Nystapi People
| This page (or section) is a work in progress by its author(s) and should not be considered final. |
Nystapi | |
|---|---|
 Flag of Nystapi peoples and Lapliszna | |
| Total population | |
| 7.9 Million (2021, est.) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Borea, primary in East Borea | |
| Languages | |
| Blåskovian & Nys'tat'en | |
| Religion | |
| Akuanism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Ny'Zái, Ny'Ier, Nyomi |
The Nystapi People (Nah-Stap-e) is the largest indigenous Akuan ethnicity in Borea out of the 23 commonly accepted surviving indigenous Akuan groups on Borea and is part of the cultural grouping of Nyrak. Formally nomadic in lifestyle in the late 1700s, Blåskovian influence and ‘civilizing’ policies resulted in Nystapi settling down. Before the 1700s, the Nystapi people was known to inhabited the northern reaches of Borea, following reindeer herds for thousands of years.
Official estimates of Nystapi population is estimated to be around 7.9 million, scattered across Borea but primarily in the Eastern Borean and around Lapliszna. The Nystapi people are one of the few Akuan ethnicities that have their own state, that is non-Akuan multicultural and is only has majority Nystapi. The Nystapi people were subject to ‘civilizing’ policies by the Blåskovian crown and colonization. The civilizing policies have been a subject of heavy controversy within the Akuan world, as unlike many other Akuan ethnicities/cultures. Nystapi elders collaborated with Blåskovian authorities in the late 1700s during civilizing policies for a plethora of reasons, primary reasoning being to avoid complete assimilation and/or extermination.
History of Nystapi people is closely related to Blåskovian history, for better or worse. To the degree, that a common nickname for Nystapi given by Blåskovian peoples are “Litlåttes” which roughly can be translated to little Blåskovians or little blues/sparkles. The term is only really used in Noraida and Blaskog, with the occasional Nystapi official in Lapliszna. Despite their closeness to Blåskovian culture and history, Nystapi people have been able to keep their form of Akuanism, and to some degree their form of Nys’tat’en. Though their form of Nys’tat’en, has been extremely influenced by Blåskovian language and their names being Ulvriktianized.
Currently the majority of Nystapi live in Lapliszna, and the surrounding areas. Lapliszna being closely linked to Blaskog state. When the Blåskovian government announced the creation of Lapliszna state, for the Litlåttes/Nystapi peoples in 1972, resulting in a massive renaissance and reinvention of Nystapi culture. Millions of Nystapi people across Borea moved to the land outlined by the government. Originally the land being held was considered to be sparsely populated frontier land that was inhabitable for Elven settler senses. Though the country was only released in 1990, and had an interim caretaker head of state until 2014.
Nystapi still frequently pursued their traditional livelihoods, such as reindeer husbandry, fur trapping, fishing and bone handicrafting. Reindeer husbandry in particular being a large part of Nystapi employment across Eastern Borea, but mainly within Lapliszna and Blaskog. Fishing along the shoreline and lakes, using the traditional method to harvest salmon. In addition to the traditional livelihood, Nystapi people ‘Niväk’, a mixture of Blåskovian and Nystapi traditions, started back in the 1800s. Niväk including but is not limited to spring bear hunts, baseball, and stick duels.
History
Culture
Nystapi culture has been remarked by Blåskovian influence and history of colonization however it is unique in its adaptation of working alongside Blåskovian influence rather than actively opposing it. Examples include Niväk customs, adaptation and intermixing of Blåskovian customs with their own indigenous Nystapi culture. While controversial, even to this day centuries later it is cited as the most all encompassing reason why Nystapi was arguably the most successful surviving indigenous ethnicity in Borea and was able to escape the worst of Blåskovian colonization.
Before Niväk, Nystapi people would grow full beards and like the majority of other Akuan cultural groups all across the world kept growing their hair out throughout their life. Tattooing across the face and lip was extremely common, in particular when tattooing the lip. Lip tattoos, started off as a small spot on top of the lip, that increased in size as a Nystapi grew older until eventually the lip tattoo completely covered their lips stretching out to their cheeks and across their face. Pre-Niväk fashion tends to be more plain in color and was spun from inner bark of elm trees, leading faint blue color to the clothing. The pre-Niväk consists of three layers, a short robe with long straight sleeves that could easily be folded up with wooden bands and a rope made from reindeer fur around the waist. The outer layer, being more decorative in nature, is made with reindeer skins, colored beads and layered colored cloth made from wool.
Post-Niväk however, Nystapi tattoo culture was driven to extinction, beards and facial hair in general became a sign of backwardness. Long hair, while still relevant in Nystapi culture, became more focused on including beads and ribbons alongside traditional braiding patterns. Fashion adapted towards Blåskovians colors and style, using more yellow to symbolize gold in their outfits, using longer robes made from cotton and wool rather than spinning bark. Another change was the use of dyes, in particular using blue, red and green alongside yellow in their fashion. Borean silk, became a frequent fabric of choice for the upper and well-to-do members of society. Kimonos and their various styles became a symbol of individual, which is traditionally seen as negative in any Akuan culture to be individualistic. The Lapérouse cattleperson hat became common for field hands, as well the Blåskovian Ushanka and facial masks, usually made from cloth became common place. Other than Blåskovian influences, Côtois/Lapérousian culture as made its way into Nystapi fashion, such as plaid button ups, jeans and work boots not just including the cattleperson hats. Completely separate from either two cultural influences, ponchos made from reindeer skin mixed with fur and cloth became common place to wear over one's coat.
Pre-Niväk cuisine use to consist of meat only from reindeer and fish. Fruits, vegetables and other plant matter like roots or herbs were forged from the wilderness as they followed reindeer migration patterns. Post-Niväk cuisine changed massively to more domesticated crops, such as corn, wheat, Borean rice and soybeans. Meat still only includes reindeer and fish, however the preparation of meat changed. Pre-Niväk, meat was cooked but it was seen improper to add in spices or make it into a dish, rather reindeer meat was made into jerky. Jerky while still commonly eaten, but it is no longer a treated as a main meal but as a field snack or food to be consume while working in the fields or on the range. Meats now are served as part of a curry dish, steak and burgers mainstay of Ulvriktian dishes on Concord and Blaskog.
Habitation before Niväk, was made in a few ways such as digging a hole during the spring and summer and unrolling a roof made from wild grass mixed with glue created from reindeer hoofs, having the roof slanted facing against the wind for the fireplace to distribute the smoke. During fall, large tents made from reindeer skins for walls, floors made from rolled wild grass and a center place of the tent being used for the fireplace, resulting in holes in the center. Heads of the Nystapi bands before Niväk, would have their own special housing which acted as a town hall, court and in some cases a prison in as well serving a place for the heads of families to sleep at. During this time, heads of families slept away from their families and rather slept in the same tent as the others heads together. These tents was the largest in the band, crafted using reindeer skins, colored beads along the edges, colorful stitching along the roofing and the tent itself was made up of several other tents that was attached to it. The multi-tent, use the different tents as a method to separate duties that is held by the band council, and the most important in the detached tent-rooms, was the Akuan shrine dedicated for the band's ancestors and record book.
After and during Niväk, habitation reflected their abandoning of nomadic way of life but not fully taking in Blåskovian housing styles with their walled off houses. Nystapi housing took inspiration of Akuanists from the southern regions and Lapérousian style in addition to taking in Blåskovian more individualistic architecture style. Examples of Blåskovian adaption to Nystapi housing, was use of rugs and blankets as curtains on windows that been decorated with religious symbols to have the spirits keep the cold out. Fireplaces still was in the center of the house, but it was more formal and made from brick rather than digging a pit. Apartments are still seen as preferred housing compared to single family detached housing, this includes rural areas and farmhouses. The 'Nouvelle Ferme Côtois' painting made in 1989 inspired a new wave of neo-gothic rural architecture, which was able to both capture the religious requirements for Nystapi people and be able to house multiple families in one unit of housing. The painting in addition to its inspiration of Nystapi culture, it was a reflection of Nystapi adaption of Blåskovian culture by using it as a focus point to build off of as it include Blåskovian desire to show off one family's wealth over another but only in name. As Côtoise neo-gothic architecture are built with collectivistic nature in mind, meaning multiple families could comfortably live in a single unit usually three to four families and could other rooms could be easily used for other purposes such as tool storage or jar preservation. The 'tower' part of the house, being used for shrine and the storage room for the record book for the families.
After Niväk but before the Nystapi renaissance of the 1970s, housing for Nystapi used more Blåskovian building materials but used Akuan building methods, as a way to save nails. Resulting in most Nystapi building rarely, if ever using nails in its creation and using more wooden joints to assemble housing complexes. The creation of 'Nystapi' style housing became a small fad in the 1950s to 1960s for Blåskovian nobles who wanted to use the style of buildings as summer cottages.