Findians

{{About|the people of mixed Finnish American or Finnish Canadian and Indigenous peoples of North America descent|the people of Indian descent in Finland|Indians in Finland|the Fijian citizens of Indian descent|Indo-Fijians}}

{{Infobox ethnic group

| group = Findians

| native_name = Fintiaanit

| native_name_lang = fi

| image = File:Findians.png

| image_caption = Distribution of Findians around the Great Lakes in the United States and Canada

| pop = {{circa}} 200–9,000

| regions = Around the Great Lakes in the United States and Canada

| languages = Ojibwe, English, Fingelska†, Swedish†

}}

Findians or Finndians ({{Langx|fi|fintiaanit}}; {{Langx|sv|findianer}}) are American or Canadian people that descend from the mix of Finnish Americans or Finnish Canadians and Indigenous peoples of North America, mainly the Ojibwe. Most Findians today live around the Great Lakes in Canada and the United States.{{Cite web|last=Jussi Saarinen|date=2016-08-12|title=Uutuusteos teki löydön USA:sta –intiaanin ja suomalaisen jälkeläinen viihtyy saunassa ja juo viinaa|url=https://www.aamulehti.fi/kulttuuri/uutuusteos-teki-loydon-usasta-intiaanin-ja-suomalaisen-jalkelainen-viihtyy-saunassa-ja-juo-viinaa-23849983|accessdate=2020-06-05|website=Aamulehti|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911095046/https://www.aamulehti.fi/kirjat/art-2000007475276.html |archive-date=September 11, 2021}}{{Cite web|title=Fintiaanien mailla|url=https://www.hameenlinnankaupunkiuutiset.fi/paikalliset/4857669|access-date=2021-09-13|website=Hämeen Sanomat|date=14 December 2016 |language=fi}}{{Cite web|date=2019-05-29|title=In the Land of the Finndians & Tradition Bearers|url=https://www.finlandia.edu/universitygallery/2019/05/29/in-the-land-of-the-finndians-tradition-bearers/|access-date=2021-09-15|website=Finlandia University Gallery|language=en-US}}

The population number of Findians is unknown, but it could be between a few hundred and a few thousand.{{Cite web|title=Ainutlaatuiset kuvat: Näin elävät fintiaanit, intiaanien ja suomalaisten jälkeläiset|url=https://yle.fi/a/3-9075937|access-date=2021-09-11|website=Yle Uutiset|date=10 August 2016 |language=fi}}{{Cite web|date=2019-04-10|title=Televisioarvostelu {{!}} Amerikassa asuu fintiaaneja, todistelee tietokirjan pohjalta tehty vaatimaton dokumentti|url=https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000006064638.html|access-date=2021-09-13|website=Helsingin Sanomat|language=fi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410080716/https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000006064638.html |archive-date=April 10, 2019}}

History

Most of the Findians descend from Finns that emigrated to the United States from Finland from 1860 to 1924 and the Ojibwe.{{Cite web|date=2016-08-28|title=Katso ainutlaatuiset kuvat fintiaaneista – suomalaisten ja alkuperäisasukkaiden jälkeläiset jäivät pimentoon|url=https://www.is.fi/matkat/art-2000001246802.html|access-date=2021-09-11|website=Ilta-Sanomat|language=fi}}

When the Ojibwe and Finns met, they taught each other cultural elements, such as hunting skills and architecture.{{Cite web|date=2016-09-28|title=Fintiaanien mailla|url=https://kuiske.fi/fintiaanien-mailla-katja-kettu-meeri-koutaniemi-maria-seppala/|access-date=2021-09-13|website=Kuiske|language=fi}}

Modern status

The American Finnish language is no longer spoken by the Findians. However, many of them retain Finnish surnames. Some are also able to speak the Ojibwe language.

Culture

Finnish saunas are common in Findian culture,{{Cite web|title=Mitä yhteistä on suomalaisilla ja intiaaneilla? Uutuusdokumentti avaa ainutlaatuisten fintiaanien kovan reservaattiarjen ja paljastaa kahden pohjoisen heimon samankaltaisuuden|url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2019/04/08/mita-yhteista-on-suomalaisilla-ja-intiaaneilla-uutuusdokumentti-avaa|access-date=2021-09-11|website=yle.fi|date=8 April 2019 |language=fi-FI}} as is the Finnish idea of sisu - "stoic determination, tenacity of purpose."{{Cite web|title=Findians – The story of Finns' distant cousins|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/findians__the_story_of_finns_distant_cousins/9087943|access-date=2021-09-11|website=Yle Uutiset|date=11 August 2016 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911100325/https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/findians__the_story_of_finns_distant_cousins/9087943 |archive-date=September 11, 2021}}

Notable people

= Finnish Americans of Indigenous peoples of North America descent =

Richard Dean Anderson (born 1950), actor of Mohawk descent
Cheri Honkala (born 1963), politician of Cheyenne descent
Erica Lord (born 1978), artist of Iñupiaq/Athabascan descent{{Cite web |url=https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/invitational-2023/online/erica-lord |title=Erica Lord |website=Smithsonian American Art Museum |access-date=August 11, 2024}}
Ahrue Luster (born 1978), guitarist of Cherokee descent{{Cite web |url=https://bayareamusicscene.com/bams-reviews/f/an-interview-w-ahrue-luster-lead-guitar-of-ill-nino-nov-2010 |title=An Interview w/ Ahrue Luster Lead Guitar of Ill Nino Nov 2010 |last=Sciara |first=Anne |date=August 11, 2019 |website=Bay Area Music Scene |access-date=September 13, 2023}}
Arvo Mikkanen (born 1961), Assistant United States Attorney of Comanche descent
Jennifer Tilly (born 1958), Canadian-American actress and poker player of Native American descent{{Cite web |url=https://mom.com/entertainment/24684-celebrities-you-never-knew-were-native-american/jennifer-tilly-native-american |title=Celebrities You Never Knew Were Native American |last=Gordon |first=Meredith |date=November 6, 2015 |website=Mom.com |publisher=Wild Sky Media |access-date=September 13, 2023}}
Meg Tilly (born 1960), Canadian-American actress and writer of Native American descent{{r|mom-1}}
Mark Webber (born 1980), actor of Cheyenne descent

= Finnish Canadians of Indigenous peoples of North America descent =

Jaime Black, activist and artist of Anishinaabe descent
Arianna Grace (born 1997), professional wrestler and beauty pageant contestant of Métis descent
Frank St. Marseille (born 1939), ice hockey player of Ojibwe-Métis descent

References

Literature

{{Cite book|last=Kettu, Katja (writer) & Koutaniemi, Meeri (photographer) & Seppälä, Maria (writer)|title=Fintiaanien mailla|date=2016|publisher=WSOY|location=|page=|translator-last=|isbn=9789510411599}}