The Saber and Scroll Journal Volume 7, Issue 1, Winter 2018 | Page 15

continuing to practice their own distinct culture. Swedish was the official language
of New Sweden, but the Finns spoke Finnish. Most learned Swedish to take part in
church services. In public, they practiced Lutheranism but their religious beliefs
centered around shamanism. Swedes frowned upon these practices and accused
some of witchcraft. 35 Similar to the Swedes, the Finns hunted, fished, and raised
cattle, but their burn-beating cultivation technique made them unique. This
technique required the farmer to burn an area to prepare it for agriculture. Once the
farmer depleted the soil’s nutrients, he or she had to move to another location and
repeat the process. Finns adapted this technique to grow Indian maize. It was an
effective technique, but it required the Finns to move regularly. 36 Thus, the Finns
lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle and explored the land.
Their semi-nomadic lifestyle encouraged simple, quick structures and
explained why their building techniques expanded outside of New Sweden. Their
log structures had distinct board roofs. This roof design existed in Finland and then
carried over to American log structures. Boards, about one meter in length,
supported roof beams. Each row of boards had a weighted pole to keep them in
place. The weighted pole stayed in place with a piece of wood called a knee. 37
Another structure was the hunter’s shanty. The structure “consisted of three log
walls covered by a single-pitch, lean-to roof. The front tallest side of the hunter’s
shanty faced the campfire, and remained completely opened.” 38 Finally, the Finnish
designed the zig-zag fence, which required no posts. It gained “stability from the
tripod principle.” 39 In Finland, the fences directed game in the desired direction.
American settlers as far west as Utah used the fence. 40
Both the Indians and Finns practiced shamanism and trance techniques
that involved the spirit leaving the body. They utilized charms and incantations in
their rituals. Shamans were leaders, healers, and sources of wisdom in both
cultures. 41 The Swedes considered these practices blasphemy. For the Finns, the
common elements in their religions ensured friendly relations with the Indians. The
Swedish government wanted the settlers to convert the Indians to Christianity, 42 but
the poor state of the colony made this a secondary concern. On the other hand, the
Finns shared a bond with the Indians based on the similarities of their religious
practices. Most Finns spoke Finnish, Swedish, and typically an Indian language. 43
Their knowledge of the land and language allowed the Finns to act as interpreters
and guides for other Europeans. 44 This helped to expand European interests. The
Finns had an oral tradition, which made it difficult for their descendants to hold
onto the language and customs. 45 Over time, the Swedish Lutheran Church
reinforced the Swedish language and culture into the Finns. The Finnish left their
mark on American structures.
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