ARTS, LANGUAGE, AND FINNISHNESS

Abstrakti

As migrant communities solidify their presence over generations, the language of the early settlers and place of origin often
begins to be replaced by the language of the new home place, is no longer passed down from parents to children, and at times is even lost. This shift raises important questions about the role of language in shaping and defining migrant identity.
This section delves into these questions by turning to the practices and perspectives of two artists. Language is central to the works of both poet Nancy Mattson and multidisciplinary artist Caroline Kajorinne Krievin. Both explore their Finnish Canadian heritages and identities through their art and examine the ways the Finnish language has shaped their relationship with and
sense of Finnishness.