Chapter 4: “Like Lace on the Bottom of a Curtain”: Regional Language Policy, the European Union, the Estonian Government, and the Võro Institute in Estonia

It was early April 2000 and the headline read “Violation of Tribal Rights Hinders Incorporation into the EU.” According to the article, Mariete Stael, an expert on the European Minorities’ Commission, reported that Estonians had oppressive attitudes towards their own “kin,” the Võro and Setu. As evidence of the Estonians’ prejudice, Stael pointed to the lack of media support for the preservation of tribal values and languages. Especially egregious was the Estonian media’s recent coverage of the possibility of mandatory Võro and Setu language instruction in schools as classes that would “threaten” children. The possible consequences of the Estonians’ oppressive attitudes towards their tribal minorities was great: they jeopardized the country’s accession into the European Union (EU) and raised the important question “What sort of democracy reigns in Estonia?” (Allas, 2000) The Commission reported that it would return to southern Estonia in August 2000 to check on improvements in the treatment of the Võru and Setu people.