ÅLAND ISLAND FIELD TRIP IN BRIEF

At the Maritime Quarter, a Finnish girl cleans up the mast pole; the boat is being prepared for summer

ÅLAND ISLAND FIELD TRIP IN BRIEF
NOCUSO PROGRAMME
4rd May, 2008

UNIVERSITY OF OULU

-Located at Finström, ST. Mikaels Church holds well preserved Wooden Sculptures from the MIddle Ages dated as earlier as 1230's, the exact date of the building is ignores but it replaces an earlier wooden church from about 1000s, behind the grave yard, we found a Viking burial.-

INTRODUCTION

As part of the module in Minorities in Finland, we studied the Swedish minority and Autonomous territory formed by the Åland’s archipelago which is located in the Baltic Sea, just in the entrance of the Gulf of Bothnia; ‘Åland (Swedish) or Ahvenanmaa (Finnish), Germanic Ahvaland means ‘Land of Water’’[1] and as its Germanic name indicates this water way is an archipelago located between Turku and Stockholm. After 9 hours bus drive from Oulu to Turku, and 4 hours on a boat we arrived to Mariehamn which is located in the biggest island of the archipelago. The total population is about 27.000 people living in 65 islands, with about 40% living in Marienhamn, the Parliament building (Lagtinget), several museums, and medieval castles and churches, and some Viking burial sites are located in this island; we spend all the time driving throw bridges and pink gravel roads that lead us always to a magnificent view of the Baltic sea, and all the time in the boat we were sailing between small islands lit by the endless early spring sun.

-Kastelholm Slott (Linna) was constructed during the 14th century when it was surrounded by water, nowadays is a touristic and historical attraction, surrounded by fields, and close by Mariehamn-

Åland became an autonomous territory of Finland in 1920, and by the Council of the League of Nations (nowadays UN) was awarded sovereignty over its territory in 1921 setting an example in conflict resolution in the world since becoming a demilitarized area. Finland joined the EU in 1995, this was an especial momentum to Åland government, “the Åland protocol states participation in the European council of minister by influencing the Finnish positions”[2] , which means the Åland, has the right to be heard in the Finnish government’s ministerial committee on EU Affairs.

Equality, participation of minorities within main governments

Aland is an example on peace, conflict resolution and participation of minorities within a majority government, of upmost importance is its self-governability as an independent, I wonder how this model would fit in the Spanish Basque country, and in the young history of the Inuit province of Nunavut in the Canadian North, I believed these three examples of self-government defers development of a minority within a main government, but there’s a difference in the case of Åland; the special position of Åland between Sweden and Finland, and the shadow of war that was projected by Russia in the 19th century, as a reminder we visited the Bomarsund ruins located in the Sund municipality, the fortress was built in 1854, it was a logistic action towards the military control of the Scandinavian region, the British-French allies bomb the unfinished fortress ‘And declaration by the peace negotiations after the Crimean war-

-Sailing in the archipelago takes about 4 hours from Turku (Åbo) to Mariehamn-

the Aland islands were declared a demilitarized zone’ [3](in 1856). Non militarization of the archipelago represents the common agreement of nations to assure peace.
I think that this model of non militarization is just possible in this population due its size, its strategic position in between the two countries, a contrasting example is the one of Nunavut, it means ‘Our land’ in the Inuktitut language, with 29.500 inhabitants; the Nunavut territory has as independence as any other province of Canada, special attention is given to language education, since they are a minority group, and a taxation rebate from the federal government, Nunavut is the answer of the Inuit question of land rights, social security, linguistic and ethnical minority within a English Anglo-Saxon country. I ignored in detail the politics and internal issues of the region but I believe they deal with natural resources exploitation and preservation of the land.

Differences and similarities between Nordic governments and minorities helps to easy the treaties between each other, an example of this is the Swedish Sámi and Norwegian Sámi; both of them have a parliamentarian body, but in the case of the Norwegian Sámi they receive special attention when state decisions affect Sámi population they are consulted. In the case of Swedish Sámi this haven’t been granted yet.

-Bomarsund was constructed by Russia in 1832 but destroyed during the Crimean war in 1854 by a British-French fleet, this memorial ruins are located at Sund.-

Being a Swedish minority in a Finnish territory, but granted with autonomy and capable to self decide what is best for them, having consensus in their rights and values. This is being in the peripheral area, being a group in the margins, but keeping their vote and voice in the public affairs, capable to decide over their own future, in terms of Education, Economy and government. Modern society gives daily report on process and issues related to the rights of minorities all around the world, what is special about Aland that allows them to have these peaceful and rightful living standards. First a small population, second a geo-commercial strategic location combined with a tax policy that allows them to receive benefits from the Finnish government, but at the same time to keep their decisions in the hands of the community leaders and the community itself.
In conclusion these are the main points I learn from our visit, I agree this is a paradise of peace and the picture of well being is impressive, but I’m aware that this picture perfect is a well deserved, since participation, political challenge and comprehensive work is required to have this type of society. Here are the main points:

- Aland de-militarization has its origins on the 1880’s after Russia empire failed to convert it into a fortress an example is the nowadays ruins of Bomarsund
- Demilitarization and autonomy are an unique example of self-government within a nation; successful solution to a minority conflict, equality and division of power between Aland and the main state of Finland, conciliation of both parties; example for the world, but be aware of the unique picture of countries that form this accord.
- Peace and education are based in active participation
- View of the U.N. and the work of minorities within a majority group how to deal with the difference and specific needs of the minority group, find the answer within community.
- Economic autonomy and Taxation system,
- Legislative control, laws by Aland Parliament, Finnish president has the right to vote if Aland parliament exceeds its authority or if the bill will affect Finland internal and external security

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bomarsund Museum, http://www.visitaland.com/en/bomarsundsmuseum
Aland Parliament, http://www.aland.ax/alandinbrief/lagting.htm
Fact sheet of Åland, http://www.visitaland.com/en/facts
Nunavut Regional center, http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/nu/nuv/index_e.html
[1] Aland islands, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%85land_Islands
[2] Åland in Brief, pag 8
[3] Aland in brief, Alands landskapsregering, 2006,pag 22