Winona Union
The Winona Union was found as a safe haven for the original native population of Sinisterra that were driven from their homelands by the colonizing nations of Aldion. While there was plenty of conflict between the native tribes historically, their oppression by a common enemy saw many of them unite. The founding of their own nation did not come about with challenge and conflict of itself however.
The lands that form the Winona Union today were primarily split between two tribes by the start of colonization. On the North-Western side of the |mountain range| the Winona tribe posessed the majority of the lands. On the South-Eastern side of the |mountain range| the Wa'kahée Tribe held possession of the expansive plains. It was through a cooperation between these tribes that the natives first formed an organized opposition against the invading colonizers. These tribes saw themselves threatened by primarily the Eldonian colonists from the 1670s onwards, when they were settling many parts along the North-East coast of Sinisterra.
Other tribes had been in contact with Aldion colonizers decennia before that already however. Notably amongst them were the significantly more developed Khotami. Although having withstood the colonizers initially, in the second half of the 17th century the Khotami started retreating to their lands more centrally located on the continent. This didn't go unnoticed to the tribes roaming or settled on the Western borders of the Khotami lands, who were afraid the retreat was gonna result in a Khotami desire for Westward expansion. They were surprised when they learned the Khotami were happy to support their union, knowing the common enemy they were all up against. With the Khotami on their side, the native union gained practical knowledge and equipment they could use in development of their tribal lands and its defence. While many other tribes were annihalated or expulsed from their lands, the united tribes largely managed to stood their ground. This inspired other defeated and fleeing tribes, who were slowly assimilated into the union.
The colonies developed rapidly however and by the turn into the 19th century, the tribes being oppressed from both the North and South by the Eldonians, decided to change their focus and dig in. Many of the union's tribesmen retreated to the North-Western side of the |mountain range| and started building their new livelyhoods on the |... peninsula|. With the help of Khotami engineers the two main passes through the mountains onto the peninsula were protected with fortifications to hold back an Eldonian attack they deemed inevitable.
With the Eldonians becoming involved in the wars against the republic waves in Aldion however, they saw little in fighting the united tribes on the Siniterran West Coast, while there was much more land to be claimed without the threat of similar opposision. Although a naval invasion of the peninsula was considered, the military failed to convince the monarchy of allocating enough troops to deem such an invasion viable.
With the threat against the united tribes diminishing they were able to focus on development and defences within their borders. In honour of the Winona tribe offering its lands to tribesmen from many other areas to settle on, the Union was officially named the Winona Union. Conflict continued onetheless, but on a smaller scale, comprising mostly smaller raids. When by the 1840s the Eldonians additionally saw their Western colonies lost in a coup, the Winona Union knew they would no longer be the focus of conflict in the area.
Today some tribes that were assimilated into the Winona Union are trying to reclaim lands in the disputed Central Sinisterra Basin. With the other nations around the basin expanding land inwards as well however, supported by technology such as the railways, not many believe these claims will result in any permanent new lands for the tribes. For now the Winona Union has a strong hold on the |... Peninsula| however, that is increasingly recognized as a nation in its own right.
Founding Date
1842
Type
Political, Confederation
Capital
Demonym
Winoni
Head of State
Government System
Electocracy
Power Structure
Confederation
Location
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
