Sisu is a Finnish word that has been defined as strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity. This perfectly characterizes the people who have occupied Finn Slough since the early 1900s.
Finn Slough (pronounced slew) is a narrow marshy inlet located at the south end of No. 4 Road in Richmond along the south arm of the Fraser River. On one side of the slough is Dyke Road used to protect farmland and on the other side is a small area of land called Whitworth Island or more currently Gilmour Island, about one metre above sea level. The Fraser flows in and out of the slough.
This ramshackle village of 30 residents pictured above has buildings falling in on themselves while other buildings are still quite habitable. Some houses were converted from old net sheds and some are original scow houses used by Finnish settlers. Scows are flat-bottomed boats that are easy to navigate in shallow water like a slough. A group of houses are on a narrow body of land along Dyke Road, and some are on Whitworth Island; most are built on wood pilings or floats on crown title land. They are occupied by artists, environmentalists and fisherman working in harmony to maintain heritage and environment. The village and the slough have an austere beauty and have been the subject of many photos and paintings.
Finns first came to this area in the late 1800’s and established a thriving fishing community, especially at the time when the Fraser River was teeming with salmon. They were initially located beside a slough a bit inland but farmers wanted to better control the water flow of the Fraser and the Finns’ route was blocked, forcing them to move all their fishing operations to the present location of Finn Slough. Three of the original Finnish families have descendants still living at Finn Slough.
Life was never easy at Finn Slough but it has a rich heritage and its current residents would like to continue living there preserving both the history and ecology of the wetland area. In 1989, Stephen Smith of Ontario gained title to Whitworth Island and in 1993 tried to evict the long-time residents of the whole of Finn Slough. He appears to have the backing of the Fraser River Port Authority. On the city of Richmond’s website, detailing the dispute in 2000, there is a map of Whitworth Island with the subtitle Smith Prestige Properties, so there is little doubt what Smith has in mind. However, with most of the dwellings on crown title land, the residents have a right to live in them due to their long-time residence. But to establish all this legally is costly and the residents have already spent $100,000 in legal fees. Apparently, the Province of B.C. has the ultimate say and could save Finn Slough. Meanwhile there’s a stalemate, and the residents are practising sisu.
An art show about Finn Slough, the 14th annual, will take place at the Richmond Cultural Centre March 13, 14, and 15: Sisu and Nature: The Nature of Sisu and Finn Slough.
For more information on Finn Slough: http://www.finnslough.com
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