Kulturstigen 9

19th century. Colonization and settlements in Slagnäs.

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The years from 1800 to 1850 were dominated by internal colonization in this part of Lapland, i.e. most of the new settlements were based on older modern buildings.

This 'Klon'-colonization ('Klon' = branch, shoot), during which the sons of settlers and daughters founded their own settlements by building houses and farms, becomes most evident in the municipality of Arjeplog. In 1876, about half of all newly developed properties in Arjeplog belonged to just three families; Lestander (Lestadius), Zakrisson - Wallström and Burman. This expansion and development of our district was also representative for the rest of the parish.

The founder of the village, Nils Olofsson - Burman and his wife Sara Brita Lestander from Kasker settled in Old-Slagnäs (north side) and Reback (as a summer residence) in 1809. A few years later, in 1817, the Burman spouses built a summer residence in New-Slagnäs (south side) here on the Cape.

The other settlers were granted fifteen years of freedom by Burman, i.e. "freedom from tax and military services," and in return accepted a fixed cultivation and building service that was carefully controlled. (The Burman couple's first house on the Cape right beside).

By the middle of the 19th century, the village got three new ancestors, as Burman and his two foster sons sold parts of their first facilities, i.e. the north side. The new ones were: Johan Andersson-Löfmark from Skellefteå, Erik Andersson - Renström from Fårträsk, Malå and Jakob Johansson from Kvavisträsk, Norsjö.

The Forssén and Forsén families are branches of the Burman family.

The Burmans moved to the Cape at Sörsidan.

A little more than a hundred years after the first settlers arrived in the village, there was a total of 16 settlements/farms here in 1920. Six of them were on the north side and ten on the south side. The newly added lots were the basis of the so-called properties, and the village continued to grow around the lake and along the river bank.

Most of the families had many children, so they had to create space and the cultivation and construction could not be stopped.

With the efforts of the whole family, including children and the elderly, the Slagnäs settlers were quite successful. The family ties were strong and when needed, they helped each other. Till in the late 19th century, the principle of the settler Mörtsell was: "Fear God and cultivate the marshland..."

TRANSFER OF FIELDS AND BUILDINGS FROM MARSHLAND TO HIGHER LEVELS

Å1 = first tilled fields

Å2 = cultivation of new fields

Å3 = fields are moved to "field mountain"

H1 + H2 = the moving of the building.

Where large lakes existed, the settlers settled on capes, isthmuses and islands (e.g. Slagnäs). Where the lakes were absent or small, they were looking for the heights. (e.g. Nyliden). Both locations had favorable frost conditions, which was of great importance.

The drawing above shows the relocation of the field and the relocation of the buildings a little later to the new field location. Then the creation of a new field above farm 2 to a "field mountain", where the buildings are finally located. (e.g. here on the cape).