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This is a fact figured out in Finnish history research, but here we go again.
So they were Savolaksfinnar (in Swedish). But who were Savolaksfinnar?The use of the term "Forest Finns" is first reported in sanctions issued by the Dano-Norwegian king in 1648, although they (at least locally in Norway) more commonly were known as Savolaksfinner (Savonian Finns), Rugfinner (Rye Finns) from their major crop, or notably Svedjefinner (Slash-and-burn Finns). The people themselves often used the term Finnskoginger (People from the forest of Finns).
Savolaksfinnars are descendants of Orthodox Russian Karelians an Saami people, which can be proven by genetics. They multiplied by the slash and burn farming method, which was a hugely wasteful way of farming and destroyed large forest areas in East Finland and this destruction of nature was a main reason why Sweden sent Swedish Savolaksfinnars to America and gave then a temporaly outlaw status in Sweden.The origin of the Forest Finns lies in border skirmishes since the 13th century. The powers to the east of Finland, Novgorod and later Russia, constantly challenged the Swedish sovereignty of the often sparsely populated provinces of Eastern Finland. To secure their realm, the Swedish kings, notably Gustav Vasa (r. 1523–1560) and Eric XIV (r. 1560–1568), encouraged farmers to settle these vast wilderness regions, which in turn were used to the traditionally slash-and-burn agriculture.
[I]These settlements faced several problems, from conflicts with the original populations of Sami people and Karelians to harsh conditions living in frontier lands during war times. [/I]The fact that slash-and-burn itself requires a relatively low human population density or a continuing supply of new "frontier" lands, also caused overpopulation and by the late 16th century forced migration by Forest Finns from Savonia (Swedish: Savolax) and Northern Häme (Tavastland).
The overpopulation led to destruction of eastern forests and forced them to migrate to Western Finland, Ostrobothnia.The main part of the Forest Finns moved north to Ostrobothnia (Österbotten) and Kainuu (Kajanaland), east towards northern Karelia (Karelen), and south towards Ingria (Ingermanland) (part of Sweden at the time, now part of Russia). However, an estimated 10–15% went westbound across the Baltic Sea in search of largely uninhabited lands best fit for their needs.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_Finns
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