Nitawahsinnanni (The Kalmar Union)

The Republic of Nitawahsannanni, Nitawahsinnanni, Piikaniland, is a medium sized constitutional republic in northern Leifia. It is bordered by Cree Republic, Haanininland, Apsaalookriga, Kalispu Republic and Klallam Federation. The capital is Otokoks and the population is around 847,000.

The Head of State is Chief Aatsista-Mahkan

The official language is Piikani.

The currency is the Nitawahsannanni Súks (NSS).

History
The Piikani tribe(s) were nomadic and based their movements and life around the bison migrations fiercely protecting their land (Nitawahsinnanni translates as 'Our Land') from other encroaching tribes. This Nitawahsinnanni was slowly constrained by disease, competition with other plains tribes and the chain reaction caused by the conquest of Edoha of Aniyunwiya in the 1240s. Though most cross-continent trade passed to their North and they were generally regarded most foreigners with hostility, they traded bison skins and eagerly adopted horses and crossbow.

Nitawahsinnanni remained largely undeveloped however with its population barely settled and widely spread. This lent itself to domination by whomever could control the army and a centralised monarchy based on military-prowess sprang up in the 1500s. The kings' position was based almost totally on their successes attacking other nations. It would spend much of the medieval period embarking on endless raids into its neighbours, reaching as far south as the Mexic borders, as well as fending off the advances of the Lakota who triumphantly conquered most of the surrounding peoples. Indeed during the Second Mexic-Leifian War (1774-1792) when most of Nitawahsinnanni was occupied by the Mexic the Piikani spend most their energies fighting the Cree to their north (at least during the summers when the Mexic were more active).

In the 1840s with trade almost suspended thanks to the Leifian Crisis the moderate monarchy was over-thrown by a military dictatorship which advocated expansion. This was all that was needed for Vinland to re-enter the area and begin the Vinlandic-Nitawahsinn War (1843). Despite terrible maps of the almost featureless the well-provisioned Vinlandic army restored a moderate monarchy to the land as well as defining Nitawahsinnanni's borders. The victorious, and somewhat unruly, Vinlanders would slaughter the bison in their hundreds and thousands leaving a severely stunted herd which has only just recovered. In its place a more traditional cattle herd was developed and the long-overdue reorganisation of its farmlands revolutionised its agricultural output.

The monarchy would be replaced by a republic in 1908 following the poor policies of King Stu-mick-kosi. Future growth of the economy looks good as considerable oil deposits have been mapped out and begun to be drilled. The Piikani retain a xenophobia described by many as 'their national disease' but the country is slowly opening up to rest of the world.

Government
Nitawahsinnanni is governed by a single-chambered council elected by a limited franchise every three years. The Chief, currently Aatsista-Mahkan, is essentially responsible for the organisation of the military while the Prime Minister, currently Isapo-Api, leads the government. Both positions are unelected and at the decretion of the council.