The Aika Pages

Aika—the Finnish word for “Time”—was the first Finnish-language newspaper published in Canada. It was started in 1901 in Nanaimo, B.C., and later moved to Sointula. It was edited by Matti Kurikka and A. B. Mäkelä, and included a number of contributions from the founding settlers of Sointula. 

The newspaper, with subscribers from around the world, presented the vision for the utopian society, reported on daily life and the building of the community, and promoted life in Sointula as it was being created. It was very successful in connecting with Finnish people and encouraging settlers to come to Malcolm Island.

Throughout 2026, the Sointula Museum will share translated excerpts from Aika every Saturday. This project is part of the Sointula Museum’s recognition of 125 years of the village of Sointula, founded by Finnish settlers who arrived on Malcolm Island in December 1901.

We also acknowledge that Malcolm Island has a much longer history. The island is on the unceded territory of the Kwakwaka’wakw peoples, including the ‘Namgis, Kwakiutl, and Mamalilikala First Nations. Long before it was called Malcolm Island, it was known as Tlatlaskudis, meaning “Seaweed Opposite Beaches” in Kwak’wala, the language of the Kwakwaka’wakw people.

Lastly, the Sointula Museum is grateful for the support of the British Columbia History Digitization Program which helped make the Aika newsletter translations available to the world.