Bajorans

Player Race: Yes
Relation to UFP: Not a member.  Friendly.

ACTDNoteworthy:
- We've had a lot of great Bajoran characters in ACTD already!

Description
Humanoid civilization from the planet Bajor.  Bajoran culture flourished a half-million years ago, when human on earth were not yet standing erect.  The Bajoran people are deeply spiritual, but their history also recorded many great architects, artists, builders, and philosophers.  Bajoran culture declined seriously during decades of Cardassian occupation in the 24th century, during which most Bajorans were driven from their homeworld.  (Ensign Ro -TNG).  Bajorans traveled in space at least eight centuries ago, using Bajoran solar-sail vessels to explore their star system.  Some ancient Bajoran space travelers even made it all the way to Cardassia.  (Explorers -DS9).  As recently as the 22nd century, Bajoran society was strictly divided into D'jarras, or castes.  A family's D'jarra determined its status in society, as well as what occupation its workers could hold.  (Accession -DS9).  Under Bajoran custom, a person's family name is first, followed by the given name.  Most Bajorans wear an ornamental earring, a symbol of their spiritual devotion.  (Ensign Ro -TNG).  Bajoran women carry their children for less than five months.  Because they have a relatively short gestation period, they vascularize very quickly.  Mother and child form a complex interconnecting network of blood vessels.  Bajoran women often have fits of uncontrollable sneezing while pregnant.  (Body Parts -DS9, Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places -DS9).  In Bajoran childbirth, relaxation of the mother is essential.  Participants at the birthing ceremony play rhythmic instruments to help her reach a fully relaxed state.  When the child arrives, all present verbally welcome the child into the world.  (The Begotten -DS9).
    Bajor was claimed as Cardassian territory from about 2328. (Ensign Ro -TNG).  The D'jarra caste system was abolished in the 24th century when all Bajorans, regardless of D'jarra, were called upon to fight Cardassian oppression.  (Accession -DS9).  The Cardassians formally annexed Bajor in 2339, and occupied the planet until 2369, when Bajoran resistence fighters finally drove them away.  (Emissary -DS9).  A Bajoran provisional government, led by the Bajoran Chamber of Ministers, which was headed by the Bajoran First Minister.  (The Homecoming -DS9).  Also highly influential in government affairs is the relisgious Vedek Assembly, led by the kai.  (In the Hands of the Prophets -DS9).  Upon the departure of the Cardassians, the Bajoran provisional government requested Federation assistance in operating the former Cardassian space station Terok Nor, now designated Deep Space 9.  (Emissary -DS9).  After the Cardassian occupation, the Federation Council agreed to procide the provisional government with two industrial replicators to help them rebuild their economic base.  (For The Cause -DS9).
    A deeply religious people, Bajorans look to their spiritual leader, the kai, for leadership and guidance.  (Emissary -DS9).  The Bajoran religious fairth was a powerful force in their society, and helped give the Bajoran people the spiritual strength to survive the brutal Cardassian oppression.  (In the Hands of the Prophets -DS9).  The Bajoran religion believes that ships are safely guided through the wormhole by the Prophets and that the Celestial Temple dwells within the passage.  Some conservative Bajoran religious leaders, notably Winn, tried to supress scientific theories of the wormhole's creation, believing that the teaching of science lessened the religious leaders' political power.  (In the Hands of the Prophets -DS9).  In 2371, newly elected Kai Winn began the process of healing her people's wounds with the signing of a historic peace accord with the Cardassians.  The news of the treaty sent shock waves throughout the entire quadrant.  (Life Support -DS9).
    An old Bajoran saying holds that 'The land and the people are one.'  Major Kira Nerys mentioned this to Commander Sisko regarding the dispute between Bajoran factions, the Paqu and the Navot.  (The Storyteller -DS9).  Traditional Bajoran beliefs hold that the soul of the dead is far more important than the physical remains.  (Indiscretion -DS9).  (In an alternate quantum reality, the Bajorans overpowered the neighboring Cardassians, and became increasingly hostile towards the Federation as well.  In this alternate reality, a Bajoran ship fired upon the Enterprise-D as it was investigating a quantum fissure the crew discovered in 2370.  The energy discharge caused the fissure to destabilize and allow incursions from other quantum realities into that one.)   (Parallels -TNG).
Star Trek: The Encyclopedia (1999 edition)

Civilization native to planet Bajor.  Some five million Bajorans were killed by Cardassian forces during the occupation while Gul Dukat served as prefect of Bajor (Waltz -DS9).
Star Trek: The Encyclopedia (1999 edition) Supplemental