From Setomaa to Siberia

Introduction: the article analyzes the transformation of key symbols of cultural memory among the Seto people in the context of dispersed settlement and digitalization. Particular attention is paid to the study of typology and representation of collective memory in online communities of Siberian Setos. Objective: to determine the specificity of existence and appreciation of symbols of Seto cultural memory in the digital epoch. Research materials: social networks (VKontakte and Telegram), the author’s ethnographic field materials, oral reports of informants. Results and novelty of the research: the article for the first time examines online communities of Siberian Seto people in social media; introduces into scientific discourse data from online communication analysis and new expedition materials. Dispersed Seto communities use social media to communicate, maintain connections, preserve memory, and promote their culture. The study revealed that symbols of cultural memory such as territoriality, language, festive costume, and the leelo tradition retain major significance, including in Seto online communities. The Siberian community uses digital platforms to construct the image of a ‘Siberian Setomaa’. Language is disappearing from everyday communication, but it remains a significant element of Seto identity, while traditional costume and leelo are actively adapting to modern contexts

Collective memory · Construct (python library · Context (archaeology · Cultural memory · Ethnography · Field (mathematics · Representation (politics · Typology · Discourse Analysis and Cultural Communication · Diverse Musicological Studies · Sociopolitical Dynamics in Russia