Seto leelo, a type of polyphonic folk song, has been added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. As a crucial pillar for Seto culture, Seto leelo would then have a physical environment in which visitors could experience Seto leelo firsthand. Seto leelo, with its thousand-year-old history, was more than just a song. We plan to exemplify Seto language as a singsong language by creating a virtual language learning platform. With old sound and video recordings and modern technology we can create a virtual language learning programme, helping to both teach and value Seto language. We plan to link songs as examples of ancient language use in other European indigenous languages to the virtual platform. We wish to acknowledge that our cultural heritage is rich and valuable.

Seto leelost and sõnolisist Seto leelo is a major contributor to the survival of Seto language. Seto leelo, a type of polyphonic folk song, has been added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. We wish to dedicate a whole permanent exhibition to Seto leelo at the Obinitsa Museum. As a crucial pillar for Seto culture, Seto leelo would then have a physical environment in which visitors could experience Seto leelo firsthand. Seto leelo, with its thousand-year-old history, was more than just a song. It was a vital part of everyday life. Singing accompanied work, festivities, funerals and so on. The language, still alive and passed on in songs, is slowly fading. With our permanent exhibition, we wish to create ways in which to sustain and value this language and showcase how important it was to the formation of cultural identity. We plan to exemplify Seto language as a singsong language by creating a virtual language learning platform. With old sound and video recordings and modern technology we can create a virtual language learning programme, helping to both teach and value Seto language. We wish to promote and protect an indigenous language that is still alive in Estonia. European Level 2019 is the Year of Indigenous Languages. Language is not only a means of communication, it is a means of maintaining cultures and creating identities. We celebrate our roots by valuing our mother tongue. At a time when knowledge, skills and traditions were passed on from one generation to the next, our language and heritage were protected. But today indigenous languages are on the brink of extinction, with over 2700 indigenous languages worldwide in danger of dying out. In order to preserve knowledge, we have to consciously work towards maintaining the wisdom and skills of our forefathers. We plan to link songs as examples of ancient language use in other European indigenous languages to the virtual platform. We wish to acknowledge that our cultural heritage is rich and valuable. Setomaa Muuseumid Merily Marienhagen Head of Setomaa Museums

European Level 2019 is the Year of Indigenous Languages. Language is not only a means of communication, it is a means of maintaining cultures and creating identities. We celebrate our roots by valuing our mother tongue. At a time when knowledge, skills and traditions were passed on from one generation to the next, our language and heritage were protected. But today indigenous languages are on the brink of extinction, with over 2700 indigenous languages worldwide in danger of dying out. In order to preserve knowledge, we have to consciously work towards maintaining the wisdom and skills of our forefathers. We plan to link songs as examples of ancient language use in other European indigenous languages to the virtual platform. We wish to acknowledge that our cultural heritage is rich and valuable.