Christian morality and enlightenment to the natural child: Third-sector education in a children’s home in northern Finland (1907–1947)

Abstract

For 71 years, the Riutula Children’s Home, located in Inari, northern Finland, served orphans and other children whose families could not raise them. This article introduces and describes the operations of the Riutula Children’s Home from its establishment in 1907 until the aftermath of WWII in 1947, focusing on two main aspects of its activities through reviews of its archival materials and articles written by its employees. The Riutula Children’s Home housed both Finnish children and those from Sámi families of indigenous cultural backgrounds who also spoke their native mother tongue, as well as children from nearby areas. Some aspects of Sámi culture were included in the Home’s educational program, but Sámi language was neither highlighted nor supported in the organisation’s daily activities. The Home’s stated aim was to take care of children and educate them to be God-fearing, civilised and good citizens of Finland. The Sámi language did not receive any special attention.