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get the chance to hear the life experience of elderly
immigrants. The transfer of tradition and oral history is
important to minority communities.
Proposals:
ff Cultural actors increase the knowledge about
the methods of applied art of those who work
with the elderly by organising presentations
and seminars and productising their services.
ff The volunteer support persons also encourage
the elderly people they support to enjoy the
cultural services. They transmit information
to the cultural actors about potential
thresholds in the way of inclusion as well as
the wishes of the people they support.
ff The pensioners’organisations and other
communities for the elderly actively
recruit immigrants as their members.
3.5. Cultural minorities feel
at home in Rovaniemi
If Rovaniemi manages to entice those of its
inhabitants who have immigrated from abroad
to stay permanently in the city, there will be an
increasing number of minority cultures in the city.
Families are multilingual, and religious diversity is
increasing. Good integration includes the possibility
of actualising your own cultural palette and preserving
a multidimensional identity. Finland has old
cultural minorities, and the lessons learnt from their
experiences are valuable. The history of the Sami, the
Romani and the Tatar people includes both good
practices and mistakes to be avoided.
Cultural minorities establish
organisations
Several friendship associations operate in Rovaniemi;
for example, the Finland-Russia Society in Rovaniemi
has long established traditions. New associations are
represented by the Arctic Immigrants, established
in 2014, and the Islam association that is being
established as this programme is being drawn up.
However, the immigrant communities in Rovaniemi
are still relatively unorganised. Finland is a country
of associations. It is easier for a registered association The majority population’s knowledge
to promote issues that it feels important compared to
individual persons or free-form groups. An association
can also apply for funding from several sources. In
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activities organised through an association, changes in
personnel are not such a great threat to the continuity
as they are in completely free-form groups.
ff The existing actors encourage new inhabitants
of Rovaniemi to establish associations.
ff The cultural administration and the Citizens’
Forum organise a training day for those interested
in starting an association. Together with
MoniNet, the organisers ensure that activists
from cultural minorities are also present.
ff Experienced actors notify the cultural producers
of their willingness to act as sponsors for
the new associations. Sponsors share their
know-how and connections, act as sparring
partners and help with identifying risks.
Everyone has an opportunity
for a religious life
The religious life in Rovaniemi has gained diversity. In
several of the Kultti project’s discussions, the Muslims
stated that difficulties in practising your religion
is an important reason for moving away from an
area. Dialogue between religious communities has
successfully alleviated prejudices around the world.
ff The Muslims in Rovaniemi will
establish an association with the goal of
promoting the opportunities for a life in
accordance with Islam in Rovaniemi.
ff The Rovaniemi Muslim association will join
as a part of the national Muslim network. It
will most likely receive support and guidance
from other areas where the organisation
of religious life has progressed further.
ff The Muslim community and the other
religious communities in Rovaniemi will
organise meetings to start a dialogue.
ff The religious communities will organise events
for the inhabitants of Rovaniemi, where it is
possible to learn about the different religions
through the living library method, for example.
ff If an Islamic prayer room is created in
Rovaniemi, it is important that the information
about it reaches the tourists, too.
about migration increases
The Kultti panel participants wished that the majority
population knew more and was more interested in
learning about their backgrounds. Several of the panel