Kanqaamiut

Kanqaamiut is a Liotainian-administered protectorate between Akaina and Zamoroziet.

### History

Kanqaamiut appears to have been inhabited for at least ten centuries, but the local people have no written records.

The territory was first mentioned by the outside world in the mid 1600s under the name "Kanka-Meet." The Bolish writer referred to the inhabitants as "men wearing the skins of beasts, with leather faces, yellow teeth and wolf eyes."

Irregular contact between the native Kanqaa and foreign traders begin in the late 1700s, but remained extremely rare even as late as the early 1880s.

In 1890, Kanqaamiut was officially annexed by the Kingdom of Liotain. The annexation was allegedly approved by a council of tribal leaders, although in recent years questions have been raised about how the process was handled, and whether it was done justly.

### Government and Politics

Kanqaamiut is officially a Crown Protectorate, with the current goal of protecting the native Kanqaa people from exploitation by foreigners, while still allowing limited investment and mining.

As a protectorate, Kanqaamiut is ruled directly by a viceroy (or vicereine) appointed by the Liotainian monarch. The viceroy's duty is to serve as a liaison between foreigners and the native Kanqaa, keeping the peace. As of 1907, only two viceroys have held office, with the first, Jonas Adamkus, being removed in 1899 for not *actually* consulting the tribal chieftains in decisions.

   The viceroy maintains an office in the de facto capital of Atangmik. Since the changes instituted in 1899, the viceroy's office is open to the public every afternoon, allowing any inhabitant of Kanqaamiut to walk in to speak with them.

The tribal chiefs (Kaskae) do not have any set meeting schedule. Although there are at least forty-five tribes listed in the official records, there has never been any known occasion where all forty-five were present to make a decision; a quorum requires only ten kaskae in attendance, and the record at any one gathering is only twenty-one (in 1902).

According to reforms passed in 1899, the Kanqaa receive a yearly sum of money (drawn from the profit earnings of the mining companies) which is regarded as "rents" for mining activity on Kanqaamiut land. Since most Kanqaa don't use money in day-to-day life, much of this money remains unused. In 1904, a decision was made to lower the personal payments and instead use it to fund free schools and hospitals for the Kanqaa population.

### Geography

Kanqaamiut is a mix of rocky taiga and rough mountains. Most settlements are located on the southeast coast, which is relatively low-lying in comparison to the rest of the country.

From October to April, the entire coast of Kanqaamiut is ice-bound. During this period, navigation, even with dedicated icebreakers, is incredibly difficult, and ships are in danger of being stuck (and potentially crushed) in the ice-pack until the following summer.

### Demographics

Kanqaamiut is mostly occupied by the tribal Kanqaa people. Tribal chieftains (Kaskae) have indirect control over the people, exerting influence over the tribe's members rather than ruling directly.

Up to 1890, the Kanqaa people mostly followed a polytheistic religion with shamans and storytellers. However, the arrival of the Liotainians, with their technology, has resulted in major shifts. Some Kanqaa have adopted a system of "cargo-cult" beliefs. For instance, Rokantiskes (a Liotainian city) became the goddess of steam locomotives. The Kanqaa have also started adopting Liotainian Orthodoxy, albeit with some elements of the local shamanism retained - similar to the Giddoyogin practiced in Joseon.

The port of Atangmik, located in southeastern Kanqaamiut, serves as the capital city. Atangmik has a maximum summertime population of 9,000. The settlements of Paamiut, Kukuliak and Maligissat, also ports, are also noteable population centers.

The settlement of Sarfangnuit (population 45) is believed to be the most northern permanently-occupied settlement in the world.

Ten largest cities:

* Atangmik: 9,000
* Paamiut: 8,000
* Kukuliak: 4,000
* Maligissat: 4,000
* Ammassivik: 3,000
* Saarloq: 2,500
* Nunarsuit: 2,300
* Ikermiut: 2,200
* Qeqertarsuatsiaat: 2,000
* Kangerlussuaq: 1,900

Seasonal workers come to Kanqaamiut for employment at the mines. They are technically counted among Kanqaamiut's residents, but have no say in how the protectorate is run.

### Economy

Seasonal mining has been carried out on a small scale by the Kanqaa for several centuries, but has accelerated substantially since 1890.

Sealing and small-scale whaling was once a major economic industry, but both the market support and the supply has dried up. In 1900, Liotain declared a 15-year Moratorium on industrial sealing in Kanqaamiut, with the sole exception being given to the Kanqaa themselves; however, the Kanqaa are not allowed to export seal-skins.

### Infrastructure

#### Transport

Very little infrastructure has been constructed in Kanqaamiut - and indeed, very little \*can\* be built, given the harsh climate and rough terrain. Two 600mm narrow-gauge railways - the 41 km long Paamiut Railway and the 40 km Atangmik Railway - carry cargo and passengers to the mines. The Paamiut Railway is a probable contender for the most northern railway in the world.

Almost universally, locals travel either by foot, by boat along the coast, or by dog-sledge (when conditions allow).

Dog-sledging trips are rarely done overland. Travelers instead prefer to travel on the sea-ice (when available) as it allows significantly higher sledging speeds, easier navigation past obstacles, and more warning of surprise polar bears.

In the summer of 1904, a wireless station was installed in Atangmik, with enough power to send to Tok Bara in northern Zakiristan.

### Culture

The Kanqaa are avid hunters, and most of the tribes show significant respect to the Liotainians as "the rifle people" responsible for importing the first (and best) rifles into the territory.

Locals are particularly fond of games, ranging from games of chance to a small board game played on the lap with carved stones or bones.

Storytelling is a major part of Kanqaa culture, with most tales being recited by memory, often to accompanying music.

Until 1895, the Kanqaa had no written language. A group of three Liotainian language students, from the University of Neris, spent two summers developing a unique alphabet for the Kanqaa language and writing down grammar rules. Since 1901, the alphabet and language rules are taught in local schools.