Chinookriga (The Kalmar Union)

The Chinook Kingdom, Chinookriga, is a medium-sized constitutional monarchy in western Leifia. It is bordered by Ktunaxa, Ichshkiinmark, Mololawa and Natinixwa. The population is around 935,000 and the capital is Kathlamet.

The Head of State is King Konkomly II.

The official language is Chinook. In normal usage 'Chinook' is a collection of related dialects however the government has spent much time and energy in promoting a standard 'Chinook' which attempts to standardise the language.

The currency is the Chinook Elim (CKE).

History
Apparently the site of China's first land-fall in Leifia in c. 1420 (where the sailors aboard the massive fleet far outnumbered the natives on shore) the Chinook Kingdom had barely begun its consolidation and expansion. The term Chinook refers to number of closely related tribes originally occupying the mouth of the Wimahl River however has come to encompass a wide variety of peoples.

They were removed from the first flurries of trading with eastern Leifia which mainly effected Ktunaxa and Klallam though slowly the tribes began trading with the markets of Yaqannuki and other towns to the north. Indeed they still operated in a vaguely-allied tribal fashion as the nations to its north and east began the Ninety-Year War in the 1610s. It was only as a reaction to regular raids from the other kingdoms that the core Chinook tribes sought greater unity, ending the war with a reasonably large state and competent army.

While the population adapted to settled farming and rebounded from outbreaks of disease the army was often in action against its neighbours in support of the nations of the interior, on whose trade routes Chinookriga coveted and indeed relied on. The 3rd Ichshkiinmark War which finally curtailed Ktunaxan ambitions was largely fought on Chinookigan land and Ktunaxan defeat handed Chinookriga a much expanded coastline.

Like its neighours it was little affected by the root causes of the Leifian Crisis thanks to its distance from the eastern states' closely integrated economies but its growing middle classes absorbed the radical literature and revolutionary fervour all the same. Strikes in 1830 in the small but important industrial sector were the mirrored by protests at the country's single university and were testily quashed by the army. The students were blacklisted for years to come and this would feed into further unrest in the 1850s. Reaction from the property owning class led to the widespread confiscation of lands. Farm-owners too realised they could make more money from the farming of dairy herds than labour intensive crops, resulting in a massive 'emptying out' of the rural areas as indentured farmers were evicted from their rented lands. This only increased the outrage in the towns and cities and a famine, partly related to the evictions, kicked off a civil war that lasted from 1854 to 1856. An uneasy compromise followed. The monarchy and the army's authority was much reduced but the government soon lapsed into the old patterns and the much promised economic liberation of society failed to happen. The country would descend into another civil war in 1904. A new constitution signed in 1923 appears to have stabilised the country and moved it slowly towards equal prosperity.

The short Wimahl River War in 1982 led to Chinookriga occupying a 10 mile 'buffer-zone' of Natinixwa. Natinixwa has repeatedly demanded the return of this territory and its uncertain status has damaged relations with various parties. Over-zealous Natinixwan border control makes travel through the buffer zone difficult, threatening the Trans-Leifian railway project and bringing pressure on Chinookriga to return the territory.

Western Chinnookriga is dominated by great forests carefully managed by the state's forestry commission. Ocean fishing and oyster farming on the shoreline are important industries. Meanwhile the drier Eastern Chinookrigan lands are famous for their wines.

Government
Chinookriga is a constitutional monarchy with elections for its bicameral chamber held every six years. The monarchy retains considerable executive power, largely supported by the population.

The current Head of State is King Konkomly II. The Prime Minister is Naika Chehal.