Archive:Achiyitqana

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Allied Territories of the Vodholk
and Achiyitqan Peoples

Cakoonukulbaat Bódolkuyeya
Aciyitqánakeya
Achiyitqan flag 'Hánunni' Emblem
Flag Emblem
Motto: Inbituuwhiu
Anthem: Kaaligeyeh kasálmoosdin
The states and territories of Achiyitqana
The states and territories of Achiyitqana
Location of Achiyitqana in Miraria
Location of Achiyitqana in Miraria
CapitalOnpihasga
Largest city Tigáatgiaqits
Official languages Achiyitqan
Recognised regional languages Salitkalish, Vodholk
Official Sign Language Manual Vodholk
Ethnic groups (2009 census) 71% Achiyitqan

13% Vodholk

7% Salitkalish

3% Shrake

2% Recin

4% Other
Demonym Achiyitqan, Achiyitqanian
Government Confederate democracy
 -  Modamih Seyanilé'on Nau'Aciyitqána
 -  Tsaabmodah Tikuwɥaipé KaŊiwckoonu'on
 -  Geyehmodah Tóog'inhida'on 'taKiinápsk
 -  Uummodah Uummodiin HeHáawulessqits
 -  Muuwimmodah Tilpiloɥɥio NauMuuwiniliá
 -  Gáammodah Áhet He'Tasulsliá
 -  Upper house Ŋiwckoonuyo Binooka Council of the People
Sovereign state
 -  Confederation 1752 
Area
 -  636,457 km2
245,737 sq mi
Population
 -  2014 census 4,840,280
 -  Density 7.2/km2
18.6/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2012 estimate estimate
 -  Total $193.631 billion
 -  Per capita $42,000 ((???))
GDP (nominal) estimate
 -  Total $147.529 billion
 -  Per capita $32,000
Gini (2014)29.0
low · (???)
HDI (2014)0.896
very high · ???
Currency Achiyitqan Onni (AQO)
Drives on the right
Patron saint Aciy
Internet TLD .aq

Achiyitqana (Achiyitqan: Aciyitqána [ˌat͡ʃijɪt̚ˈqa̋na]), officially the Allied Territories of the Vodholk and Achiyitqan Peoples (ATVAP, formerly ATAP), is a large confederation located on the northeast coast of Miraria and its surrounding islands. Most of its territory is within the arctic circle. It is bordered, clockwise from the east, by Kasiiralq, Fazulavaz, and the north polar sea. It is split by the Achiyitqan Sea and the Kiishkacha Inlet.

Etymology

Aciyitqa comes from the Achiyitqan for 'children of Aciy,' a hero-god central to the Achiyitqan religion, and -na is a suffix used in country names based on languages, roughly translating to 'land of the speakers of (language).' After the recent acquisition of Tesktóso'et, and somewhat less recently Uumstú, states primarily inhabited by the Vodholk, the name expanded to include their endonym.

History

Prehistoric times

Although recent archaeological forays are unearthing some evidence of early human habitation, most understanding of the past of Achiyitqana is based on the legends of Aciy's arrival in the north and the subsequent peopling of the area by the races of Aciy's parents.

Evidence suggests that Achiyitqana has been inhabited by hominids (originally vodholk) for nearly two hundred thousand years, and that modern humans first arrived within the last twenty to forty thousand years.

Establishment

The Western Achiyitqan Territory (Puulkulbaa Aciyitqánakeya or PUKA for short) was first established in 17?? in response to threat of the {expanding/arriving} {Empire/invaders}. It was thought that establishing formal federal borders, which had never before been done at a large scale by any Achiyitqan people, would dissuade TBD invasion. The territory initially comprised present-day Psongayé and the north of Geyehsun. The original capital of this territory was Ta'iŋalinn.

PUKA was found to be quite functional as a defensive tactic, and also encouraged greater cooperation between the nomadic and sedentary peoples in the state, which further improved defense, as well as bolstering trade, improving the flow of resources, and allowed more leisure time for all citizens.

In 1786 the East Achiyitqan Territory (Liihnkulbaa Aciyitqánakeya or LIKA) was founded as a separate nation, including the major trade hubs of Tigáatgiaqits and Ishtaawsuttudu, and covering most of present-day Tsaabkulbaa and Liihnkulbaa, as well as parts of northern TBD.

PUKA and LIKA had a strained allyship. During a period of famines from 179?-18?? known as the white years, there was an increase in violence between the two small nations. LIKA, being more populous, had greater power and sway, but greater resource needs, and was also under greater threat from neighbouring Mahavic] peoples, while the less-populous PUKA was forming friendlier alliances with its Vodholk neighbours.

Eventually, in 18??, the two signed a peace treatise by merging the states into the United Achiyitqan Territories (Díllaqqulbaat Aciyitqánakeya or DKA). Outreach attempts saw the formation and then unification of other ethnically Maakpauean territories. Despite attempts to secure Patapewana in the north of modern-day TBD, that area remained independent and then fell under TBDian control. Many Achiyitqans (and some Patapewans) still consider this territory to be rightfully part of Achiyitqana due to the closer cultural ties of these two people than to the government and other inhabitants of TBD.

The primarily-Vodholk-populated territories of Uumstú and Tesktóso'et were both willingly annexed in the last hundred years.

Geography and Geology

Achiyitqana is a mid-sized coastal, peninsular and island nation, mostly within the arctic circle, and therefore it is very cold and windy for much of the year. Some parts of the country do not see the sun for nearly five months in the winter, and have a correspondingly long period of midnight sun in summer. The inland and southern areas have a somewhat milder sub-arctic climate with less extreme lengths of midnight sun and polar night.

Achiyitqana is split almost neatly in half by the Achiyitqan sea. The two halves are known respectively as the Eastern and Western territories. The Eastern territory is further split by the Kiishkacha Inlet and Háuleissqits Bay.

The majority of the country is low-lying.

Biodiversity

The sea is fairly plentiful with fish, whales, porpoises, seals, seabirds, and even seaweeds. The land is much more sparsely inhabited; it is too cold for any land reptiles, although there are some cold-hardy amphibians. The most numerous species on land are rodents, lagomorphs, mustelids, and during the summer, migratory birds. Vast herds of caribou persist year-round, with a variety of summer visitors including steppe bison. One of the country's rarest but most iconic species is the pygmy mammoth, which out-survived many of its kin on the small islands on which it originated.

Achiyitqana is also home to polar bears, lynxes, and arctic fox.

Trees are limited to very small ranges within sheltered valleys in the southermost portion of the country, although creeping willow and other dwarf relatives of trees persist further north. Grasses, sedges, fungi, and lichens make up the majority of flora present on land.

Poltico-geography

Map of state divisions in Achiyitqana

There are twelve states, which are subdivided into smaller counties and municipalities. Each state has its own capital city, which may serve as the country's capital, a status chosen as part of the electoral process. The capital is most often Tigáatgiaqits, the most populous city in the country and and the capital of Ŋgúsɨtsu state, followed by Ishtawsuttudu in Tsaukumma. However it is currently Onpihasga in Psongayé.

Clockwise, from the northwest, the states are Tesktóso'et Puulsuwaw, Uumstú, Muuwintu, Gaankulbaa, Sonniŋqits, Tsammiiŋqits, Ŋgúsɨtsu, Tsaukumma, Kiishkicha, Psonkulbaa, Psongayé, and Geyehsun. The latter is the only landlocked state, with all of the others having at least some coastline access.

Uumstú, Muuwintu and Gaankulbaa, alongside Puulsuwa, were formerly one large territory, Uumkulbaa. However, when the previously independent Tesktóso'et joined the confederacy in 1956, Puulsuwa was partitioned; the other three states split slightly later, in the 1970s, in order to give each jurisdiction better control over its own local affairs.

The small states in the southeast (Sonniiŋqits, Tsammiiŋqits, Ŋgúsɨtsu, and Tsaukumma) were also previously one state, Tsaabkulbaa. They were split into separate jurisdictions in the 1990s in order to give these more highly populated areas a greater degree of independence and more proportionally accurate representation in local elections.

Government

The government and political system of Achiyitqana are based on aspects of both direct and representative democracy. The various levels of government within the country (federal, state, and region/municipality) are heavily intertwined.

All levels of government are headed by a council, with no single individual representing the highest authority; as such there is no true single head of state in Achiyitqana, but a leadership council. One member of the council at each level is officially designated its nauyóon, a liaison or representative to higher levels—municipal to state, state to federal, and federal to international. As such, the "head of state" of Achiyitqana has no greater jurisdiction or responsibility over internal affairs than any other member of the leadership council, but only over external ones—and is still expected to liaise with their contemporaries on the rest of their council before casting official votes or making any binding agreements.

At each level, electors vote for two individuals (preferentially ranked among a larger pool of candidates), one to serve as their local representative (íinnon) (who must come from a pool of local candidates) and one to serve as the nauyóon to the next-larger council. The latter may harken from any eligible district within the electoral area—which is to say, Achiyitqans may cast ballots at the municipal level for individuals who are not from their municipality; or at the state level, who are not from their state.

Political parties

Traditionally, formal political parties have not existed within Achiyitqana. For most of its history, informal coalitions formed between politicians with similar worldviews and goals, which were fleeting (typically not outlasting a single election cycle) were the nearest equivalent. The structure of the councils and the system in which citizens vote for both a íinnon and a nauyóon makes it difficult to establish party-like hierarchies, and there are strict provisions in Achiyitqan law that make many aspects of party politics illegal or infeasible, especially concerning fundraising and advertising.

However, in the modern era, political candidates typically align themselves along a shortening list of heemqáabo, particular philosophical standpoints or movements which, in effect, are beginning to draw party lines. This has largely started in the last few decades with the rise of telecommunications and especially the internet and social media, as candidates vie for attention by saturating their online presence with high-optics stories, carefully-chosen buzzwords, and algorithmically-driven advertising. The parasocial media site liɥbuwá.aq has been particularly effective in showing similarities between candidates cross-nationally and allowing these heemqáabo to develop. Recent laws increasing online privacy rights for Achiyitqan citizens (and restricting many forms of data mining) may reduce this effect.

The heemqáabo still lack many aspects of traditional political parties; for example, they have no official, legally-recognized structure or internal hierarchy, leading to frequent disagreement among members not only about what policies should be enacted, but also any decisions about internal organization or process. Most politicians will subscribe to more than one heemqáabo, which will in some instances align with many others, and at other times will make them quite unique. Finally, although there is a certain amount of respect and strategizing between some candidates, in many cases there will be two or more candidates espousing the same general political views within the same electoral race, rather than a single designated representative from an official party.

Foreign relations

Achiyitqana has a strong trade partnership with many other nations and has allies in many scientifically-minded nations and among its neighbours. It has had a strong positive relationship with its neighbour Kasiiralq for most of the two countries' histories, and in modern times also enjoys friendly relations with Fazulavaz and Juhashka.

Military

Achiyitqana has a decently sized military for its populations, including a navy, army, and airforce. A sizeable portion of citizens are also members of a giataggan, a militia-like entity, which are focused on defense operations within Achiyitqana's borders, as well as disaster relief, famine alleviation, and some aspects of environmental protection. There is rarely international trouble, but Achiyitqana can usually count on its own defenses. It will intercede in international conflicts only in very pressing circumstances.

Of the branches of its military, Achiyitqana's navy is the most internationally competitive, largely thanks to its advanced submersibles.

Economy

Historically, the Achiyitqan peoples have been split into two groups: the subsistence hunters who stay in the far north, and the explorers and traders who ranged the world. Trade remained a major part of the Achiyitqan economy until recent centuries when producers found more direct ways to ship their own goods to importers, although many Achiyitqan citizens and emigrants still sail cargo ships and ocean liners.

From the early 1950s, Achiyitqan oil, mostly mined off the north shore of Muuwinilia, became an important resource for many industrial nations. However, after a number of disastrous oil spills negatively affected the fishing industry and regional wildlife, oil production petered out, officially halting in 1993. Today Achiyitqana still exports some energy resources, including mined coal, and excess electricity from its nuclear reactors. It supplies most of the electricity for its neighbour, Uvanga.

Today's Achiyitqana has a manufacturing and resource-based economy. It is hugely reliant on fisheries exports, including fish, crustaceans, seaweeds and other aquatic life. Mining of metals and gemstones are also contributions - most metals are used internally, but a significant number of precious stones are shipped internationally. The metals are often indirectly exported in the form of ships - mostly fishing, cargo, coastguard, transport, and other utility ships, although there is also some production of military, research and luxury vessels.

Traditionally-made winter clothing and sporting goods have long been lucrative exports, although environmentalist and vegan concern over sealing and whaling has diminished the value of this industry.

Technology has become the mainstay of the Achiyitqan export economy in the last fifty years, mainly using metals received from Uvanga in return for Achiyitqan electricity. Home computers, cell phones, televisions and other luxury technology items are made, but robotics and scientific equipment including imaging and communication devices, laboratory safety equipment, precise measuring and positioning devices, and many other items are produced in much greater quantities. There are also many Achiyitqan software engineers.

Transport

In some of the larger cities there are paved roads for automobiles, and there is also a small seasonal highway network that is only maintained in the summer months. Long-distance travel during the winter can be accomplished by high-speed rail. There is also some light rail in Tigáatgiaqits, Onpihasga, and a few other cities.

In the north and during the winter, snowmobiles and traditional dogsleds are very common.

Boating is very common through the ice-free months, with some icebreakers and contingent craft operating throughout the winter as well.

Air travel is fairly common, and most settlements have at least a helicopter pad.

Energy

The larger settlements and cities of Achiyitqana have well-established, weather-proofed, buried power grids, which mostly rely on nuclear energy. Since the 1960s Achiyitqana has also been increasing usage of wind energy, natural gas and hydroelectricity.

In the more sparsely populated areas, especially further north and inland, there is still power infrastructure; dotted throughout the landscape are approximately 3,000 free-to-use, taxpayer-funded Hiiliknpsomqitt or "power stops," often referred to as HPQ for short (or HiPQi in Achiyitqan syllabics), where nomadic peoples can come to charge batteries and make use of internet and telephone connections. Most of the HPQs are along underground power grids that are carefully-maintained, while a few are independent, drawing from wind and water turbines. The internet and telephone services are provided via satellite.

Small permanent or seasonal hamlets have formed around some HPQs.

Science and technology

Achiyitqana was at the forefront of technological innovation throughout much of history, owing partially to their substantial international trading and traveling, but also largely due to the religious and cultural importance of learning and sharing.

Many shipbuilding innovations, historical and recent, have been attributed to Achiyitqan boatmakers, including transport and trade vessels, fishing boats, and especially scientific vessels and marine equipment including submarines. There has also been much in the way of inventions to improve arctic living, such as highly efficient greenhouses. Some other historical inventions attributed - sometimes with argument - to Achiyitqanian inventors include early telescopes and the octant. Achiyitqanian engineers were also responsible for some of the first stable nuclear energy plants.

Achiyitqana has also partaken of many in-depth studies of ocean currents, life in the frozen arctic sea, and in the deep ocean. Many scientific conferences in these fields have been held in the capital city, Onpihasga, and in other locales. In 1953 Achiyitqana founded its own minor space agency, LALHA (KaLaigeilai At'onkeya w Liɥɥia'onkeya nauHast Aciyitqánaka - The Achiyitqanian Association of Explorers and Scientists for Space) and was one of the first nations to put a satellite into space, [WITH THE HELP OF ???] in 1959 (Mótlai, 'Screamer', soon followed by Qengon Qehŋ'on, 'Messenger', pictured on the 20 onni bill). It has its own spaceport, Dahqɂon.

International scientists often team up with Achiyitqanian engineers and manufacturers to invent high-grade scientific equipment.

Tourism

Throughout most of the year, Achiyitqana sees some tourism from people wanting to view the northern lights, with an influx at the winter solstice, during the 'eternal night.' There are also some summer tourists every year during the 'eternal day' of the summer solstice. Other main attractions include hunting, wilderness survival and other extreme sports, whale-watching and other bio-tourist activities, and some recreational submarine dives. Overall, however, tourism has little impact on the economy.

Demographics

Ethnic groups

The two main ethnic macrogroups are named in the full name of the country: the Achiyitqan peoples and the Vodholk. Most native ethnic groups are closely related to these two, or to other Maakpauean peoples. There is also a sizeable immigrant population.

Language

The official languages are Standard Achiyitqan and Vodholk. The country also has an official sign language, Vodholk Sign Language, which is known by most members of the Vodholk species, others who live in majority-Vodholk areas, and is also required learning for all public servants.

Although Standard Achiyitqan is official, it is rivalled in the number of native speakers by the southern Tsaavalu dialect spoken by most native residents of Tsaabkulbaa and in some neighbouring countries. Many other dialects of Achiyitqan are also present.

Religion

(main article: Achiyitqan religion)

Most Achiyitqanians follow the Achiyitqan religion, Aciygabi. The people's namesake, Aciy, is their hero-god from whom they claim to descend. The religion focuses around the veneration of Aciy and, to a lesser extent, Aciy's parents and direct descendants. Other minor spirits of the natural world, some of which may coincide with figures from neighbouring folk-religions, are recognized but not worshipped.

Culture

Heritage

Naming

The traditional Achiyitqan name is only one part, the given name. Children are given a name that generally reflects their appearance or their birth circumstances; however, most Achiyitqans change their names several times throughout their lives to better reflect their identity and accomplishments. Some may acquire titles which are added to the full name only on ceremonial occasions.

Since 1963 the government has encouraged citizens to take a second name to fit to international standards; these names are almost always place names indicating where the individual lives, works or was born, although some people take patronyms, matronyms, or professional names. Like the first name, many Achiyitqans change their second names several times throughout their lives in keeping with life accomplishments; in recent years many have begun keeping the first name given to them at birth and changing only the second name to reflect significant accomplishments, or adding additional second names.

It has become traditional for the Modamih to take the surname nauAciyitqána, 'for Achiyitqana.'

Architecture

The earliest forms of 'architecture' in Achiyitqana were igloos and tents. By the time semi-sedentary and seasonal populations began forming, the tóogoqitt or 'mammoth house' (a semi-subterranean communal longhouse) was developed and widely used across inland Achiyitqana.

Modern architecture in Achiyitqana concentrates on sustainability and maintains some traditional flares such as rounded building plans, artificial or natural firepits, and skylights, especially in rural areas.

Cuisine

Achiyitqans rely heavily on the sea. Fish, crustaceans, molluscs, seaweed, whales, dolphins, and seals are the main dietary sources for most Achiyitqans, especially but not only in coastal communities. Caribou meat and dairy products are also a key component of the diet, especially among Vodholk and inland communities. Most plant matter is from the sea or the south of the country; some hardy grains (especially wild rice), leaf and root vegetables, and legumes are consumed, as well as northern berries and a few cultivars of apple. Offal, small whole rodents or birds, and blood are commonly used ingredients. In recent decades, importing and greenhouse growing of more temperate or even tropical fruits and vegetables has increased; these are mainly consumed in the southern cities.

Achiyitqan cuisine greatly incorporates traditional preservation methods including smoking, brining, and fermentation. In the winter, open-air refrigeration is common.

Many foods are eaten raw (plain, salted/spiced, or mixed into salads); the secondary methods of cooking are baking and frying (usually in lard). Boiling is uncommon except during the creation of soups; steaming is very rare.

Sport

See also