Finland is a bilingual country with two national languages, and two language communities. We do not refer to the different language group as peoples, as the inhabitants of Finland were all state-builders (Finland declared independence in 1917) and is considered to constitute one people. The Swedish speakers (“Finnish-Swedes”) do not constitute a minority with traditional forms for minority protection, but of course they constitute a de facto minority (5,4%) of the population.
 
At the time of declaring independence, one part of the country –The Åland Islands– did not want to belong to Finland as their language and culture was Swedish. An overwhelming majority of the population in the islands asked for reunification with their kin-state Sweden, asking for no autonomy or other special measures to be taken than simply reintegration. For the Swedish speakers in Finland it was very important not to lose this part of the population and one of the reasons for creating a bilingual stat was to prove that Finland could accommodate the demands of the population of the Åland Islands.
 
This was also the decision by the League of Nations in Geneva 1921 where the conflict between Finland and Sweden was resolved. Against the will of the Åland population was it decided that the Islands should belong to Finland, but have an extensive autonomy. The Swedish language should forever be guaranteed. All the contacts with the Finnish authorities should only be in Swedish, only Swedish should be the language of tuition in schools financed by the Finnish state or the Åland authorities.