Findians
Findians or Finndians 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.
The population number of Findians is unknown, but it could be between a few hundred and a few thousand.
History
Most of the Findians descend from Finns that emigrated to the United States from Finland from 1860 to 1924 and the Ojibwe.When the Ojibwe and Finns met, they taught each other cultural elements, such as hunting skills and architecture.
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, as is the Finnish idea of sisu - "stoic determination, tenacity of purpose."Notable people
Americans of both Finnish and Indigenous North American descent
- Richard Dean Anderson, actor of Mohawk descent
- Cheri Honkala, politician of Cheyenne descent
- Erica Lord, artist of Iñupiaq/Athabascan descent
- Ahrue Luster, guitarist of Cherokee descent
- Arvo Mikkanen, Assistant United States Attorney of Comanche descent
- Jennifer Tilly, Canadian-American actress and poker player of Native American descent
- Meg Tilly, Canadian-American actress and writer of Native American descent
- Mark Webber, actor of Cheyenne descent
Canadians of both Finnish and Indigenous North American descent
- Jaime Black, activist and artist of Anishinaabe descent
- Arianna Grace, professional wrestler and beauty pageant contestant of Métis descent
- Frank St. Marseille, ice hockey player of Ojibwe-Métis descent