Inside the last matriarchal society in Europe

Incredible portraits show the last matriarchal society in Europe, where older women are in charge of the land and men take a back seat.

Gritty images show the elderly female residents of the Kihnu and Manija islands in the Baltic Sea as they go about their daily lives in their kitchens, bedrooms and farming the land.

In one image, an elderly woman tends to her cows, whilst another braces the elements to work on the vegetable patch.

Another shot showed a woman sitting down in traditional dress and knitting on the edge of her bed.

On the islands of Kinhu and Manija, men historically left the islands for months at a time to hunt for seals and to fish.

In their absence, women became the people who tended the farms, governed, and maintained traditions. 

Sauendi Mann, above, has lived a hard life and she spent much of it mourning her son’s death after he was crushed by a tree. Incredible portraits of the last matriarchal society in Europe, where older women are in charge of the land have been revealed in a new book

The funeral of Koksi Leida that Anne photographed in 2008. The moving image captured the community spirit which spans the generations as a group of women gather around an open coffin for a ceremony in the deceased person’s kitchen just three hours after she had passed away

Vahtra Helju and her cow Mari. The eye-opening pictures were taken by Norwegian photographer Anne Helene Gjelstad and feature in her new book Big Heart, Strong Hands

One moving image captured the community spirit which spans the generations as a group of women gather around an open coffin for a ceremony in the deceased person’s kitchen just three hours after she had passed away.

The island of Kihnu lies in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea and is just 7km long and 3.3km wide. It has an estimated population of 300 year-round residents. Neighbouring island Manija was unpopulated until 1933, when roughly 80 people from Kihnu moved over there. 

The eye-opening pictures were taken by Norwegian photographer Anne Helene Gjelstad and feature in her new book Big Heart, Strong Hands which is available on Amazon for RRP £38. It is published by Dewi Lewis Publishing.

Anne has spent 11 years photographing the lives of the older women on the Kihnu and Manija islands and hopes that her book acts as a record to help preserve the future of the islands’ unique culture.

Järsumäe Virve, tending to her garden. Anne has spent 11 years photographing the lives of the older women on the Kihnu and Manija islands and hopes that her book acts as a record to help preserve the future of the islands’ unique culture

Tika Mann seeing to her cows, she still wears the same blue mourning colours everyday since her husband died years ago

Kihnu island. Incredible portraits of the last matriarchal society in Europe, where older women are in charge of the land have been revealed in a new book

A close up of a woman’s hands. On the islands of Kinhu and Manija, men historically left the islands for months at a time to hunt for seals and to fish

Sauendi Mann in her home. Anne has spent 11 years photographing the lives of the older women on the Kihnu and Manija islands and hopes that her book acts as a record to help preserve the future of the islands’ unique culture

‘For eleven years, since 2008, I have worked on portraying the lives of the older women on the small Estonian islands of Kihnu and Manija in the Baltic Sea,’ said Anne in the book’s introduction.

‘Colourful, interesting and friendly – they represent a culture and a way of life that is changing despite the strong anchor of tradition.

‘These robust women are used to working hard and take care of almost everything. They bring up the children, make the clothes, plough the fields, drive the tractors and take care of the animals.

Lohu Ella, one of Kihnu’s most respected handicraft masters. ‘For eleven years, since 2008, I have worked on portraying the lives of the older women on the small Estonian islands of Kihnu and Manija in the Baltic Sea,’ said Anne in the book’s introduction

A snow covered Kihnu cemetery. The eye-opening pictures were taken by Norwegian photographer Anne Helene Gjelstad

Neeme Mari, sitting in her home on the Manija Island. ‘Life is often hard. This is normal here. Nobody asks questions. You do what you must. This is how you get a big heart and strong hands. When I understood that, my project had its title,’ Anne said 

‘The men spend much time away from home, fishing or working on the mainland or abroad.

‘Life is often hard. This is normal here. Nobody asks questions. You do what you must. This is how you get a big heart and strong hands. When I understood that, my project had its title.’ 

Marriage and motherhood are highly valued on the islands and only women who are married are allowed to wear a traditional apron. 

In summer, tourists flock to the islands to to see the women dress up in traditional, brightly-coloured skirts and perform shows. 

• Published by Dewi Lewis Publishing, Anne Helene Gjelstad’s new book Big Heart, Strong Hands is available on Amazon for RRP £38.