Siikajoki 2008
On the 18th of April, 1808, after an orderly retreat from the Russians, Adlercreutz reached the community of Siikajoki - about 50 km south of Oulu. Here, he decided it was time to stand his ground. After fierce fighting, the Finns of the King's Ostrobothnian Regiment held out until reinforcements arrived and helped secure the first home victory of the Suomen Sota 1808-09 (Swedish-Russian war 1808-09). A string of victories follwed, as the Russians were pushed down the Bothnian coastline, until they reached Oravianen. There a tactical mistake cost the battle, but the war had already been lost at Suomenlina. (A very synopsis of the war !)
There is a history group at Oravainen, who cover the events there. They have been going now for over ten years and have built up a small museum on the site. Whilst not so ambitious (yet...) I would like to raise a small company of the King's Ostrobothnian Regiment here in the Oulu area, where we would try to re-create events from the battle of Siikajoki, the war, and of the time period in general.
People would have to be prepared to help start a group from stratch - i.e., we would start with no costumes, no equipment, and no real idea how to proceed
From there we would make, or get made, period costumes and equipment. We also have to research the event in intense detail. Additionaly, people would have to be prepared to invest in muskets - yup, guns big ones 
with real black powder 
But no lead balls, sorry.
After brief words with the Oravainen group, and a Russian group in St. Petersburg, it seems thereis interest in doing a 200th anniversary event at Siikajoki.
Whilst I could get away with these groups, I think it would be good to have a local group as well. I have a couple of locals interested, but I would like to have more people.
The rewards ? well, you'll get stared at a lot. Also, if we get a good group together, there is the possiblity of Finnish culture/EU funding to help with running the group. No one gets paid, as it is a hobby - though often, good groups, can get to be filmed for TV programmes, either factual, or fiction, or even movies. The Oravainen group were in Hovimäki.
I won't drone on more here, but if anyone is interested in historical re-enacting, PM me & we'll talk more.
cheers,
Rob.
