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August 27, 2019

Finnish bluegrass-rockers and international sensation Steve ‘n’ Seagulls returning to the Keweenaw on September 4th

Finnish bluegrass-rockers Steve ‘n’ Seagulls will be returning to the Rozsa Center to kick off Finlandia’s Festival Ruska on September 4 at 7pm.  Their unique blend of bluegrass and hard rock classics by AC/DC, Guns and Roses, Metallica and others has made them a hit on both sides of the Atlantic. The band’s version of “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC has been especially popular, clocking in over 87 million views on YouTube. Their [...]

June 26, 2019

Relative of Former President Antti Lepistö Interns at Finlandia

It was the middle of June when Megan Gmitro arrived to begin her summer internship with Finlandia University, a place that holds so much of her family history. Gmitro is the great granddaughter of former FinnU president Antti Lepistö. Lepistö served as president from 1927 to 1930 after moving to Hancock from Mäntyharju, Finland. Gmitro’s grandmother and grandfather, Jane and Antti Lepisto, also have ties to the university. Her grandmother graduated from Finlandia in 1959 and served on the Board [...]

May 23, 2019

Ponsse’s Vidgrén key to creation of “Tastes of Finnish America”

Below is a story that originally appears in the March edition of the Finnish American Reporter. You can learn more about and subscribe to the FAR at finlandia.edu/far

Juha Vidgrén is a self-proclaimed history buff. He can spend hours, he said, looking at a historic photo, taking in all the details of a time and place decades ago. That’s why he’s infatuated by the Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC) at Finlandia [...]

May 20, 2019

Finnish musical instrument maker Minna Hokka coming to area in June

The Finnish American Folk School welcomes Finnish musical instrument maker Minna Hokka to the Copper Country this June as part of Juhannus 2019. She’ll be offering a slate of programming that will provide attendees with a unique skill set – and at an unbelievable price!

Hokka, who’s invested much of her adult life into creating musical instruments from materials found in nature, will offer as many as nine unique courses during her two-week [...]

May 15, 2019

Summer hours return to Finlandia University Gallery / Upcoming exhibits

Finlandia University Gallery in the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock announces its return to spring/summer hours.  Beginning May 9th, the gallery is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Please check the gallery webpage https://www.finlandia.edu/universitygallery/ for exhibition schedule.

The current exhibit Finlandia University International School of Art & Design Bachelor of Fine Arts Diploma Works Exhibition is on display until May 29th.

Opening June 6th:

In the Land of the Finndians & Tradition Bearers

June 6 to [...]

April 17, 2019

Finnish American Heritage Center Brings Vappu Celebration to Campus

Each year the country of Finland takes a break from their daily routines to pause and celebrate together. Vappu, celebrated on May 1, marks the end of winter. The holiday also serves as international recognition day of labor.

This year, the Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC) is hosting a Vappu (May Day) celebration at the FAHC on Wednesday, May 1 at 6 p.m.

Co-hosted by the Finnish Theme Committee of Hancock and Finlandia University, the event will [...]

April 3, 2019

April Nordic Film Series to Feature the 2017 Drama Ikitie

Several Finnish-American researchers have devoted their academic careers to the phenomenon known as “Karelian Fever.” Many families across the Copper Country and beyond have ancestors who died as a result of that dark chapter in Finnish-American history.

Thousands of Finnish-Americans and Finnish-Canadians left North America, which was stricken by the Great Depression in the 1920s and 1930s to forge a new life in far northwestern Russia. Some simply sought adventure. Others were homesick and thought that Karelia would bring them closer [...]

March 6, 2019

Nordic Film Series Features True Story About Woman Empowered Through Art

The true story of a woman who survives an abusive relationship through the power of photography is the March feature presentation of the Finnish American Heritage Center’s Nordic Film Series.

Showing March 14 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Heritage Center, “Everlasting Moments” is a film set in the early 1900s in Sweden, where a young working-class woman wins a camera in a lottery. The camera grants her the eyes to view the world, and empowers her over [...]

February 14, 2019

Who loves the Kalevala? We love the Kalevala! Kalevalathon comes to Finlandia February 28

Join students and faculty in celebration of Kalevala Day, also known as the Day of Finnish Culture, for the inaugural Kalevalathon on Thursday, February 28 from 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Finnish American Heritage Center. The participants from Finlandia University’s Finnish & Nordic Studies Program will be performing a 5.5-hour marathon reading of Kalevala.

“The Kalevala is an enduring symbol of Finnishness that is present around us, even in the Copper Country,” said Dr. Hilary-Joy Virtanen, [...]

February 11, 2019

Finnish American Heritage Center publishes cookbook that’s more than recipes

The Finns’ influence on Copper Country food ways is well documented.

Now, it’s also well compiled.

The Finnish American Heritage Center has recently completed a picture and story laden cookbook titled “Tastes of Finnish America: Foods That Make Us Smile.”

An homage to Finnish-American life and food ways in the Copper Country, this volume features the stunning photography of Finnish photographer Timo Villanen, who spent weeks in the U.P. during the summer of 2018 [...]

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