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Dear Friends,
We're a little late with this June newsletter — but for good reason. June was magical, and we're still catching our breath.
This month, we were in Hancock, Michigan, at the Finnish American Heritage Center, living out what it truly means to be the Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture 2026. And what a time it was.
Have you ever seen a map of the world's languages illustrated as a tree? If you look carefully to the side, you'll notice a small bush. Those are the Uralic languages — and within them, two main branches: the Finnic and the Ugric. Hungarian, Finnish, Estonian, Sámi, Võro, Seto, Komi, Mari, Erzya, Udmurt, and more. A small group, yes — but a profoundly special one.
What strikes you when Finno-Ugric people gather is that it isn't just language we share. It's something deeper — a cultural kinship that binds us together across vast distances and centuries. And as Finns and indeed Finnish Americans, we belong to this family, too.
We were proud to celebrate and support this Juhannus event alongside City of Hancock and Visit Keweenaw, alongside the Finno-Ugric planning committee chaired by Honorary Consul Jim Kurtti of the Copper Country Finns and Friends chapter.
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Hancock welcomed representatives from many of these language groups for the Juhannus Suurjuhlat celebrations. We were also honored to host the Ambassadors of Finland and Estonia to the United States — Leena-Kaisa Mikkola and Kristian Prikk — alongside other distinguished guests and dignitaries.
We celebrated a very particular Finnish-American identity, lovingly called Finno-Yooper by our Young Leaders Board member Gage "Touko" Keränen — the Finnish heritage of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where roots run deep and have woven themselves into the language, the customs, and the everyday life still being expressed today. Together, we danced and sang, shared stories, learned about one another, and came away with a true sense of family.
Finlandia Foundation was proud to support many of the weekend's activities, including the 2nd Finno-Ugric Open Forum — which brought voices from across these peoples together to discuss what matters most: keeping our cultures alive. The Forum's core purpose is to openly address the important and urgent questions facing Finno-Ugric peoples and the broader Finno-Ugric movement today.
📺 Watch the recording here.
📸 See the photos here.
Wherever you spent this Midsummer, we send you our warmest wishes for a beautiful season. Summer is at the heart of Finnish culture — the long light, the celebrations, the way the season becomes part of you. We're so grateful to share it with you.
With love and gratitude,
The Finlandia Foundation Team
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New Scholarship Fund Established at Finlandia Foundation National Honoring the Legacy of Sirkka Sinervo-Dragonas
A quiet life, a profound vision: Sirkka Sinervo-Dragonas left behind a $1.5 million endowment that will fund Finnish and Nordic scholars for generations to come — proof that one person's love for their heritage can reshape the future of an entire community.
Read more here.
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Sovittaja Park Kicks Off 100th Anniversary Celebration
The Finnish Heritage Society Sovittaja kicked off its 100th anniversary celebration on Midsummer weekend with an evening of food, music, laughter, and dancing at historic Sovittaja Park in Rutland, Massachusetts.
Guests enjoyed burgers and hot dogs served by the Scouts before gathering for a lively performance by Finlandia Foundation National's 2024 Performer of the Year, Miska Kajanus. The Finnish-American comedian entertained the crowd with an energetic blend of music, comedy, a touch of magic, and plenty of laughter.
The celebration continued with accordion music by Dan Mackowiak, followed by dancing and refreshments as friends old and new came together to mark the beginning of Sovittaja Park's centennial year.
Congratulations to the Finnish Heritage Society Sovittaja on this remarkable milestone, and thank you to everyone who joined in celebrating 100 years of Finnish-American community, culture, and tradition.
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Call for Nominations: FFN Featured Finn
This October, the Finnish American Reporter turns 40 — and we want to celebrate by turning the spotlight on the people who make our community what it is: you.
We Finns and Finnish-Americans tend to do our best work quietly, without seeking recognition. But we know there are stories among us worth telling. The chapter leader who has baked pulla for your annual event for 25 years without complaint. The neighbor who holds a city sports record but would never tell you. The great aunt whose quiet fundraising effort decades ago saved the roof on your local Finn hall — a hall that's still standing today.
These are the people we want to feature. Nominate someone whose story deserves to be told.
To nominate, send an email to Managing Editor Dave Maki at david.maki@finlandiafoundation.org with the subject line "FFN Featured Finn" and include:
- Full name, hometown, and contact information for the nominee
- Their Finlandia Foundation Chapter or Finnish-American organization affiliations
- 250–750 words on why they should be a Featured Finn
- A JPG photo if available (300 dpi or higher; candid preferred)
Selected Featured Finns will be highlighted in upcoming editions of the FAR.
Nomination deadline: June 30, 2026
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Don't Miss This — The Finnish American Story in One Book
As America marks its 250th anniversary, Glorious Story of Finns in America by Sirpa Aho reminds us that the Finnish story in this country stretches back nearly four centuries — from the first Finnish settlers arriving along the Delaware River in the 1630s, to the copper miners of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, to the 300,000–400,000 Finns who crossed the Atlantic during the Great Migration, to the postwar communities that built "Finntown" in Florida.
Along the way, Finnish Americans helped sign the Declaration of Independence, founded the first Protestant church on the U.S. West Coast, established Finlandia University, and shaped the mining, logging, farming, and cultural life of communities across the nation. Bilingual in Finnish and English, this beautifully crafted book celebrates an extraordinary legacy that is woven into the very fabric of American history — and is a must-have for anyone proud to carry that heritage forward.
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Behind the Pages: The Making of Suomi College's First Yearbook
Before digital editing, before drag-and-drop layouts, there was a sheaf of paper — and a lot of careful hands.
Hidden in the Suomi College archive, a remarkable file has surfaced: all the working materials used to produce the school's very first yearbook in 1915. Hand-written copy, meticulous crop marks, sponsor letters, business cards — and best of all, original cartoons by a student artist named W. Tikkanen, whose signature still graces the pages more than a century later.
It's a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse into a bygone era of publishing — and a reminder that creativity and craft look the same in any century.
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Announcement of Temporary Closure of the Archives
The Finnish American Historical Archive is at the heart of the Finnish American Heritage Center. It preserves the stories, records, and experiences of Finnish Americans and serves as an invaluable resource for our community. We are committed not only to stewarding this collection, but also to ensuring that it remains accessible for future generations.
We are excited to begin an important new chapter in the Archive's history: the initial phase of a major digitization project. This work will help us improve preservation practices, expand access to our collections, and lay the foundation for the Archive's future.
Digitization is intensive and time-sensitive work that requires our full attention. To allow our archival staff to focus on launching this important project, the Finnish American Historical Archive will be closed to researchers and visitors from July 1 through July 31.
During this time, inquiries to the Archivist will be held and answered beginning in August as staff concentrate on the first phase of the digitization effort.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we undertake this important work. This temporary closure represents an investment in the long-term preservation and accessibility of our shared Finnish American history, and we look forward to sharing our progress with you in the months ahead.
| | The Finnish American Reporter turns 40 this year! | | The Finnish American Reporter is a monthly, English-language journal featuring articles and news reports of interest to Finns across North America, in Finland and around the world. Established in 1986, it is the largest and most widely-circulated newspaper for Finns in North America. We're proud to be able to share news of Finnish America, in print, with over 4,000 happy readers. Subscribe today, while it's still only $40! | | |
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| | Our legacy is our people. What’s yours? Learn more about our Finlandia Legacy Society by emailing: office@finlandiafoundation.org | | | | |
