Mari, Komi, Karelian and Udmurt peoples!
We are delighted that the “Finno-Ugric Capitals of Culture programme has crossed the ocean, and that Hancock will be our common capital for a whole year.
We admit that this was an unexpected event for us, which would have been difficult to imagine a year ago. But anything is possible when Finno-Ugrians take on the task!
Thank you very much to everyone involved. Our people, who live in the Russian Federation today, are deeply grateful to our Finnish and Estonian brothers and sisters. We know and remember the colossal efforts they have made to preserve our languages and culture. We remember and honour the names of Matthias Castrén and August Ahlqvist, Axel Heikel and Heikki Paasonen, Albert Hämäläinen, Armas Otto Väisänen, and many other researchers.
It is largely thanks to their efforts that our peoples are still alive and speak their native languages. Despite the fact that the Russian authorities are doing everything possible to turn us into Russians, to make us forget our nationality, lose our sense of solidarity, and our historical memory. Films and books are not produced in our languages. Our languages are taught in schools for less than one hour a week. This is why, over the ten years since 2010, the Erzya and Moksha population has decreased by 260,000, i.e. by 26,000 per each year. Every day, 70 Erzya and Moksha persons “disappear.”
But we are not losing hope for survival. We know how to do it, and we are working on it. We are inspired by the living example of our Finnish and Estonian brothers who created their independent states. Your example, dear Finnish Americans, also inspires us. You have managed to keep the Finnish fire alive in your hearts over many years. Your resilience is an example for us. The same fire is burning in our hearts. We wish you success and believe that Hancock will be a worthy capital of our Finno-Ugric world, and that thanks to this, our chances of survival will increase. We hope to see you in your inspiring city! And we look forward to seeing you in our future independent states!
