kulijoita
Kulijoita is a term used in Finnish-language historical and ethnographic writing to describe itinerant transport workers who carried goods and messages between settlements. The term occurs in regional dialects and in narratives about traditional trade networks in northern and coastal areas.
Typically organized in mobile bands, kulijoita bands were led by a senior carrier and relied on pack
Economically, they functioned as a flexible, low-cost transport option in sparsely populated districts, complementing fixed-route services
With industrialization, the traditional practice declined, as railways and steam ships offered faster, more reliable transport.