The History of Emigration from Finland

Explore Finland show notes 5 comments

Episode 17

Tella tells about Finland’s historical emigration, where people came from, where they eventually settled and some that made their fortune and came back again. 

Guest: Tella Lahti, Executive Director, Finnish Emigrant Museum

Download MP3: The History of Emigration from Finland

Show Notes

In this episode we walk around the Finnish Emigrant Museum and discuss the cause of the exodus of Finns in the late-1800’s and well into the 1900’s. Tella takes me around the museum, explaining the effect of the new railway in allowing Finns easier access to the new Steam Ships that were leaving the port of Hanko for the New World.

If you are an American-Finn, Canadian-Finn or an Australian-Finn, it’s just possible that we’re talking about your ancestors. You’ll hear Tella talking about some specific American-Finns and families whose property has been donated to the museum? You’ll also hear Tella explain about the display of photographs of American barns, which also have Finnish heritage!

We walk through the exhibits and I learn about Sointula – a Utopian Finnish settlement in Canada. We also discuss the type of work that was undertaken on sugar plantations in Australia (which leads nicely to an outdoor tour of some buildings that have been moved and reassembled in Peräseinäjoki (but more of that in a future episode.)

You might also be interested in this interactive Migration Map from the International Organisation for Migration.

Photo gallery from the Museum

Finnish Words in the Episode

  • Pohjanmaa – Ostrobothnia
  • Keski-Pohjanmaa – Central Ostrobothnia
  • Etelä- Pohjanmaa – South Ostrobothnia
  • Suomen Höyrylaiva osakeyhtiö – Finnish Steam Ferry Company
  • Puukko – Traditional Finnish knife
  • Taskumatti – Lit. ‘Pocket Matti’, a Hip Flask
  • Pori – a town in the South West of Finland
  • Palmu Klubi (Palumuutaja Klub) – Returned movers Club
  • Sointula – Utopian Finnish settlement in Canada
  • Johan Jonatan ‘Jussi’ Björling – Finnish-Swedish singer
  • John Morten – Descendant of Finnish emigrants, signed the Declaration of Independence

Links

Next episode – Finnish Music Traditions: From Folk to Rap! Link