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

Under the conditions of revolution and Civil War in Siberia, Tomsk province,Estonians chose their strategy of ethnic consolidation, expressed in the desire to preserve their spiritual and cultural space, traditions,language, ethnic identification on the personal and collective levels. In the difficult economic and socio-political situation with rapidlyand radically changing political regimes, they retained a certain internal unity, the ability to self-organize to protect their rights, creatinga national organizations and schools. At the regional and All-Siberian conventions strategies were developed and discussed to addressthe pressing national problems - ethnic consolidation and interaction with the surrounding societies. The public national life of Estonianswas quite intensive. With the solidarity to the plight of their homeland, they developed interest in national history and culture. Declaringneutrality in the ongoing Civil War in Russia, they simultaneously sought to cooperate with authorities. Creating institutions ofnational self-government, Estonians contributed to the establishment of institutions of civil society in Siberia, as part of Russia. Estonianorganizations in Tomsk province represented civil structures, operating independently of government and bureaucratic institutions. Theyfocused primarily on ethnic solidarity, fulfilment of social and cultural functions (solving problems of economic and religious life,health, national education) that can provide individuals with vital services. Uniting Estonian settlers on the basis of ethical values, involvingthem in its activities, organization of Estonians increased civil competence, promoting closer links between them to achievecollective demands they imposed on government. Demonstrating social work, Estonians declared themselves as subjects of social andpolitical processes at urban and regional scales, creating a convenient way to realize their goals. They defined the decision-making orderin organized forms, thereby ensuring self-regulation and self-development of the national life. United in the All-Siberian Union, Estoniansand other minorities - Jews, Poles, Ukrainians, Germans, Latvians, Lithuanians, Koreans -created institutions of national governmentand cultural autonomy: All-Siberian Committee of Estonian Colonies with five offices. Their scope of activities included culturaland educational activities, a national school, welfare, and protection of economic and political interests of the Estonian population ofSiberia. If Samara Estonian Committee later adopted the name of the Estonian National Council in Siberia positioned itself as the authorityof the newly established Estonian state and sought its recognition as such by the Russian provisional government - Komuch,Directory, Government of A.V. Kolchak, the All-Siberian Estonian Council is a governing structure created in the Siberian cultural andnational Estonian autonomy. With the establishment of the Soviet rule, all Estonian organizations, established during the revolution andCivil War, were closed.

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