Finnish Americans in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (in Finnish and English)

In English and Finnish
The greatest concentration of Finnish Americans is in Michigan Upper Peninsula.
One of the most puzzling things about The Upper Peninsula is that Finnish-Americans still cherish their roots. The opening of several copper mines in the area brought thousands of Finnish emigrants in the area between 1900 and 1910. The descendants of those early Finns still live in the area and many of them speak Finnish, even though they may have never even visited Finland. Andrea tells me though, that it is a tradition among these Finns to make at least once-in-a-lifetime sojourn to the land of their ancestors. We met local Finnish retirees at Suomi Restaurant in Hancock. They came from various backgrounds, having made their careers in business, civil engineering and farming. They have also kept their forefathers' faiths, whether Lutheran or Laestadian.
Most of the footage was taken at Hancock, Michigan, a city of 4,600 residents on the North shore of Portage Lake. It also has the title of the northernmost City in Michigan. Finnish influence in Hancock is everywhere. One can see it just by walking down its streets. The street signs are both in English and Finnish, and there are Finnish flags in each street corner. I would soon learn, that many of the locals also speak Finnish.
Produced by Juhannus Productions
www.juhannusproductions.com
Reference:
finntimes.com/?p=243

[@vesalehtinen4534]

It felt quite weird to hear someone say in Finnish that they have never been to Finland, it's too far away. But it was also really heart warming to hear the girl say that there are Saunas everywhere. Even though the language is lost within younger generations, it seems that there's no way that people of Finnish origin would lose Sauna.

[@johnnydoughboy1985]

Vesa Lehtinen almost all of my relatives have saunas lol

[@kendrakemppainen610]

I live in Hancock and my my grandparents are a 100% Finnish

[@mt451]

Hienoa nähdä pieni pala Suomea siellä kaukana! Nice to see a little bit of Finland far away up there! Greetings from Oulu, Finland :)

[@deedonnerramone4757]

Salt of the earth people. Wonderful people. Finnish Americans! Wish we had another 800,000, hard working, dedicated - gems.

[@arc27]

America would be a little more interesting if European Americans did more to celebrate their nations of origin. I wish my near ancestors had passed on German down the line...I could be trilingual!

[@TheNYCndn]

Wow I'm Native American and raised in Michigan but I NEVER knew there is a thriving Finnish speaking community!

[@dustindtin27]

i live in calumet which is 12 miles north of Hancock. i am 75% finn and all of my ancestors are 100% finn. i sure do cherish my roots and i also want to go to Finland at least one time in my life, hopefully take my whole family over there. and saunas are a part of life up here, we have a barrel sauna on a trailer that we bring many places, camping, hunting camp, ect.. its really nice to have a portable one ehh

[@ancient.journey]

Tervetuloa!

[@Kirenje]

Really interesting how their language has changed from loan words to pronounciation!

[@MadameAdam]

ihan omanlaisensa korostus ja ääntämys on heillä puheessa. kieli muuttuu kun se eristyy :)

[@ancient.journey]

MadameAdam Norjasta ja ruotsista lähteneiden suomalaisien kieli oli jo murretta joka ei ole uudessa maassa eritynyt tai muuttunut tavallisesta poikkeavammin. Täällä pohjois ruotsissa meänkieli on voimissaan eikä tuhannen vuoden vaino ruotsin ja kirkon suunnalta ole tappanut kieltä tai kulttuuria :)

[@jacknicholson9861]

No, Finnish is a Finno-Ugric language, And Russian is an indo-european language. So English and say Swedish/Spanish/German are actually closer to Russian than Finnish.

[@garystratton4125]

My Uncles have a camp in Foster City and these Finlanders are absolutely the best people. They are so kind and hard-working and proud. I love to visit up there in summer.

[@FlosserX]

If I ever travel to USA, I want to visit Hancock and any other towns with people with finnish roots and just talk to people there.

[@aahpuuh]

FlosserX tekisin samoin ellen ois introvertti :D

[@johnnydoughboy1985]

FlosserX I would welcome you, I'm roughly 3 hours from Houghton/Hancock but my family is in the Chatham/Eben area and there are heavy Finnish roots there, every side road has a Finnish last name

[@eamantari9356]

I really enjoyed this video and seeing that the "finnish imprint" has remained to our time. Vermont history is taught without mentioning us or other immigrants but Irish and Italians. In my retirement, I am working hard to rectify this. Kiitos ja hei, hei

[@benevolentimmortal]

+EA Mantari I didn't even know there were Finns in Vermont. What part of Vermont are they most common?

[@wlvnknde]

my great-auntie Evey at 4:15

[@roossi]

tapiola mischigan :D lol :D

[@TrashTalkingRichy]

I Live in Maryland (DC REGION) and omgosh.. I Love all things finland so much... gosh dangit you Upper Peninsula peep!

[@Onefuturist]

Aika siisti juttu! :D This is pretty cool.

[@perfectpREdAtori]

My god you Upper Peninsula guys are awesome :DD

[@ajc5884]

i want to visit finland or i could just go to michingan

[@annnis89]

Great video :)

[@johnnydoughboy1985]

75% Finn 25% Swed both sides of my family came to the U.P. in the early 20th century. SISU!

[@johnnydoughboy1985]

I miss listening to my grandma and all my great aunts conversate. They spoke English but had very thick Finnish accents and would occasionally slip a Finnish word or two into the convo.

[@akol39]

Very nice film!

[@Hamm3rJack]

Tää oli tosi hyvä, mutta ois voinu olla pidempi

[@benevolentimmortal]

+Hamm3rJack Minusta se oli todella hyvä liian

[@TheSpiikki]

Pitääpä joskus käydä :)

[@jopiira]

Finnish is own language and we dont have same culture than Russians or Swedes. Finland has been part of Sweden and later on 19th century then part in Russia result of war. Finland had special autonomy like we have pretty much law like in Sweden at the time. In 1917 we did have autonomy result of rising nationalism... That is Finlands story short

[@Gomek2]

I was just going to make a comment about Finglish, funny.

[@MegaWest1000]

mielen kiintoinen video

[@kazuoh3279]

its fucking crazy how fast people forget their own language...

[@granskare]

too bad TV 6 in Marquette was sold to FOX...

[@pyllywaltteri]

vähänkö helmi

[@EyaKweable]

Well, I do say. I never knew myself. It amazes me that there is so much unique adversity in the Yoopee, but they don't teach us that stuff in school. Them damn Finns : ) jk. (Ingichiminwendam ji-noondamaan igaye dagonaa ji-gikendamaan ow Madoodoowin gikinoo'amaadiwag ayaawaad agiw Madoodoowag geyaabi go. Mii ow gikinoo'amaagoowin, apiji go naa. Chi-miigwechiwi'goo ingii-bagamaajonaanaan.)

[@EyaKweable]

It is nice to hear and know that the Finnish Culture is still being taught. It is a teaching. Thank you for bringing this news to us.

[@VorssaGaming]

I live in Finland, and im 100% Finnish.

[@blueNet101]

No. The closest "cousins" for Finland is Estonia. Then comes Hungary.

[@frn512]

@Bluen_p: What you say is true, but while Finnish and Hungarian are related, Finnish is as close to Hungarian as English is to Persian.

[@Johanic2904]

NO.

[@Johanic2904]

NO. Btw if you would say that in Finland you would end up with a couple less teeth in your mouth...

[@blueNet101]

FUCK NO.

[@jordand.8594]

does Finnish come from Russian?

[@ne0195]

Jordan Dinerman NO.