Jamtland
is one of Swedens twenty-one counties. A direct English translation
of its name would be "always-country". However, with the older
spelling (without the two dots over the first "a" in Jämt) it
would mean "flat-country" which is a bit curious since Jamtland
is know, more than anything, for its beautiful mountains.
Historical
Background
The
idea of proclaiming a separate republic within an already existing
monarchy might come across as somewhat presumptuous. Some might
even call it ludicrous, but the fact is that the republican concept
has its legitimate historical background. Up until 1178 the county
of Jamtland was a independent, self- governed region, before Norwegian
authorities moved in and seized control. Not until 1645 â after
several wars and regional conflicts was it definitively returned
to Sweden.
However, through these turbulent periods, and up until today,
the people of Jamtland has claimed a strong independence towards
the southern parts of Sweden and taken deep pride in its own culture,
kitchen and dialects.
Map
from National Geographic,
shows Europe by cultural regions.
The
Republic Today
If
the middle age-era Republic was a fierce and war-prone one its
modern counterpart is all the calmer. Dug up from the historical
archives in 1967 and reintroduced on a more peaceful scale it
was used as part gimmicky, part serious protest against the Swedish
government´s harsh labor market policy, as well a way to elevate
the self-esteem of people living in Jamtland. The people of Jamtland
wanted to be seen as a resource to its country â not a burden.
Since then the concept has developed into some-thing truly ubiquitous.
A permanently ongoing, though sober celebration of Jamtlandic
traditions, culminating every year with the presidential speech
during the last day of Storsjoyran (The Great Lake Festival.)
Thus, the blue, white and green republic-flag can be seen almost
everywhere in Jamtland. Swaying from flagpoles in front of people´s
houses, as bumper stickers on their cars or in stores as local
merchants use it to establish a sense of affinity with their customers
and to bring attention to locally produced, high quality products.
All this, often side by side with the blue and yellow Swedish
flag.
The
President
The
sitting president, Ewert Ljusberg (originating from Hede) is a
famed and beloved troubadour and storyteller, known all over Sweden
for his striking physical appearance and deeply sonorous voice.
Emerging in the early seventies as a somewhat unorthodox interpreter
of such composers as Shel Silverstein he has since won the hearts
of a large national audience and today ranks among the top performers
in his genre.
Though considered a gamin and libertine in his youth Ewert has
a deeply philosophic side to him and has during the nineties undertaken
several pilgrimages abroad to historical and religious sites,
such as Tikal in Guatemala, in order to attain inner peace and
a higher awareness.
Ewert is also the author behind "Jamtelagen" or the ten commandments
of the Republic, as printed below.
"Jamtelagen"
or
"The Ten Commandments of the Republic."
Installed
as the president of the Republic of Jamtland in 1989 Ewert Ljusberg
immediately took upon him to rejuvenate the presidency and to
keep his people aware of the true essence of the Republic agenda:
peace, love, pride and understanding.These are, thus â in his
own words â the rules a true Jamt should try to live by:
1.
Know that You are somebody ‚ always.
2. Know that You are as good as anybody else.
3. As a Jamt (citizen of Jamtland) never assume that you
are of higher value or less worth that other people.
4. Keep in mind: You are always good enough as You are!
5 .Love yourself so that You can love your neighbour.
6. Pass no judgement upon others. They too don¥t always know better...
7. Fight Your own self-importance.
8. Take pride, at all times, in Your own language and dialect.
9. Cherish and beautify that special place of Earth which You
for a short moment in history have the privilege to administer
for the yet unborn.
10.
Recognize the gift of life!
Jens
Ganman
Storsjöyran
