ACTION PLAN 2026
The current year is the association's eighth (8th) year of operation. The aim is to develop the Vienan reitti, preserve the Viena and Kalevala cultural heritage of the route, promote nature and cultural tourism along the route, and make the route known in Finland and internationally. In 2026, the association's focus will be on the protection of the Vienan reitti, the improvement of services, and events that highlight cultural heritage.
To fulfil its purpose, the association aims to strive to preserve the historical values and cultural heritage of the Vienan reitti and to create conditions for their broader understanding. This objective requires the partial protection of the Vienan reitti environment and the nurturing of cultural and intangible heritage. Ways and practices, as well as cultural changes that have occurred in the operating environment, especially in border areas, must be identified.
The association also aims to acknowledge these changes. These objectives are, in many ways, also collaborative. The association's objectives and tasks are varied, hence they must be capable of being prioritised according to available resources.
Key actions
To restore, maintain and manage the Vienan reitti and water route, alone and/or in co-operation with other parties – to participate in the planning and decision-making concerning the Vienan reitti, to prepare studies and initiatives serving the route and to provide statements to authorities; – to organise walking, cycling, canoeing, hiking and skiing events, dog sled, reindeer and horse rides, and other culturally focused activities on the route; – to organise seminars, exhibitions and other events on the culture, history and nature of Viena, and to promote scientific research and studies related to the theme; – to engage in information and educational activities related to the Vienan reitti; – to co-operate with other communities, such as the village associations of Vuokki and Raate, Juminkeko Foundation, Runolaulu Academy and other organisations promoting Kalevala culture, as well as the municipalities and authorities of the region and the landowners of the region.
Protection of the Vienan reitti
The goal is for the Vienan reitti to be protected from clear-cutting and for a sufficiently wide buffer zone to be created along the route. Negotiations will continue with landowners to protect the Viena waterway. Private landowners will be encouraged to participate in the protection of the route, and assistance will be provided, where possible, in obtaining financial compensation for the landowners.
In November 2021, the Finnish Government designated the Kuivajärvi and Hietajärvi lakes and the Murhasalo protected area as a nationally significant landscape area. The Kainuu Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) has hired planner Reetta Juvani to prepare a plan for the aforementioned landscape area. The plan was completed in late 2025. The association Vienan reitti ry has issued a positive statement on the plan.
The plan also takes into account the protection of the Vienan reitti. This creates good preconditions for designating the area between a national protected area and the Vienan reitti, as a provincially valuable landscape area. The project will be discussed in the Vienan reitti Directions" working group, led by the municipality of Suomussalmi.
The association supports the decision made by the National Board of Antiquities in October 2023 to confirm the ancient monument and its protection zone in accordance with Section 5 of the Ancient Monuments Act (295/63) on the Vienan reitti. In accordance with the statement approved by the association in April 2023, it aims to promote the route's inclusion among nationally valuable archaeological sites (VARK). The primary objective is to include the route among regionally valuable archaeological sites (to be checked with ELY). The project will be discussed in the working group for the Vienan reitti Directions, led by the municipality of Suomussalmi.
Developing the association
Let's continue the association's strategic planning. Through surveys and discussions, we will engage the membership in brainstorming and developing the association's activities. We aim to clarify the association's mission, so that as many culture and nature enthusiasts as possible become interested in coming to the Vienan reitti, either independently or as a group. Let's equip the Vienan reitti services in the field and utilise digital services.
The association's documents, such as the strategy, rules, and action plan, will be reviewed during the upcoming operational year.
Improving route services
We will repair and add guideposts along the route. We will agree on improving route services and dividing work in a working group led by the municipality of Suomussalmi/technical office. We will build benches along the route. Building materials are at the Syntisenkangas lean-to shelter.
Events
Vienan Reitti ry and Vienan Veräjä ry are jointly organising the Vienna Ski Trek on Kuivajärvi, Hietajärvi and Murhisalo on 1 March 2026.
The traditional Vienan reitti Cultural Hike will be held on July 25th. This year’s hike will focus on destinations along the Vienan reitti. Eino Leino will be featured with poems and music, along with others who travelled the route (e.g., A.A. Borenius). Members of the association will participate in a memorial concert for Jussi Huovinen at the Hietajärvi Heritage House in June, in cooperation with Juminkeko and the Runolaulu Academy.
Vienan reitti ry has applied for a grant from the Finnish Cultural Foundation's Kainuu fund to organise a seminar in 2027 related to the theme of settlement, livelihoods, and culture along the eastern border, and for the publication of an anthology compiled from the seminar's output in 2028. The Karelian Enlightenment Society, in cooperation with Kuusamo College, is organising the Tie Vienaan (Road to Viena) symposium in Kuusamo in August 2026, which has become a tradition. It has been provisionally planned that the symposium participants will undertake an excursion along the Vienan reitti and to Viena villages on the Finnish side.
Negotiations and meetings
The association organises negotiations and meetings with authorities and landowners, as well as all those who are involved and interested in the development of the Vienan reitti.
Co-operation with local people and authorities
Villagers and landowners along the Vienan reitti are encouraged to join the association's activities. Cooperation will be intensified with the Vuokin kyläyhdistys and the Vuokin rajaseutukirkko ry, Suomussalmi Parish, Vuokin kyläyhdistys, Vuokin rajaseutukirkko ry, and Vienan Reitti ry are negotiating the erection of a settlement monument in the yard of Vuokki Church in 2027, to be implemented in cooperation. The association will appoint a representative to the negotiating group concerning this project.
International cooperation
Vienan reitti ry aims, according to its rules, to create international relations specifically with Viena Karelia and the Republic of Karelia. However, official cooperation with the Republic of Karelia and Viena Karelia has had to be suspended due to the war in Ukraine. Cooperation will continue once the opportunity arises.
Vienan reitti ry collaborates with organisations that preserve cultural heritage, the Kalevala tradition, and the history of the Viena region. The association works in cooperation with, among others, the Vienan Veräjä ry , the Runolaulu Academy, the Juminkeko Foundation, the Elias Lönnrot Society, and other expert and cultural communities focused on this subject.
Initiatives and statements
The Vienan reitti ry initiative is prompting authorities and landowners to develop the Vienan reitti into an attractive nature and cultural destination.
Information and Marketing
The association's active marketing will continue. Cooperation with the tourism department of Suomussalmi and other tourism organisations in the surrounding areas will be increased.
Add English and German language versions to the vienanreitti.fi pages.
Vienan reitti ry is taking the Oulu2026 cultural year into account in its communications and encourages its members to participate in regional events. The association sees the cultural year as an important opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation, visibility, and cultural vitality.
Economy
The association's membership recruitment will be activated. By the end of 2026, the aim is to have 60 members in the association. The goal is to actively involve the membership in the association's activities. The association is seeking external funding from cultural and other grant-making organisations. The sale of the POLKU and VAELTAJAT anthologies presents an opportunity to strengthen the association's finances. The focus in financial matters will be on operational stability and moderate growth. The aim is to always organise events profitably. In the 2026 income and expenditure budget, income from core activities is estimated at €6400 and expenditure at €6000, resulting in an estimated surplus of €400.
Equipment list
The association owns a gas barbecue, a coffee maker/percolator 9L, a Samsung LFF3C The Freestyle (2023) Full HD portable projector, a ProelV12FREE battery-powered speaker, a speaker stand, microphones and audio cables, a Roland Mobile Cube portable amplifier, 3 pump thermostats and a gas bottle.
Administration
At the annual general meeting on 14th March, a new board will be elected for the 2026 term. The board’s organisational meeting will confirm the roles of board members: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, other board members and their duties. The board will convene regularly in Vuokki and Kajaani and remotely via TEAMS. Experts will be invited to meetings as needed.
Vienanreitti Association, Board 11.2.2026
2025 Activity Report