Newsletter of the FUEN Non-Kin-State Working Group 2024/2

Dear NKS member organisations, dear friends!

The glow of the first candle on the Advent wreath already signals the start of the festive season and the approaching end of the year. This can only mean one thing: it’s time for the second newsletter of the FUEN Non-Kin-State Working Group this year!

In September, the NKS Working Group held its second meeting of the year in Bredstedt/Bräist, northern Germany, during the 68th FUEN Congress. We exchanged news and learned fascinating details about the Frisians, their history, and their language. The working group also presented the 2nd edition of the NKS brochure.

In this issue of our newsletter, we would like to update you on current developments relevant to our Non-Kin-State minorities. Look forward to insights from the member organisations of our working group as well as general FUEN news about our joint efforts.

Enjoy reading!

2nd Meeting of the NKS Working Group in 2024

On 20 September 2024, as part of this year’s FUEN Congress, the NKS Working Group met in Bredstedt/Bräist (Germany) at the Friisk Hüs, the joint headquarters of the Frisian associations Frasche Rädj / Friesenrat Sektion Nord e. V. (Friesenrat) and Friisk Foriining. The agenda included internal discussions, a coffee break with Frisian cake, and a short tour of the Nordfriisk Instituut exhibition. For further details about the meeting, click here.

2nd Edition of the NKS Brochure

Following the release of the first edition of the NKS brochure in April, we incorporated a few suggestions and new contributions from our members for the 2nd edition. The updated brochure highlights additional Non-Kin-State minorities and provides further insights into our member organisations. The brochure is available for download as a PDF here.

8th Forum of European Minority Regions: Exploring the Role of Minority Languages in the Digital Age

The 8th Forum of European Minority Regions took place from 25 to 28 November 2024 in Donostia/San Sebastián, Basque Country. Organised by FUEN in collaboration with the Basque Association of Language Industries LANGUNE, the conference explored the impact of digital transformation on minority communities. If you want to know more, check out our press release and photo gallery.

Visit to the Basque Country

Ahead of the 8th Forum of European Minority Regions, FUEN Vice Presidents Bahne Bahnsen and Gösta Toft met with several Basque organisations and political representatives. The goal of these meetings was to strengthen cooperation and build closer connections between FUEN and its partners in the Basque Country. Details are available here.

Launch of the Ladin–German Online Dictionary

On 24 September, the Ladin–German/German–Ladin online dictionary was officially launched at the Museum Ladin, drawing over 100 participants. The project, completed in June 2024 with support from the Trier Center for Digital Humanities, addresses the Ladin community’s long-standing need for a digital dictionary. It contributes significantly to preserving and promoting the Ladin language. For more information, click here.

If you have feedback, come across interesting information relevant to our working group, have reading recommendations from your organisation, or would like to share news from your member organisation, I would be thrilled to hear from you! Feel free to reach out to me at ilona.tomic@fuen.org.

Wishing you a joyful and peaceful Christmas season, and I look forward to reconnecting with you at the events planned for 2025!

With warm regards,

Ilona Tomić
Coordinator of the FUEN Non-Kin-State Working Group