The Finnish American Reporter is a monthly, English language journal, established
in 1986, featuring articles and news reports of interest to Finns across
North America, in Finland and around the world.
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| The Finnish American Reporter has no political or denominational affiliation
and welcomes well-written articles representing any aspect of Finnish culture,
politics and religion. The Finnish American Reporter provides a national
network for announcements of Finnish events in the United States and Canada.
Monthly features in the Finnish American Reporter include: sports, calendar of events, genealogy, book reviews, regional news and regular columnists. Past issue book reviews can now be found here. Current news reports from Finland and the North American keep the Finnish community connected, despite great distances. Numerous FAR subscribers are active supporters of the FAR by submitting articles, regional news, calendar events and photographs for publication. To join the growing number of participating FAR subscribers, click on the links below. Submissions can also be sent by mail or fax.
Some of the features included
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According to one tongue-in-cheek source, Vappu is the day when every Finn suddenly becomes talkative and funny. With either a student's matriculation cap or a paper hat on their head and a celebratory beverage in hand, people are out strolling in the streets and enjoying the carnival atmosphere.
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in the May 2012 issue are ...
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LEANDER'S JOURNEY TO AMERICA
BY MILDRED KUUSISTO (AS TOLD TO PATTI KTISTES)
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Leander and Amanda Somero
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This is a translation of “Leander’s Trip to America,” the story of how my grandfather Leander Somero emigrated. Leander dictated this story to one of his sons. Leander and my grandmother Amanda Siltala established the Somero family in New Ipswich in 1904. Though this is only one family’s story, it is typical of what happened to many Finns thronging to America.Asias and Anna Juhaninpoika (Johnson) Somero were the parents of Michael, Leander and Opas Somero. The boys worked for their father on a farm in Ylivieska, Finland. Their father lost much of his estate because he had co-signed a loan for a friend who didn’t make the payments. So the barn was empty, the cattle gone, and the sons couldn’t work for their father anymore. Times were ...
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?Photo by Studio Jouko Järvinen
“Old Moon” by Ulla Pohjola is a hand-made and machine-made dyed embroidery.
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THE FINNISH LANDSCAPE OF TEXTILES
BY KELLY FRIGARD
In Finland, craft, textile art and to some degree industry, have developed alongside one another during the past century. Two important institutions for teaching weaving and textile art were the Helsinki School of Needlework, founded in 1881 and the Hämeenlinna Craft School, founded in 1885 by Fredrika Wetterhoff. The largest textile organization, The Friends of Finnish Handicrafts (FFH), was formed in 1879 to preserve and develop a public awareness of Finland’s craft heritage.
In the late 1800s, traditional crafts like textiles were perceived by the public as inferior because of their humble connection to the countryside, where 90 percent of the population lived. During this time Finnish ethnographers, artists and educators foresaw the rapid changes that were coming about with the advent of the industrial revolution and were keenly aware of efforts to preserve knowledge of handicrafts and encourage education and innovation. Artists, designers and painters including Fanny Churberg, founder of FFH, and Akseli Gallen-Kallela understood the importance of forging a Finnish identity and were a part of the National Romantic movement in Finland.
The Finnish Pavilion at the Paris World Exposition in 1900 included Gallen-Kallela’s Iris Room, which showcased a stylized, rugged, northern interpretation of Finnish nature, influenced by ...
ARTIST'S LIFE DOCUMENTED
BY DAVID MAKI
Solveig Arneng Johnson, now 86 years old, has been an artist for virtually her entire life with limited fanfare. Now, because of a chance encounter between a filmmaker and some indigenous people, her work can be enjoyed by many.Johnson is the subject of a recent documentary – aptly titled “Solveig” – by independent filmmaker Kiersten Dunbar Chace, who operates the company Monde World Films. “I was screening my film ‘I’m Not Black, I’m Coloured’ at an indigenous people’s conference in Bodø, Norway,” Kiersten explained. “While there, I was able to meet Sami elders, shaman and visit an indigenous community. That piqued my interest.”When she returned to her home in Minnesota (this was in early 2010), she explored her newfound interest in the Sami and became connected with Faith Fjeld. Through Faith, Kiersten met Solveig.“There was a special connection right away,” Kiersten said. “I just felt there was a story there.” Several weeks later, Kiersten learned ...
BIG LOUIE NEEDS A MONUMENT AS BIG AS HE WAS
BY DANA RICHTER
On September 16, 2013 Big Louie Moilanen, the Copper Country Giant, will be gone for 100 years. He deserves a monument as tall as he was! All Big Louie has now is a small granite stone at his grave in the Hancock Lakeside Cemetery. The stone bears his name, his height and weight – but not even his birth date or death date. Very sad. Big Louie was born in Finland in January 5, 1886 and came to America with his parents when he was just 4 years old. Big Louie grew up in the Salo area north of Hancock. He worked as a farmer, a miner, a justice of the peace of Hancock, and a saloon keeper. The granary he built on the farm in Salo was moved to the grounds of the Houghton County Historical Society in Lake Linden. This project was coordinated by Mike Gemignani of Franklin, who is very keen on seeing a fitting memorial to Big Louie in place.
People the world over know about Big Louie. You can Google him on the internet. His 8-foot 3-inch stature got him a place in the Guiness Book of World Records. In Finland especially, Big Louie is a folk hero. There is a monument to him in his birth town of Puolanka, Finland. He traveled with the Ringling Brothers Circus, although he did not like the attention and, true to his roots, returned to the Copper Country. Life gave him a fate that made him famous but also gave him an early death. He was just 27 years, 8 months and 11 days old when he died.
2013 is a momentous year for the Copper Country. FinnFest USA will be here and Hancock will celebrate its sesquicentennial. The Michigan Historical Society will have its annual meeting here. Now is the time to plan a fitting memorial for Big Louie. Jim Kurtti, director of the Finnish American Heritage Center at Finlandia University, has received approval to place the monument near the Heritage Center.Terry Wiitanen, of Champion Monuments, got a quote for a polished granite slab 8 ft 3 in tall with a brass plaque for $3,400. With an etched image of Big Louie and setting the stone, the total cost would be about $5,200. Several people already agreed to donate. An estimate for a brass statue of Big Louie was received for $50,000, and this may be something to consider at a later date. Donations will be accepted by the Houghton County Historical Society.
Ideally, the monument should be in place by the spring of 2013. There could be an unveiling at Finn Fest, June 19-23 of that year. Then there could be a city dedication and memorial on the anniversary of his passing in September. Other events could be held.
The monument should be as tall as Big Louie was and the plaque should respectfully memorialize his life and all Finnish immigrants who came here and worked hard. It would also recognize the Houghton County Historical Society and the Finnish American Heritage Center. The monument would be visited by many people and be a tourist draw. Big Louie’s footprints could be set in a concrete pad below the monument — shoe size 19! People would stand in them and have their picture taken.
At their March 2012 board meeting the Houghton County Historical Society adopted a motion to support the Big Louie Monument Project. They formed a three-person committee to advise and guide the project and maintain a separate fund for donations for the monument.
Send donations to:
Big Louie Monument Project
Houghton County Historical Society
PO Box 127
Lake Linden, MI 49945
For more information call Houghton Co. Historical Society at (906) 296-4121, or Dana Richter at (906) 482-3361.
FAR WEB EXTRA: Arne Alanen on sauna -- click here
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