Akkarden
Protected Isolate of the Aakkan Territory | |
|---|---|
  Flag of Aakarden (Left) and the Flag of the International Forum (Right) | |
Motto: "Leave nothing behind but memoriam."[n 1] | |
Anthem: "Song of the Aakkan" (Unofficial) | |
 Location of Aakarden in Sempiterna | |
| Status | International Forum protectorate |
| Capital and largest settlement | Aakka |
| Common languages | Aakkan |
| Diplomatic languages | Early Modern Vistarian |
| Ethnic groups |
|
| Demonym(s) | Aakkan |
| Government | Autonomous IF-Protected Tribal Administration under Collective Leadership |
• Secretary-General | Helena Reitz |
• Security Council Chairperson | Klara Sarinov |
• High-Commissioner | Freida H. Dirkheim |
• Observational Lead | Arnold Scholtz |
• Lord Protector | Pieter L. Hagelwoud (honorary) |
| Establishment | |
• Formation | Antiquity |
• Discovery | 13 July 1612 |
• Edict of Protection | 21 September 1614 |
• IF Administration | 12 February 1923 |
| Population | |
• 1612 census | 1,984 |
The Protected Isolate of the Aakkan Territory is the name the lands on the continent of Sempiterna belonging to the Aakka People under the protection and guarantee of the International Forum, as well as separately by Vistaraland. While the lands are formally under these protections, the Aakkan administer it completely autonomously, with the IF preserving their voluntary isolation by the means of covert non-participant observation in coordination with the Hegelwoud Society of Interpretivist Thought, a sociological research foundation under Verian-West University.
History
Pre-Discovery
According to archaeological records, whilst most early Cava - having evolved from Treeclaw - fled north across the land bridge into Aurora following the freezing of Sempiterna, some were left isolated and forced to adapt to the increasingly harsh and cold environment of the continent, slowly returning to a carnivorous lifestyle due to the unviability of agriculture, sustaining on fish, krill and other marine life. They soon began gradually developing a rudimentary culture and language around the northern coast - outlining territory by forming paths from the sea to their communal settlements, in what scientists have called Snoways. (colloquially "snowterways")
Discovery and protected status
The isolated community was discovered by Vistari Sempiternaic Explorer Captain Matthias Drieszoon Hagelwoud in 1612, who referred to them as the Aakkan, after a native word which is now believed to simply mean 'No'. Hagelwoud wrote a report on the population using non-participant observation, before campaigning reigning Emperor Frederick II 'the Patron' to offer his protection to the land's unique scientific opportunity. Such a protection was granted, and renewed by the IF in 1923 after making agreements with Vistaraland, with the Haglewoud Family continuing to bear the title of Lord-Protector of the territory to this day.
Political status and governance
Aakkan Governance
Though the territory is nominally a possession of the International Forum and the Hegelwoud Estate, outside of a few research facilities which operate in the interior - away from the Aakka people - the territory is de facto owned and ran by the Aakka themselves, under a system of collective leadership, believed to be similar to direct democracy, with continued attendance to a community meeting being considered a vote in favour whilst leaving or being absent is seen as a vote against the meeting's motion. Some individuals perform a ritual of attending the meeting before immediately leaving once the topic of discussion has been announced, which is believed to be a showing of strong disapproval of the motion in question, as well as indicating their intentional absence.
IF Administration
Described in the 1923 Aakkan Treaty (formally the "Treaty on the Continual Protection and Voluntary Isolation of the Aakkan Territory"), the protection of the territory and its inhabitants, as well as the coordination of research within and around the territory falls under the jurisdiction of the IF Aakan High Commission. The Aakan High Commission prohibits unauthorized travel within the territory and its Maritime Exclusion Zone (MEZ) of five nautical miles (9.26 km), and is the sole institution able to grant permission for researchers to enter and move within the territory to ensure the maintaining of the voluntary isolation of autonomy of the Aakka People.
The Commission is led by an appointed High Commissioner, who serves until they resign or are recalled by the Secretary General of the International Forum, and is appointed by either the Secretary General or Chairperson of the IFSC, though the word of the former may supersede the latter as the position is accountable to the Secretary General. The current High Commissioner is Dr, Freida Hildadochter Dirkheim of Vistaraland. Under the High Commissioner are several departments, organized to coordinate the duties of the IF - alongside the Office of Energy, Science and Water Management - outlined in the Aakkan Treaty, including the patrolling of the MEZ and ensurement of proper conduct of researchers whilst in the proximity of the Aakka people.