People fascinate me. Their stories and their experiences is always a welcome topic when discussions open up. Conversations from the smallest details to life changing actions inspire me more often than not. With Inland I wanted to put people who have international roots on a pedestal. I knew I could do that by taking creative portraits of them. It was at first a difficult process to conceive of an idea where visuals and the topic of racism would meet. It took some time and a few tries until I decided to just approach this project, as I felt most comfortable with. So here it is. I present to you Inland.

A very warm and kind thank you to Nayab Ikram, Fatma Matar, Nucha Jay Panching Snellman, Maja Andersson, Sawandi Groskind and Kunwor Amit.

-SincerelyRagnar Rael

Jakobstad, 2013

NAYAB NOOR IKRAMWho are you?My parents gave me the name Nayab which means ‘rare’. That, along with my hair is a big part of my identity. The name shows my inheriting of the Perso-Arabic culture and my Pakistani origins. I was born and raised in the Åland Islands, but moved to Ostrobothnia to study for what my passion; photography.

What do you like and what inspires you?Everyday luxury for me is food with good friends or chocolate. I get inspiration from everything around me, urban landscapes, injustice, feelings, etc.

What does racism mean to you?It is sad that the word racism still exists, because it shows that we humans haven’t gotten so far in our mindset to understand that you should treat everyone equally regardless of ethnicity, culture or religion.

What do you experience as racism?To be treated differently because of sticking out from the “norm”.

What makes you different from others?Being brought up in a western culture with a different cultural background, religion and language makes me feel that I have a greater understanding of other cultures than many others.

I have been forced to make moral decisions that many haven’t even had to think about. Growing up while getting the best of both worlds is a benefit.

What makes you similar to others?I exist on this earth and have human needs such as eating, drinking, sleeping, intimacy and security. I can communicate, I have feelings and I think.

How would you want people to treat you?Treat others as you would want to be treated.

Is there something that you would want to do regarding racism?I want to constantly influence and change. I primarily do so through photography. My goal is to work with a more extensive project on racism, diversity and equality.

“My parents gave me the name Nayab which means ‘rare’. That, along with my hair is a big part of my identity.”

NUCHA JAY PANCHING SNELLMANWho are you?Yeah who am I? I don’t really know yet but Jay Snellman is my name. I was adopted to Finland from Thailand.

What do you like and what inspires you?I like dancing, singing and expressing my emotions with my body. I get inspiration from the people around me and by the different cultures I get to know.

What does racism mean to you?The word racism, it’s like a knife to my ears. The word is hard to explain. But racism to me means ‘human rights’ what do we have the right to do, are certain things allowed for everyone?

What do you experience as racism?I have had my experiences with racism. For example when I was in middle school, every day I was the one running from the word ‘nigger’.

What makes you different from others?I may look like I’m weak and that people can walk all over me but I’ve learned how to prevent that from my bad experiences in life. So I think that makes me different from others. I’m ready to stand up again. I’m not afraid of for example, having my own clothing- and hairstyle. I can be me.

What makes you similar to others?We might like the same music, the same pubs or something basic like that. We maybe drink the same drinks but I don’t think I’m very similar to other people. I may be a little bit weird :D

How would you want people to treat you?I like when people are kind. Just sitting down and talking, they don’t have to treat me in a different way. But I have a sentence in my head where I just think “Treat people the way you yourself would like to be treated”.

Is there something that you would want to do regarding racism?I would love to be a part of some charity with the theme ‘Be who you are’ or something similar. I’ve made a little promise to myself that one day I will learn to get to know myself so I would be able to go around to different schools and talk about bullying and your rights as an individual.

“I like when people are kind. Just sitting down and talking, they don’t have to treat me in a different way.”

FATMA MATARWho are you?I am Fatma Matar, a Swedish-speaking Finn born into an Arabic family, a dreamer. But mostly, I am a person.

What do you like and what inspires you?I like tea and I like my cats, just to mention a few. Whenever I hear a story or read about a cool experience, I get hooked. I want to say free spirits inspire me, so yeah.

What does racism mean to you?Narrow-minded peoples actions. I mean, yeah, racism is something that makes me sad. Oh yeah, racism to me is something bad crazy, which I have never understood.

What do you experience as racism?When someone is treated differently, whether it’s because of their heritage or their skin color or sexual orientation, or whatever. All of it is stupid really.

What makes you different from others?Wow, the question gets harder the more I think about it. My experiences in life and my views on it. I don’t think anyone sees life in the exact same way as I see it, whatever way that is then.

What makes you similar to others?I am made of flesh and bones too. I am also a human being. And I am also on this earth like everybody else.

How would you want people to treat you?With kindness, but at the same time just like everyone else. People should think about the golden rule, or karma.

Is there something that you would want to do regarding racism?I would want to continue arranging more events against racism, some concerts with the theme of anti-racism.

“I am made of flesh and bones too. I am also a human being. And I am also on this earth like everybody else.”

SAWANDI GROSKINDWho are you?Sawandi Groskind, from Hällan. My grandfather is Werner Härmälä.

What do you like and what inspires you?Football. Lighting design in early film-noir movies. People who follow their dreams. Passionate people. Equality.

What does racism mean to you?Ignorance. Stupidity.

What do you experience as racism?I never think about it. Whenever I stumble upon racism, it really freaks me out. It’s such a weird thing.

What makes you different from others?My DNA I guess?

What makes you similar to others?Well, I have brown eyes. A lot of people have brown eyes.

How would you want people to treat you?I really enjoy when people buy me a beer.

Is there something that you would want to do regarding racism?Yes. Spread more love.

“I really enjoy when people buy me a beer.”

MAJA ANDERSSONWho are you?I am Maja.

What do you like and what inspires you?I get inspiration from societies, both in a negative and positive way. I think the human being is a very interesting creature and every day I find something I want to understand.

What does racism mean to you?An unwillingness or fear, or perhaps ignorance to see all humans as equal.

What do you experience as racism?I think the worst is that the majority of people are racist in everyday life without realizing it. It is a general condition that people do not react to. With that I mean the kind of racism you hear in the bus, at school, at work, at the family dinner and so on. And yes, I sometimes hear racist comments at my own family dinners even though half of my blood is from South America.

What makes you different/similar to others?We are all people and we are all different and because of that we are all similar.

How would you want people to treat you?As an equal, as a human being and I do not want to be treated differently because of my gender.

Is there something that you would want to do regarding racism?Yes a lot. I wish I could take away all the racism but you know, I don’t know how. I always try to challenge injustice and I think if we have no tolerance to racism when we hear it, we can get much further than we have done. But it is something we have to do together.

“We are all people and we are all different and because of that we are all similar.”

KUNWOR AMITWho are you?I am Amit Kunwor from Nepal.

What do you like and what inspires you?I like to write/sing, play guitar, make fun of things, sometimes myself, joke around. The life of my mother inspires me.

What does racism mean to you?To me, racism is mostly a joke with no logic.

What do you experience as racism?When some people do not consider the fact that we are ,after all, the same and when they do not embrace our differences in appearance in a positive way.

What makes you different from others?My experiences and the way I use my mind.

What makes you similar to others?The fact that the others are different to me because of their own experiences and the way they use their minds.

How would you want people to treat you?I want people to treat me the way they would treat themselves or their beloved ones if our places were interchanged.

Is there something that you would want to do regarding racism?For now I would like to write some good (super good) music about it, which would in the future reflect my message regarding racism. For example ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon. You don’t need me to explain what that song means. ;DThank you!

“I like to write/sing, play guitar, make fun of things, sometimes myself, joke around. The life of my mother inspires me.”

RAGNAR RAELWho are you?

I’m Ragnar Rael. A photographer from the Philippines based in Jakobstad, Finland.

What do you like and what inspires you?

I like a lot of things. From creative projects to physical activities, like skateboarding, dancing and bicycling. I feel that most of the things that you can do on a daily basis is inspiring. Just listening to music while making dinner is inspiring to me.

What does racism mean to you?

An action where a person is being treated negatively on the basis of that person’s cultural heritage.

What do you experience as racism?

It’s hard for me to scientifically pinpoint the small subtle actions, like atmosphere or a behavioral pattern that discriminates me on the basis of my ethnicity. The more obvious example is being judged and treated differently with stereotypical branding.

What makes you different from others?

My experiences, my thoughts and my feelings. Just being and existing makes me different from others.

What makes you similar to others?

I feel strongly that we all need love, acceptance and affinity. To belong and to feel accepted for who you are is a wonderful thing to me, which shouldn’t, in my opinion, be so hard to achieve.

How would you want people to treat you?

With sympathy and honesty.

Is there something that you would want to do regarding racism?

Push forward kindness, sympathy and honest understanding, which might lead to progressive discussions. Can I also say love? I want to say love, so I’ll say more love.

“I feel strongly that we all need love, acceptance and affinity. To belong and to feel accepted for who you are is a wonderful thing to me, which shouldn’t, in my opinion, be so hard to achieve.”

THANK YOU

CONTACT INFO:ragnarrael@gmail.com