Cohort and generational effects of cultural retention of Finnish in

Carol D. H. Harvey and Tuula Heinonen

For Finnish immigrants to North their processes of adaptation to Harvey, Bond, Laitinen & Sommer America it is possible to assimilate their new environment is sparse. 1994; Tolkki-Nikkonen 1996). into the dominant culture, and yet Theoretically, a symbolic interac- Study of family patterns among some choose cultural retention, of- tionist approach suggests that in North America is sparse, ten across three generations. In language, religion, and family ritu- as much of the scholarly work has this study we conducted semi- als are ways of interpreting cultur- been done from a historical per- structured interviews with Finnish al heritage (La Rossa & Reitzes spective, utilizing archival meth- Canadians, concentrating on cul- 1993). Individuals learn from family ods (cf. Lindström 1992; Niemi tural assimilation and retention. members, from teachers, and from 1998) or by examining a particular We sought to separate genera- other people in the culture to form cultural artifact, such as the sauna tional from cohort effects, and re- their own individual and/or group (Sutyla 1977). Our research, utiliz- sults showed that cultural reten- identity. Furthermore, a human ec- ing symbolic interactionist and ec- tion was strongest among people ological approach (Bubolz & Son- osystem approaches, is different who immigrated as adults with in- tag 1993; Kieren, Vaines & Badir from the usual historical approach tact family units. 1984) suggests the importance of taken by other researchers of the near environment on family in- Finns in North America. Analysis for this paper was in- Review of literature teraction. The ways that homes are constructed, the type of decora- fluenced by the work of Roos Theoretical perspectives tion within them, the cultural as- (1981), who studied cohort and pects of food and clothing, and the generational effects of Finns in Finnish immigration to North language spoken at home are all Finland. He showed that succes- America has been occurring over parts of the near environment sive migration from the country- 500 years, but systematic study of which are important to this re- side to cities in Finland in its rather search. late industrialization (after World Empirical research on immi- War II) affected value orientations Carol D. H. Harvey, Ph.D., Pro- grants suggests that they make and opportunities for Finnish co- fessor, Department of Family Stu- adaptations, drop certain practic- horts. Sintonen (1992, 77) calls dies and Tuula Heinonen, D. Phil., es, or incorporate new ones suited Roos’ way-of-life research one Associate Professor, Faculty of to life in the new country (Szekely which is formulated using a life Social Work, University of Mani- history approach, wherein inform- toba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 1990). These behaviors can be . An earlier version of this means of enhancing integration ants give a ”chronological ac- paper was presented at the an- and well-being in their new coun- count of the important matters of a nual conference of the National try (Heinonen 1996; Nyakabwa & person.” Tolkki-Nikkonen (1996, Council on Family Relations, in Harvey 1990). 667) says, ”At a theoretical level, a Minneapolis MN, on November The study of Finnish family pat- central concern [of Roos] was to 11, 2000. terns in Finland is extensive (cf. establish the place of way-of-life

24 Cohort and generational effects of cultural retention of Finnish Canadians in Manitoba

among categories of historical ma- venience sample of 22 Finnish Ca- felt by Finns, but it was not the terialism from the vantage point of nadians. The theoretical work of case for all. The post-1950’s group the social division of labor.” Later symbolic interactionists and hu- was generally married, skilled at a works have used daily life as a fo- man ecological theorists influ- trade, and upwardly mobile (Sutyla cus, something that the Finnish enced the development of ques- 1977, 97). He reports that by the sociologist Engeström (1990) has tions asked. In the analysis of data 1970’s ”many of these Finns are called activity theory. He concen- for this paper a way-of-life ap- securely middle class, they own trates on daily life, researching proach, concentrating on daily ac- their own homes, their children are such things as standing in line for tivity and its meaning, was used. grown up and married, and by Ca- tickets or meeting friends for cof- nadian standards ‘they have made fee. Immigrant research it.’” A synthesis of Engeström’s (1990) work with human ecological Many immigrant families experi- Finnish immigration theory has been done by Finnish ence stress due to lack of fluency researchers Tuomi-Gröhn and Pal- in language of the new country Many of the Finns who came to ojoki (2000, 113). Their focus is on (Thomas 1995). Finnish immi- North America came first to the human action in households, em- grants before 1960 generally could United States. Secondary migra- phasizing the ”situated nature of not speak English or French at all tion to Canada then occurred, in everyday human action in house- when they arrived in Canada (Sin- times when the Canadians accept- holds.” Thus the context in which tonen 1993). Later immigrants had ed people from the United States the activity occurs has a great deal the opportunity to learn English in quite willingly (Sutyla 1977). Finns to do with what people do, think, Finland, although not all did so. from the Ostrobothnia area of and feel. The context affects the Children are often the first to learn Western Finland came in great actor to such an extent that action the new language, and they often waves from 1910 to 1980, both to may appear to be irrational or inef- act as family gate-keepers, inter- the United States and to Canada ficient. In order to explain human preting for physicians, bureau- (Niemi 1988). action, then, one must ask inform- crats, and teachers (Thomas 1995). While Finnish immigrants to ants what things mean to them and In early stages of Finnish migra- other parts of Canada have been why certain behaviors are done tion to North America men and studied to a certain extent, little lit- (Tuomi-Gröhn & Palojoki 2000). women worked in sex-segregated erature is available for the Canadi- Sintonen (1992) was also influ- occupations. Men worked in min- an Prairies. Lindström states, ”The enced by Roos’ way-of-life re- ing, logging, and farming, where prairie provinces of and search. Sintonen studied Finns in they often worked in groups and Manitoba have scarcely been Canada who had immigrated in the spoke Finnish. Women, on the oth- touched” (1997, 35) by academic 1920s, employing a life course er hand, worked with families as do- researchers. Ramo’s work (1975) analysis of their experiences. The mestics or in boarding houses as outlines the involvement of Finn- life histories of his respondents cooks or cleaners, and they were ish immigrants in some areas of showed a close connection be- forced to learn English more quickly Canada, following church organi- tween interaction networks and than the men (Sintonen 1992). zations and labor groups. He also language preferences. He charac- Occupational deflection (Tho- gives a brief discussion about Sas- terized the respondents as having mas 1995) is commonly observed katchewan’s settlement called ”fragmented ethnicity” (Sintonen in immigrant populations. Unable , but Manitoba is 1992, 87), wherein at some times to transfer their technical or pro- largely missing there too. The sole they interacted almost entirely in fessional skills to the new country, paragraph referring to Winnipeg the Finnish community and at oth- due to restrictive licensing require- states that in 1933 the number of ers reported weak ties to it. ments, they have to take lower Finns in Winnipeg was between In this research we used semi- paying and lower status jobs. 150–200, and in Elma, Manitoba it structured interviews with a con- Some occupational deflection was was 150 (Ramo 1975, 282).

25 Siirtolaisuus-Migration 2/2003

Finnish immigration to Manito- the Canadian mainstream more of- speaking about their Finnish home- ba, like other parts of Canada, has ten than their adult counterparts? land, and travel to Finland. They been characterized by waves of ar- were also asked if they had Finnish rivals. One wave occurred around visitors in their homes in Canada. Research methodology 1900, another during the late Finn- (See Heinonen and Harvey 2001 for ish Civil War, and another after Interview exploration analysis on the meaning of home for World War II (Niemi 1988). Most of cultural retention these respondents.) Interviewers Finns in Manitoba were engaged tried to elicit a change in any of in mining, particularly in the towns Research on immigrant popula- these activities over time, asking if, of Flin Flon and The Pas, or in tions had been done by both re- for example, participation in the farming, settling near Elma and Lac searchers (see Copeland & Harvey Finnish-Canadian Club was as fre- du Bonnet. Others were drawn to 1984; Heinonen 1996). In addition quent now as when they immigrat- the main population area of the both researchers are of Finnish de- ed. province, the city of Winnipeg, for scent, with Heinonen immigrating various reasons, including profes- with her family from Finland to Data collection sional in education, Canada when she was 5 years old, sport or private business. Current and Harvey’s grandparents com- Respondents were initially recruit- Finnish immigrants and their de- ing to North America from Finland ed by snowball sampling of the scendants in Manitoba are esti- in the early 1900’s. Both work at members of the Finnish-Canadian mated at 1,500, extrapolated from the University of Manitoba, but Club. Then, as people were inter- census figures cited by Eklund they met at the Finnish-Canadian viewed, they were asked to sug- (1987, 24). Club. gest other Finnish Manitobans It is important to note whether The Finnish-Canadian Club who could be contacted. Letters of or not people choose to adapt and was interested in documenting the introduction were sent to potential integrate into the dominant cul- experiences of their members and respondents, explaining the re- ture. In the case of Finns, sharing others in the Finnish community, search and its purposes. Bilingual race and religious values with the and they provided a list of their Finnish/English interviewers (3) dominant culture means that they members and some modest finan- were trained, as well as three Eng- can assimilate if they want, partic- cial support for the project. The lish-only interviewers. A tele- ularly after a generation or two in Health, Leisure, and Human Per- phone screening determined Canada. The symbolic interpreta- formance Research Institute of the which language was preferable. tion of their heritage is thus impor- University of Manitoba provided Respondents were interviewed tant to study. the bulk of the funds, indicating mostly in their own homes. interest in cultural retention, par- Interviewers arranged the inter- Problem statement ticularly in leisure and sport activi- view date and place over the tele- ty of the immigrants. (See Heinon- phone; before starting the inter- For this paper the research prob- en & Harvey 2002 for a description view, ethical considerations were lem investigated was as follows: and analysis of Finnish Manito- explained. Respondents signed an ”What are the effects of cohorts ban leisure and sport activity.) ethical release form. Some re- (people who immigrated at the Respondents were asked a series spondents wished to have their same time) versus generation of open-ended questions in a quali- names and participation in the (people who immigrated as chil- tative interview for this research. A study confidential; others gave dren in comparison to those who particular focus which is relevant to permission to use their names and came as adults) in cultural adapta- this paper relates to the retention of their interview for use by the Finn- tion and continuity? Did early im- Finnish culture. Respondents were ish Canadian Club. migrants retain more of the Finnish asked about speaking Finnish at All responses were audiotaped, culture than later ones? Did people home, their participation in the Finn- transcribed, and returned to re- who immigrated as children join ish-Canadian Club, their writing or spondents for checking. Finnish

26 Cohort and generational effects of cultural retention of Finnish Canadians in Manitoba

language tapes were translated by ly ones who came when few others Finnish people, but Europe- Heinonen. Analysis by themes were immigrating, had less chance ans... We were there for 6 was done by the researchers, us- to speak Finnish or enter into Finn- weeks... There was food. Then ing standard techniques for text- ish celebrations. there was a kitchen. There we based information (Padgett 1998). could make coffee then. Fin- Impressions at arrival nish coffee. And if you left it the- Description of participants re, it disappeared. Your coffee Chances of meeting other Finns cups, dish cloths and everyth- There were 22 participants in this were greater for the 1950’s and ing disappeared. The children research, ranging in age from early 1960’s immigrants than for other got the mumps. Other children 30’s to late 80’s. Seven were men, cohorts. For example, one couple, had it and it spread. and fifteen were women. They im- arriving by train in the 1950’s to Another said, migrated to Canada from years Saskatoon, said When we came to Winnipeg, it 1920 (n = 1), 1940’s (n = 1), 1950’s We were at the railway station was quite dismal. It was win- (n = 9), 1960’s (n = 7), to 1970’s (n = buying newspaper, and we tal- ter. February 1, at nine o’clock 4); thus three quarters of our par- king Finnish and there was a at night. It was very cold and ticipants came in the 1950’s or couple of ladies–they start tal- Ness Avenue was very, very dis- 1960’s. Five came alone; 17 came king Finnish too. [My wife] mal looking. I got a very poor with family members (n for spouse started walking away and I impression. = 5, n for spouse and children = 6, n say, ‘Hey, hey. Don’t walk Many found Canada backward. for parents and siblings = 6). Immi- away now. We have to talking The were used to a Finland rebuilt gration during childhood occurred those people are Finns.’ after World War II in the latest for six participants. Most came di- Although his wife protested that it style, and architecture and con- rectly to Manitoba, but some came was not proper to speak to stran- sumer items were not as up to date first to other provinces and one gers, the husband prevailed. The in Canada. came from the United States. couple received help right away When we came to Canada, they Our participants were also inter- from the Finns, including assist- didn’t have winter boots... connected. Four were members of ance finding housing. Snow is there a metre high and one family; there were also three Another couple immigrated in people are in their high heels... husband-wife pairs interviewed. 1951 with their children and some I couldn’t believe it. I had Thus sixteen family groups were friends. Our respondent said beautiful leather boots. Every- represented among the partici- Another couple came with. We body said, ‘Where did you get pants. We did not ask for income were friends, and we always those?’ I couldn’t understand figures, but, judging from the decided that we, you know, that they didn’t have. types of homes in which they that someday we’ll go some- lived, all had achieved middle- place and then we saw the ad Cultural retention in the class status in Canada. in the paper that now you can early stages of immigration emigrate to Canada.” Results Experiences of others were not so The Finn Club was helpful to new smooth. One said that they came immigrants. It was especially ac- Cohort effects on to Winnipeg and were put in an tive during the ‘50’s and ‘60’s. The cultural retention immigration hall, a building that Club hosted coffee parties, put on has since been torn down. plays, had exercise classes, and Respondents who came to Canada That’s where they put us. All held dances, sometimes with live during a time when many other the immigrants and the family music. Recalling those times re- Finns were immigrating had ample got one room to stay in. There spondents said opportunity to retain their culture. was a struggle... We got a small I found friends that way. . .it People who came alone, particular- room... There were many, not was that it helped to get acqu-

27 Siirtolaisuus-Migration 2/2003

ainted with other Scandinavi- through the life cycle, they have Finnish. One lamented that she ans... different interaction patterns with never spoke Finnish but her Eng- Well, those early years there other immigrants (Sintonen 1992). lish was not good either, saying was always some kind acting After the initial phase of learning I have a very, very strong ac- and they got little plays and the language, getting a job, and cent in my whatever, singing and dan- spending time with other immi- now. It take a long time for me cing.... I did that in Finland... grants, people tend to move to ac- to speak Finnish until I finally It’s like the Finnish National quiring material possessions, such am able to speak fluently. Isn’t Dancers. All the dances and as a home and a car. The 1950’s that awful? You don’t know then order some material from and 1960’s immigrants in our study English, but you’ve lost your Finland for the plays. tended to also have a spouse and mother tongue too. Members of the Club also wrote young children, so they had less Many of the 1950’s and 1960’s im- plays themselves. One respondent time for visits with other Finns. migrants built their own homes or remembers typing them with two People recalled acquiring consum- cottages. In them they built a sau- fingers, after she came home from er goods. One couple reminisced na, a Finnish style bath which has work, and later putting them on about their first car, saying great cultural significance. stage. A ‘52 Plymouth. It was a full I built that as soon as we Families were able to eat Finn- size car... It had a sun visor out- bought the houses. ish food that they made them- side it. I am building a sauna in my selves, and part of the Finn Club’s Acquisition of material goods condominium now. I’ve con- activities included traditional seemed to be taken for granted by verted most of my friends to en- foods. Finnish language could be later cohorts, and people com- joying the sauna now. retained at the Club, and Finnish mented less about getting a home celebrations such as , or a car. Generational effects Little Christmas, and Easter were on cultural retention also held. Cultural retention in Later cohorts, especially people the late stages of migration Initial experiences of school Peo- who came alone, found the Club ple who came to Canada as chil- did not occupy such an important As people lived in Canada longer, dren had different experiences position for them. These people al- they had less need for the Finn from their parents. For one thing, ready knew English, and some Club and interaction with other im- they had to go to Canadian came to Canada with a job waiting migrants. One said schools, often starting that experi- for them. For example, one who Your home is here. Got family ence with no knowledge of Eng- came in 1971 enjoyed meeting peo- here, got kids and grandchild- lish. These adults recalled the pain ple at the Club, but it did not form a ren, everything here... of being thrust into a different focus for him. He said When the interviewer queried school environment. I got to know quite a few about the importance of having Being, you know, typically Finns... [In the Club] what I Finnish friends, one couple who Finnish. Being very painfully have done is very little... It is had been in Canada a long time shy, it took me probably two kind of neat how they get to said, years to really be comfortable meet in a place and they have Not necessarily [important to speaking out loud or even rea- something in common... have Finnish friends]. It’s nice ding out loud... to have them definitely. For others school was a great ad- Cultural retention during Couples who immigrated together venture. the middle stages of migration still spoke Finnish at home to each We played with other kids and other, but their offspring all mar- you learn how to say one thing Research with a way-of-life focus ried Canadians, and their grand- and you use sign language... has found that as people move children generally did not speak Also reading comic books is a

28 Cohort and generational effects of cultural retention of Finnish Canadians in Manitoba

great way to learn English... from Finland via the Internet or and cottages, traveled to and from My sister and I... would sit on from Finnish shops in Thunder Finland, and read Finnish books the floor with a dictionary go- Bay . Others received gifts and magazines. ing through comic books... from Finnish relatives, and still This study has some limita- others traveled and bought things tions. In the first place, we have a Middle and late phases of for their homes while in Finland. small convenience sample, and cultural retention by generation People said thus generalization to other Finn- It’s a big thing for me that I ish immigrants to Canada is impos- Most of the people who immigrat- have something which is Fin- sible. Second, recall of events at ed as children married Canadians. nish. immigration may be somewhat Thus they did not speak Finnish at I’m proud of these things, and I hazy. Third, interviewing people at home, nor did they generally have do have some pride in display- one point in time may mean that such an active involvement with ing them. they emphasize some aspects of the Finnish Canadian Club. Decidedly important because their immigration experiences and My oldest one, she is 16. She it keeps in mind one’s Finnish- neglect others. speaks Finnish quite well. . . ness. One doesn’t need to be The study has some implica- My son is 12 and he struggles ashamed of being Finnish. tions for practitioners. When so- with Finnish. . . I have a seven cial service providers and educa- year old daughter who absolu- tors work with immigrant families Discussion tely refuses to speak Finnish. who blend into the dominant soci- On the other hand, some Canadi- and implications ety, they may minimize or be una- ans who married Finns adapted to ware of some of the struggles fam- Finnish customs and activities, These Finnish immigrants to Cana- ilies had or are having. It is impor- learning Finnish, attending Finn da did report the importance of lan- tant for professionals to be sensi- Club activities or visiting Finland. guage and interaction with Finns tive to the symbolic meaning of While being proud of their in the early stages of immigration, events, recognizing that interpre- Finnish heritage, later cohorts as predicted by symbolic interac- tation is through a cultural lens. were less likely to visit Finland as tion theory and way-of-life re- Further, knowledge of the near en- often as their parents did. They search. Like what Sintonen (1992) vironment can expand under- saw their family roots in Canada, found among 1920’s immigrants to standing of client families. Finally, and they had uses for their money Canada from Finland, we found recognition of the stages through other than travel to Finland. cultural retention different as peo- which immigrants go in their host ple moved along the life cycle. country can assist practitioners to Cultural retention by all cohorts Language was more an issue for plan relevant and appropriate ac- people early in their immigration, tivities and learning experiences Examining the near environment of but generational effects were no- for them. the human ecosystem of these im- ticed, with adult immigrants con- migrants showed cultural reten- tinuing to speak English with less Abstract tion by use of artifacts in the home. ease than those who came as chil- No cohort differences were ob- dren. Cohort effects, particularly This study is of Finnish immi- served in the use of Finnish arti- the interaction with other Finns, grants’ cultural retention and ad- facts. All of the respondents had were also observed. Finally the aptation to Manitoba, Canada. Us- Finnish things in their homes, in- near environment provided an op- ing the perspectives of symbolic cluding glassware and textiles. portunity for Finns to retain cultur- interaction and human ecosystem, Many had Finnish-made jewelry, al identity, regardless of cohort or 22 respondents were interviewed. and some had Finnish clothing. generation. These respondents Theme analysis of qualitative re- Since many Finnish-made things had Finnish artifacts in their sults showed cultural retention are available, some ordered things homes, built Finnish style sauna was stronger among people who

29 Siirtolaisuus-Migration 2/2003

immigrated as adults (generational married Canadians and/or came to among people who immigrated as effect), while cultural adaptation Canada as children (cohort effect). adults with intact family units. was strongest among those who Cultural retention was strongest

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