About 33 years ago....a group of adventurous folks (from around Europe) decided to start a unique cult-group. Chief focus? American-Indian habits....living in the harsh northern regions of Finland.
Name of the group? Iriadamant.
On paper, they existed for about three 'seasons', and then started to dissolve (ending by the end of 1993).
They went the full landscape....dressing as American Indians, and living off the land (at least they claim that). A fair amount of what food was 'gained'....came from grocery operations....not the land itself.
Journalists who viewed the final year of existence? Generally, they report pretty harsh conditions, marginal food, limited healthcare, and everyone was getting frustrated. I would imagine that if they'd done this in Croatia or Italy (more seasonable weather)....the group might have lasted.
The head-guy or founder of the group....a participant in the action? Well....NO. It was a general fact that the head 'chief' lived mostly out of a hotel in Helsinki....under favorable conditions.
Toward the final months....a fair amount of coverage started up over the group and the worsening conditions...so finally, the Finnish government stepped in and said 'enough'....you need to leave (meaning some type of deport order was given).
Selling the 'brand'? Well....this gets to part of the story as well. The main focus seems to have been having a camp or 'wellness' experience, and it could be marketed in some way....bringing people in for a week or two. The trouble is....the tribe themselves never reached a point where they felt that 'well'.
The 'chief' getting in serious trouble? By the end of 1993....this guy had legal troubles in Belgium and had crimes of embezzlement and fraud suggested. He avoided jail, but escaping off to Nicaragua. From that point on....the cult died off.
I've always thought....on a scale of one to ten, for a movie script....this whole episode was a solid '10' to be made into a movie.
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