The Karelians in Heinola for 80 years

A thematic exhibition at the Käkisalmi Museum illustrates the society’s activities through three themes: advocacy and societal relations, emotional support, and cultural work. After the war, the society helped evacuees adjust to new circumstances, influenced their position in society, and established connections with local authorities and organizations.

The society also provided vital peer support and a sense of community for Karelians displaced from their home regions. Celebrations, storytelling evenings, memorial services, and spiritual activities helped them cope with difficult experiences.

As living conditions stabilized, the focus shifted to nurturing Karelian culture. Traditions, culinary culture, and Karelian heritage have been passed on to new generations and introduced to a wider audience.

The history of the Heinola Karelian Society has seen both highs and challenging times, yet its activities have remained vibrant. Karelian organizational and cultural work is currently undergoing a period of transition as the evacuee generation steps aside and new generations bring fresh perspectives. Consequently, documenting the society’s 80-year journey in a book is a crucial part of preserving Karelian heritage and passing it on to the future.

The displayed items belonging to evacuees and the traditional folk costumes illustrate the preservation of Karelian cultural heritage and its transmission to new generations. The exhibition also introduces the *Siirtokarjalaisen tie* (The Path of the Displaced Karelian) book series, which enables visitors to search for information on relatives and acquaintances who were resettled across Finland as evacuees.

The exhibition offers an overview of how Karelian community spirit, traditions, and culture have endured and evolved over the past eight decades.