Veps

Veps are a Finnic ethnic group native to northwestern Russia. They live mainly in the Leningrad and Pskov Oblasts, with smaller communities in nearby regions. They speak the Veps language, a Finnic language in the Baltic-Finnic subgroup, closely related to Karelian and Estonian. The language has three main dialects—Northern, Central, and Southern—and is considered endangered, with only a few thousand second-language and heritage speakers remaining.

Historically, Veps are first mentioned in medieval chronicles; over centuries they faced political and cultural pressures from neighboring Russians and other Finnic groups. Traditional livelihoods included agriculture, fishing, hunting, and forestry. In the course of Russian rule, many Veps gradually assimilated culturally, while maintaining distinctive customs, folklore, and dress in rural areas. The spread of Orthodox Christianity also influenced religious practice, though some traditional beliefs persisted.

In the Soviet era, language and culture faced pressure, yet revival initiatives emerged after the end of the Soviet Union. Today, the Veps maintain cultural associations, publish materials in and about the language, and participate in regional cultural life. The language is the focus of ongoing documentation and revitalization efforts, with support from linguistic researchers and minority-language programs.