Estonians Tomsk Province: peculiarities of national self-organization. 1917-1919

Under the conditions of revolution and civil war in Siberia, Tomsk province Estonians have chosen their strategy of ethnicconsolidation, expressed in the desire to preserve their spiritual and cultural space, its own traditions, language, ethnic identification to ensurethe personal and collective level. In a difficult economic and socio-political situation in a rapidly and radically changing political regimes,they retained a certain internal unity, the ability to self-organize to protect their rights, creating a national organization or school. At theregional and All-Siberian conventions were developed and discussed strategies to address pressing national problems - ethnic consolidationand interaction with the surrounding societies. Voluntary national life of Estonians was quite intense. Solidarity to the plight of theirhomeland, they developed an interest in national history and culture. Declaring neutrality in the ongoing civil war in Russia, theysimultaneously sought to cooperate with authorities. Creating the institutions of national government, the Estonians thereby contribute to theestablishment in Siberia as part of Russia, the institutions of civil society. Estonian organizations in Tomsk province represents the civicstructure, operating outside of government and bureaucratic institutions. They have focused primarily on ethnic solidarity, the fulfillment ofsocial and cultural functions (problem solving economic and religious life, health, national education) that can provide individuals vitalservices. Combining the Estonian settlers on the basis of ethical values, involving them in the scope of its activities, organization ofEstonians increased at the same time, civic competence, promoting closer links between them to achieve collective demands they impose ongovernment. Demonstrating social work, Estonians have declared themselves as subjects of social and political processes in urban andregional scale, creating a convenient way to realize their goals. They identified and decision-making in organized forms, thereby ensuringself-regulation and self-development of the national life. United in the All-Siberian Union, Estonians and other minorities - Jews, Poles,Ukrainians, Germans, Latvians, Lithuanians, Koreans - have created institutions of national government and cultural autonomy: All-SiberianCommittee of the Estonian colonies with five offices. Their scope of activities include cultural and educational activities, a national school,welfare, protection of economic and political interests of the Estonian population of Siberia. If Samara Estonian Committee then adopted thename of the Estonian National Council in Siberia, has positioned itself as the authority of the newly established Estonian state and sought itsrecognition as such time the Russian government - Komuch, Directories, Government AV Kolchak, the All-Siberian Estonian Council is agoverning structure created in the Siberian cultural and national autonomy for the Estonians. With the establishment of Soviet rule, allEstonian organizations that have arisen during the revolution and civil war, were closed.

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