Nyiki swe

Nyiki swe is an autonomous region located south of the Borzhkasu peninsula near the Ornyenka-Sthulista Strait and is owned by Gemurtrak. The island is overseen by the state of Suzhya but is governed independently from the rest of the state and nation. About 374,000 people inhabit the island with a majority having some form of Salian descent, making the island one of the only areas in Osamia with a dominant non-Osamian population which has made the island particularly unique in its administration and culture. About four islands are administrated by the autonomous government with the largest (bearing the namesake) holding the majority of the population and the regional capital of Zedywer.

Originally settled as far back as 20,000 BCE, the island has been under numerous mainland and foreign powers generally trading between Gemurtrak and powers ranging from the Southern Empire, Mitruhmoer in the 13th century, and Salia after 1667. Salia would be the most influential, changing the ethnic makeup radically to a majority East-Alutran populace overseeing the wider Southern Import Company. The island would remain with Salia until 1914 following the Osamian revolution where it was occupied and transfered to the Osamian Federation who would initiate efforts to remove and replace Salian influence with limited success and immense criticism and warning from international governments. Relations would lighten exceptionally following the end of the Osamian War, however demands grew over the years for greater representation and eventually total autonomy due to a cultural and political disconnect. The Gemurtrak federal government would begin formal talks in the 1970's to a proactive resolution, culminating in the 1976 Nyiki swe autonomous administration act.

Nyiki swe has seen maintained and even expanded its autonomous privileges which has led the region to be radically different to most other parts of Osamia. It stands as the only political region on the continent with a non-Osamian official language and a notable tourist site for Gemurtrakians and international visitors alike.

Etymology
The earliest notations of the name of the island come from stone etchings dating around 1900 BCE. The etchings, believed to have been used to record taxes, denote the area as ‘Nyiki swe’ (literally meaning little land) and only possessed a small population of about 2000, all localized in the singular noted town of Zedywer where the tablet was found.

Early history
The first sign of human actvity is noted to go as far back as before the last glacial maximum by the proto-Osamian migration into the continent with contact being lost after the rising of the sea. The small settlements that developed on the island were sustained by local wildlife and plants. Large animals had gone extinct on the island some time around the 6000's BCE, with the community surviving off of fish and migratory birds primarily following this before contact with the mainland would bring agriculture. The area later to be noted as Zedywer would initially develop as a trading point for the mainland and island before relations soured by the notation of numerous hillfort constructions dating to the 2000's BCE. Mass graves would be discovered in southern parts of the island leading to numerous suspicions of a forceful occupation and subsequent wiping out of the island populace around this period.

The island would continue to remain in mainland control over numerous centuries, absorbing into the Ornas and Gadram empires and becoming a location for exiles of the empires before gaining independence following the latter empires collapse in 210 BCE. The village of Zedywer would thrive during this period after the exiled noble Masagoji assumed power over the island and made it the kingdom of Masagojizwe. The kingdom would compete with the mainland often over trade against the many peninsular republics, often becoming the subject of various leagues.

Age of Raiders and Northern Empire
Nyiki swe would be found in the middle of a multitude of assaults by the newly emergent Southern Empire, whose invasions and naval supremacy would lead to mass instability in the region and the trading of Nyiki swe between the empire, pre-confederate alliances, and island revolts. The kingdom of Nyiki swe would join alongside various other nations to create the Confederation of the North and continue a trend of resistance against the Southern Empire. Nyiki swe would be restored and lost over the next three centuries following iconic battles including the battle of Zedywer and the battle of Prithkay which revealed successes of the confederations mercenary model. The confederation would eventually claim victory during the early 11th century and soon after consolidate into the Northern Empire. Nyiki swe would be one of the battlegrounds of the subsequent Wars of the stag crown and succeed in maintaining independence until 1064 as the empire reengaged the area to secure their hegemony on the Borzh-kasu peninsula.

Nyiki swe would cease to be an independent island kingdom and remain under the leadership of the empire but continue to challenge the peninsula in trade leading to a growing of ties between the island and the anti-peninsiluar nobility, most notably the emperor. The ties would lead to the growth of support for the Nyikian nobility and an ascension into the Imperial Noble Council where they would win the imperial title on some occasions including the first Nyikian-born emperor Jaza the wise. The island kingdom would go on to be one of the strongest supporters of the empire, supporting the House of Zhemu in the War of Two Emperors and Daysikya in the Inheritance War following her self-proclaimation as empress. The island would also remain the only part of the empire unaffected by the Atuzkur system, instead opting to keep the local lord in power.

Salian occupation
The Salian interest in the Ornyenka-Sthulista region grew over the course of the 17th century resulting in the creation of the Southern Import Company and subsequent conflicts that would plague the region. Nyiki swe would be some of the first territory ceded to Salia after their decisive victory in the port war of 1666 with the surrender of the southern port of Magobyat. Over time the island would be completely conquered in the 1681 port war and become the central administrative organ of the Southern Import Company with much of the naval force stationed on the island alongside the company authority and their families. The native population present before the occupation were either forcefully removed or indentured by discriminatory taxation and ultimately replaced by Salian colonists, changing the culture, architecture and ethnic make up of the island dramatically within a few decades. The island would develop to be regarded as a model colony of the Solas Saorga colonial philosophy, becoming known as little Alutra to international commentaries in the 19th century.

Following the conclusions of the First Trakian-Salian trade dispute, the island was placed into full control under the Salian government along with the territory surrounding and including Metenrasyet as stipulated in the Treaty of Metenrasyet. The island became a place of administration for the Osamian colonial management of Salia, housing influential political figures, members of military command, and a general safe haven region for the functions of the colony. This caused a rapid development of the island and a spike in population growth, particularly relating to the immigration of Salians brought over to administer the region.

Unlike other parts of Gemurtrak under Salia, Nyiki swe was largely unexploited excluding the native population on the island which was often used as slave or vastly underpaid laborers to construct the housing for new arrivals from the North. The island became a secure location to enjoy Osamia as many parts were made exclusive for non-Trakians who would come from the occupied cities of Ornpyat or Metenrasyet to enjoy the bustling nightlife of the island without the fear of crime which was heavily apparent on the mainland. The night districts of Zedywer were often regarded as some of the finest (and most expensive) sources of southern culture at the time.

The near presence of a military garrison, coupled with generals remaining active on the island at all times, allowed for rapid response against any actions committed against Salia at the time. Their proximity also allowed for the high security conditions that made the island one of the safest in the region. Signs of rebellion would be reported in the morning and would quickly be quashed with immense amounts of force before the conclusion of the day. The island became notorious among Trakian civilians with many influential figures being taken away to the island to ensure their inability to act on their words. The prisons on the island were commonly overcrowded and were likely the starting place for numerous infectious outbreaks during the late 1700’s when the situation was at its peak.

Control on the island, and the larger colony as a whole, began to deteriorate beginning in the early 1800’s following [event]...

The situation was further exacerbated after a successful escape by numerous political and influential members from the [location] Prison. One of them, Mazkwat, half-brother to the vassal queen of Gemurtrak and a known aggressor to the Osamian colonial management, was left behind but later escaped a week later following a second breakout attempt. He would go off to create a unified effort against Salia before declaring himself emperor and reclaiming the lost territory of Gemurtrak in the Fury War.

Post colonial
With the direction the Fury War was heading towards during its three year campaign, many saw the fall of Nyiki swe as an inevitability and surrendered to Gemurtrak shortly following the reclamation of Metenrasyet on the grounds that they were left unharmed following the island's return. Mazkwat, wishing to keep the post war conflicts at a minimum, obliged the request of the Salian citizenry on the island and left it unharmed during the transition. Strict rules were issued however due to the anti-Salian opinions of many Trakians. This existed in the form of inability to live anywhere else in Gemurtrak, and the requirement to add an additional surname used exclusively for the Salian populace.

While these pushes for cultural integration proved worrying, the central government kept their promise and issued the region as a demilitarized zone following numerous incidents of Trakian military members assaulting Salian citizens. The foreign population continued to remain thanks to their generally positive state of treatment, with many Salians within the few remaining Legations on the mainland moving to Nyiki swe for the more positive conditions.

Autonomy
With the growth of parties such as the Party of National Solidarity and Monarchist Interest Party, the public treatment of Salians grew more embittered with many protective regulations towards the island removed such as the re-militarization of the island, harsher segregation practices including increased taxation on major goods and services, and the refusal to grant access to education facilities. By the 1940’s Salians were banned from leaving the island no matter the reason under the excuse of ‘national security’. Problems later spiraled following the beginning of the Second Great War when treatment reached abysmal conditions with famine like conditions being common on the island despite the excess of food on the mainland and positive food security for much of the war.

Gemurtrak's defeat in the war led to extensive changes to the treatment and management of the island. Iconic of these being the implementation of an autonomous government headed by the Salian community alongside an autonomous board representing the native Trakian population. The region was again demilitarized and all policies to de-Salianize the region were removed, allowing Salian as a speakable language before becoming the official language in 1952. The Nagsenur house of Sarya was officially recognized as equal to all other houses and thus granted freedom of movement for the members of the house, of which all Salians were already under. Autonomy was officially given in August 12 1950 and the first meeting of the autonomous boards commencing on January 2 1951

Government
The island of Nyiki swe and the neighboring islands deemed a part of its administration, are governed as stipulated in the 1976 Nyiki swe autonomous administration act. The document ensures the autonomy of the island and restricts numerous actions the central government of Gemurtrak, it's dependent, can act upon in the region. It also allows the island and its people to hold their own separate government and determine its own laws, as long as they do not overrule any laws within the act or the Unity Edicts.

Nyiki swe has its own executive and legislative branches, while judicial authority and the enforcement of law is overseen by the Suzhyan federal authority which adjoins Nyiki swe criminal cases with those of the Ornpyat courts. The executive government is led by a premier who is the head of the leading party of the Chamber of Executives. While Nyiki swe is exempt from some federal policy, such as taxation except when it's for essential services used by the island such as the national universal healthcare program, most decisions by the federal government are automatically enforced onto the island unless a challenge is raised by the chamber of executives, whereupon it's voted on within. Policy introduced under the pretense of a national emergency cannot go through this process.

Most public services are overseen by the island government including the education system, postal service and emergency services. Some functions, however, are still held by the mainland, in particular the management of Nagsenurs which is entirely managed by mainland authority as demanded by the Unity Edicts.

Districts
Nyiki Swe is separated into eight districts, seven on Nyiki swe and one encompassing the smaller islands north eastwards.

Ethnicity
Unlike the rest of Gemurtrak, Nyiki swe is the only region with a majority non-Osamian population. Around 70% of island inhabitants identify as having some form of Salian ancestry, the vast majority of this being ethnically mixed Sarya-Gemurtrakians. The Gemurtrak federal government formally recognizes this group as part of the Greater Trakmir Group and are therefore legally permitted to immediately obtain Gemurtrakian citizenship under the claim of citizen by blood regardless of their place of birth so long as one direct relative is of Sarya-Gemurtrakian descent. The remaining 30% primarily comprise of other Gemurtrakians with a small population of Mudruvese. Nyiki swe also has the highest number of bilingual people per capita, with most people on the island having a competant grasp on both Trakian and Salian.

Education
The Nyikian education board oversees all functions of the local education system, encompassing primary, secondary, and tertiary with 37 schools of primary/secondary focus across the island and a singular university located in the capital of Zedywer. The education board is administrated in a similar nature to the mainland education system following the same course requirements as the rest of the country but is independent to the rest of the state education authority. Nyikian schools are also the only ones that provide classes in Salian with a select few schools providing. While the mainland schooling system requires an additional year of schooling following the conclusion of secondary for Militia Army Training (MAT), the Nyikian education system fundamentally bans the implementation of MAT due to section 7 of the autonomous administration act. Students instead are offered either the option to travel to the mainland to perform their MAT or a vocational training year. The training year grants numerous options in basic vocational fields such as hospitality, business, IT, and creative industries, which can be concluded at the end of the year for a D Qualification certificate or can continue for the remainder of the course if they wish to achieve a higher qualification. It is also optional to skip either choice and instead immediately enter the workforce or tertiary education following the conclusion of secondary education.

Religion
Despite a large percentage of the islands inhabitants having some form of Alutran ancestry, most do not practice any type of Alutran faith. About 60% of the population consider themselves as Owkugan to some extent and around 17% not practicing any form of religion. Ayekism is the largest Alutran faith on the island with only 10% claiming to follow the religion. Because of the dramatic difference in religious practice within just over a century, many structures built for Ayekist practice have been converted into Owkugan temples or preserved as tourist destinations.

Culture
Nyiki swe harbors a fascinating cultural combination, being one of the only locations of cultural intermingling between Eastern Alutran and Osamian culture that is still strong and active to this day. Since its occupation, the ideas of the two separate groups in all facets of life melded together slowly initially following the large Salian presence on the island and later entered an environment more welcome to the co-living of the two differing cultures after agreements of the islands treatment in the end of the Fury War.