Easwegians
Easwegians; Ez: Zerri; Nr: Jarnske; Ru: Эзерий; are the people of the Common Union of Easway, a maritime nation centred around the Barents Region. Easwegians are a polyethnic nation, who come from a wide array of backgrounds and cultures, primarily composed of the Ezaari, Norwegians, and Pomors; speaking Ezerryen, Norwegian and Pomors-Russian; with English as the common language. As a cultural identity, Easwegians are united by their seafaring capabilties and travelling-instinct and someone can be naturalised as an Easwegian regardless of ethnic or religious background.
The modern Easwegian identity slowly developed through a joint Novgorod-Ezaari-Norse outpost in 1195 known as the Iron Commonwealth, culminating in the 1478-1821 Easwegian Commonwealth. Territorial losses and phased exoduses in the 19th and 20th centuries led to a wide-scattering of Easwegians across mainly Europe, seen in the modern day. In 2017, the current state and national identity was crafted. The independence Government has put much effort into consciously forging an identity centred around polyethnic co-operation (Ez: Qiellemo; Nr: Samarbeid; Ru: Сотрудничество). This form of consociational pluralism, known as the Directorial Federation, has heavily factored into the culture, economics and international outlook of the Easwegian people.
The term 'Easwegian' is a translation of the original name the Icelandic Vikings gave to its inhabitants, the 'Ausmenn' in the 12th century. This identity was not originally adopted, with the Ezaari, originally from the Khazar & Pontic-Caspian Steppe, referring to themselves as such. Only when further Norsemen and Pomors interacted and joined the culture did the term Easwegian begin to be used.
Etymology
The term 'Easwegian' (Old Norse: Austmenn) derives from the name Icelandic Vikings gave the Ezaari who inhabited Bear Island after Viking's first discovery of Svalbard in 1194. This term was largely unused in favour of local ethnic names, but is said to have been noted in 1596 by Willem Barentsz who visited Bear Island and met Easwegians and attempted to translate the Icelandic Annals, which mentions Svalbard, into Dutch.
The modern revival of the term can be traced back to 2015, owing its coinage to the paramount founder of Easway Emizerri.
Ethno-linguistic composition
- The Ezaari Easwegians are the dominant ethnic group within Easway, who can be found throughout the four municipalities of the Common Union and in diaspora communities across the globe. They speak the Ezerryen Easwegian language, an Indo-European language of central Asian origins with large borrowings from Turkic, Uralic, Slav and Germanic due to nomadic travellings from the Khazar & Pontic-Caspian steppe to northern Europe, during the 1st century BC to the 12th century AD. They are most dominant within Essrina municipality, located in the west of Bear Island commonwealth. They practice primarily a mix of folk religions and Orthodox Christianity.
- The Norwegian Easwegians, also known as the Nordarværing, are largely derived from either Norse travellers during the time of the late medieval Commonwealth era, or modern day settlers of Svalbard after 1925. Primarily located in Urdport municipality and the Associated Community of Vardø Town Islands, they traditionally practice Lutheran Protestant Christianity and speak the Bokmål dialect of Norwegian. Whilst a separate ethnic group, the Sámi inhabit as indigenous people the areas of which modern day ethnic Norwegians settled and are Norwegian nationals. The Commonwealth era Easwegian's positive interactions with the Sámi, including loan word borrowings, had an impact on the local culture of Norwegian Easwegians. Norwegian Easwegians have a strong agricultural presence within Easway and their Norse heritage has contributed to the sea-faring culture.
- The Pomors Easwegians traditionally came from the White Sea of Russia, speaking a Pomors variation of Russian. Historically, they traded with both Norwegians and Easwegians and their exploration of the Barents Sea further integrated themselves into Easwegian culture. They primarily inhabit the Pomors Frontier commonwealth, the Tunheim prefecture and northern Russia. They traditionally practice Orthodox Christianity.
Cultural history and national identity
The Easwegian people historically have formed from an amalgamation of Ezaari nomads, Norwegian sailors and Pomors sea-traders. Easway was founded as the Iron Commonwealth in 1195 by Ezaari and Icelandic Vikings as an outpost of the Novgorod Republic and maintained the lands surrounding the Barents Sea in northern Russia, some small islands in northern Norway and islands such as Bear Island in southern Svalbard. In 1478 after the Muscovites subjugated Novgorod, the polity declared asserted independence as the Easwegian Commonwealth. The term
Cuisine
Easway's culinary traditions reflect its seafaring history and environmental realities of living in the arctic Barents Sea with Char, molluscs and shrimp, and crabs being popular, which are often grilled with salt and topped with a citrus dressing. Meats such as reindeer, mutton and chicken are also eaten within Easwegian meals for the vitamins and calories they contain, which are very often added to soups, alongside spinach soup, leek and potato soup; usually with plenty of salt and melted in cheese; and fish soups with barley and rice used as thickener. Potatoes are considered a staple food and prepared using various methods. Blueberries and blackberries are grown during the autumn and are used as garnish for desserts such as ice cream. The controversial garlic ice cream is considered the unofficial national dessert, which is often made with sheep's milk. Mint is used on many occasions within the Easwegian diet. In Easway, various amounts of mint tea are enjoyed, with peppermint tea being one of the favourites. In beverages, juice such as blueberry, cranberry and carrot juice are rated as the top choice for families. Tea, especially mint tea, is very popular. Beer is very popular within the adult population such as brown ale being one of the more popular varieties. Beer gardens and brew houses are a common business in Easway, making up large amounts of the local prefectural economy. Spirits such as vodka are also imported. Ayran, a beverage containing yogurt from goats, water and salt, is a staple part of Easway and considered the traditional official non-alcoholic beverage.