Yoopers for Ukraine leaders attend Ukraine Summit in DC, meet legislators, Ukraine defenders and supporters

By Michele Bourdieu

Nadija Packauskas, right, co-founder of Yoopers for Ukraine, pauses for a photo near the Capitol in Washington, DC -- with her Dad, Vytautas Packauskas, and Ukrainian American Anna Kovalenko of Grand Rapids, Mich. -- following their attendance at the American Coalition for Ukraine Summit April 12-16 in Washington. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

WASHINGTON, DC -- Nadija Packauskas, co-founder of Yoopers for Ukraine, and her 93-year-old Dad, Vytautas Packauskas, shared their experiences meeting with Ukrainans and their supporters at the American Coalition for Ukraine Action Summit held April 12-16, 2024, in Washington, where they met with legislators to seek support for Ukraine in that country's defensive war against Russian aggression.

Nadija Paskaukas and her Dad, Vytautas, second and third from left, are pictured here at the Ukraine Summit with, from left, Jouzas Mergavicius, a member of the American Coalition for Ukraine and part of the Michigan team at the Summit; Olga Rabinovych, Michigan delegate from Ann Arbor; and Anna Kovalenko of Grand Rapids. (Photo courtesy Nadija Paskaukas)

On Monday, April 15, Nadija met with Keweenaw Now in the National Botanic Gardens near the Capitol to recount several stories she learned from defenders and supporters of Ukraine she met at the Summit.

In an interview with Keweenaw Now following several days at the recent Ukraine Summit in Washington, DC, Nadija Packauskas, co-founder of Yoopers for Ukraine, speaks about the attendees at the Summit and recounts stories she heard from both Ukrainians and Americans who lost family members in the war against Russian aggression. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

With Nadija was Ukrainian American Anna Kovalenko of Grand Rapids, Mich., who spoke about her home town in the northeast of Ukraine and the death and suffering caused by Russian attacks. Kovalenko, who studied drama and film in the US, is now directing her talents to founding a non-profit to help refugees from Ukraine in Michigan.

After attending the Ukraine Summit in Washington, DC, Ukrainian American Anna Kovalenko tells Keweenaw Now about her home town in Ukraine and how it has suffered from Russia's war of aggression. She also speaks about the need to help refugees from Ukraine.

Kovalenko added her reason for attending the Summit was a request from her own Dad, who recently fought on the front lines in the Ukrainian military until his retirement at age 65 and who lost friends and fellow soldiers in the fighting.

On April 15, 2024, Anna Kovalenko, Ukrainian American living in Michigan, tells Keweenaw Now she was attending the Ukraine Summit in Washington, DC, at the request of her father, a military veteran of the war in Ukraine.

Nadija also spoke about the need to contact legislators and request their support for Ukraine.

 

Nadija Packauskas speaks about the need for Americans to support Ukraine by putting pressure on legislators for funding to help Ukraine win the war against Russian aggression.

Nadija and her Dad met with Michigan First District Congressman Jack Bergman, who represents the Upper Peninsula and part of northern lower Michigan, in his office on April 15 to seek his support for Ukraine funding legislation.

Nadija and her Dad are joined by Anna Kovalenko, far right, and Jouzas Mergavicius, far left, with Congressman Jack Bergman in his office. Nadija holds a drawing by Kaitlyn Loosemore of Hancock to be presented to Rep. Bergman. Kaitlyn attends almost all the Yoopers for Ukraine Walks for Ukraine on the Portage Lift Bridge in Houghton with her Dad, John Loosemore, and her two brothers, Jethro and Jacob. (Photo courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

"We brought (to Bergman) drawings from several children in Houghton that were done at International Neighbors during spring break," Nadija said, "and then the Loosemore family gave me a hand-drawn picture and the Rotary Club gave us letters! A community event!"

Nadija described the visit with Rep. Bergman as a mostly positive experience.

Nadija Packauskas tells Keweenaw Now about her visit with Congressman Bergman following the Ukraine Summit she attended in Washington, D.C. She speaks about Rep. Bergman's claim of support for Ukraine.

Nadija's Dad, Vytautas, a veteran, shared stories with Rep. Bergman and paused for this photo. (Photo courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

Nadija and her Dad also visited with Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. Rep. Tlaib is the first Palestinian American woman to serve in Congress and one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress. 

Nadija describes the visit as "Our best meeting! She was gracious and kind!"

Nadija's Dad, Vytautas, and Jouzas Mergavicius enjoy the visit with Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. (Photo courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

In addition to the Summit, Nadija and her Dad met some wounded soldiers and veterans of the Ukraine war.

Nadija and Vytautas meet with Denis E., who lost his leg in Luhansk as a Ukraine defender. (Photo courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

Speaking of Denis E., Nadija said, "He arrived at Dulles Saturday and we were honored to be invited to meet him and another soldier as they arrived. They are here for rehab and prosthetics. His joy on his face was so moving and so sincere! A moment I will never, ever forget!"

Another memorable experience of the week, Nadia added, was an invitation to view Porcelain War, the 2024 Sundance Film Festival U.S. Grand Prize Documentary Winner, and to meet some of the artists in the film.

Nadija and her Dad meet with two stars of the film, Porcelain War -- Slava Leontyev, an artist who also trains civilians to be soldiers in Ukraine, and his dog Frudo. Kateryna Lapina, left, is a Michigan Tech graduate and one of the film's associate producers. Her sister, Anya Stasenko, Slava's wife, is another artist starring in the film. (Photo courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

Artist Anya Stasenko pauses for a photo with Vytautas Packauskas, Nadija's Dad. (Photo courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

Nadija found the film, in which artists defend their culture as well as their country, powerful and inspiring.

"Art has always been a tool to bring beauty, peace, and power into the world," she commented. "The tenacity and resilience of the Ukrainians is brought forth in this magnificent film that brings the whimsical, quiet, nature loving hearts of ordinary citizens in Ukraine who have had to put down their palettes and paint brushes and pick up weapons to defend their homeland right into the minds of all who watch. There is no greater sorrow in this world than to see beauty being erased systematically by evil and yet no greater joy than seeing Light win! This film shows the horrors of war and the peace of stolen moments in time. It truly brings to the world what Ukraine is facing -- both the large pain and the everyday forgotten struggles of staying human in the most dire of times. Slava Ukraini! The heroes are showing us how to be brave, how to love, and how to live. A privilege of a lifetime to meet with Slava and Anya and the brilliant producer after the film -- and sweet Frodo -- who traveled 5 days to be with us. Open your hearts and feel the strength of Ukraine in each clip.

"Humility was my reaction," Nadija added. "We can never do enough to support Ukraine."

Nadija's final message to Keweenaw Now and our readers was a call to action to stop this war:

Nadija calls on Americans to pressure their legislators to support Ukraine in order to stop Russia's aggressive war. She also speaks about the effects of that war on children.

United Help Ukraine -- a non-profit charity that supports Ukraine with medical aid, humanitarian aid, defenders aid and raising awareness -- stated the following on April 18, 2024:

"In a pivotal moment for Ukraine, House Speaker Mike Johnson has unveiled the long-awaited text for the Ukraine aid bill. United Help Ukraine, along with many organizations in the Ukrainian community, views this action as a significant step towards bolstering Ukraine's resilience in the face of adversity." 

The bill includes $61 billion earmarked for Ukraine, including humanitarian aid and economic support. Click here for details.

You can find your representative in Congress by putting your zip code in the upper right corner HERE. Write or call your Congressional Representative to encourage him/her to support Ukraine at this crucial time.

DNR to hold April 17 public meetings regarding Keweenaw Land Association direct metallic minerals lease applications

Map showing Baraga, Dickinson, Iron, Marquette and Menominee counties in the Upper Peninsula, where Keweenaw Land Association has requested direct metallic mineral leases from the State of Michigan covering Department of Natural Resources (DNR) metallic mineral rights. Click here for a larger map.

Approximately 10,631.43 acres of metallic minerals lease rights in Baraga, Dickinson, Iron, Marquette and Menominee counties have been requested by Keweenaw Land Association, Limited. Detailed parcel information including maps and classifications can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/minerals/metallic. If approved by DNR, a lease to Keweenaw Land Association, Limited, would grant the exclusive right to explore for the presence of metallic minerals in the described areas. A lease alone does not grant a lessee a right to mine.

Virtual Meeting and Registration Link

The DNR Minerals Management Section will hold duplicate virtual informational public meetings regarding the lease application on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, from 11 a.m. to Noon and from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., EDT. Interested parties may join either meeting by going to https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/75b549a3-2ae7-44c8-953a-39bcbd8b6864@d5fb7087-3777-42ad-966a-892ef47225d1. The meetings will be recorded, and the recordings will be made available at Michigan.gov/Minerals.

Registration is required to provide public comment during the meetings. Anyone wishing to participate in the public comment portion of the meetings will be allowed two minutes to speak.

Phone-in option

If you do not wish to register or do not have internet access, please use the phone option by dialing 1-248-509-0316 and using access code 209-806-381#.

Written questions

During the meetings a panel will respond to written questions from the public regarding the lease application.

Questions may be submitted to:

    DNR, Minerals Management Section
    P.O. Box 30452
    Lansing, MI 48909
    Or via email to DNR-LeaseManagement@michigan.gov. Subject line should read: Keweenaw Land Association, Limited.

Written questions received by April 5 will be addressed during the meetings; questions received after April 5 will be answered via email.

Visit the metallic lease webpage to learn more about State of Michigan minerals leasing. 

NOTE:

A DNR Mineral Lease Strategizing Session will be held via Zoom at 7:30 p.m. (EDT) on Monday, April 15, for those who wish to comment at the April 17th DNR meetings. Kathleen Heideman of UPEC's Mining Action Group and others will  be brainstorming the most impactful way to make voices heard at the meetings. Everyone is welcome, no need to be a Michigan resident! If interested, please register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0lcuiorjIrGtVcTK79ZwtLjKD4-tLm6xA4?fbclid=IwAR0epc0VMSA0VAb3Zf9d68sLB-AsA0lygkXlWKaG0tGdVvqs-IT6ZThTtCM_aem_ARs65fmy_XAYhAbMMX0pGgWAY3Z_1SLROQ9S5jnzOiZlvXDXQaxVzGAvfOovXIYwBtHZIOv1t82Ey3tKuLDYm83_#/registration

Final permits aren't yet issued for Lake Superior copper mine. But opponents fear it's all but locked in

By Caitlin Looby, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Published April 10, 2024, in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Reprinted here in part with permission

The Presque Isle River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula empties into Lake Superior in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Environmentalists say that a new copper mine, which will be the closest metallic sulfide mine to Lake Superior to date, will threaten water quality in Lake Superior and its tributaries. (Photo © Caitlin Looby/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

GOGEBIC COUNTY, Mich. -- The Presque Isle River carves through the southwest tip of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, leaving dozens of waterfalls in its wake before meeting the shore of Lake Superior.

The Midwest's largest tract of old-growth forest, undisturbed for generations, looms on either side of the river's final miles. It’s one of only a few places in the region to escape into the wild.

People from nearby cities, like Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago and the Twin Cities, venture to the rugged area to see the dark night sky, hear the sounds of the forest, and take in the vastness of Lake Superior.

Environmentalists say that a proposed mine -- slated to extract copper as close as 100 feet from the lake -- is putting all that at risk.

If it goes as planned, the Copperwood Mine will become the closest metallic sulfide mine to Lake Superior to date.

The mine will sit less than 30 miles east of the Wisconsin- Michigan border, and just west of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, one of the few state parks in the country with wilderness status. The mine will also hug the North Country Trail, which extends roughly 4,800 miles from North Dakota to Vermont.

Highland Copper, the Canadian company behind the mine, has leased the mineral rights to a 3.5 square mile area where it estimates it will extract nearly 65 million pounds of copper over the course of 11 to 14 years. According to the latest feasibility study, the start of construction is slated for later this year.

The controversy over the Copperwood Mine ramped up last year as the company began site preparations, clearing a swath of forest, filling wetlands and permanently rerouting streams next to the North Country Trail.

What worries mine opponents is that, while the Quebec-based company is up to date on its permits, it still has hoops to get through in securing final permits before it can begin operation. The company also hasn’t made it clear where it will draw water from to operate the mine, although the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, or EGLE, said the company intends to look at groundwater as an option. According to a 2018 environmental assessment, the mine will need roughly 430,000 gallons of water per day.

"We’re already seeing an applicant trying to essentially assert control over the world we live in," said Noah Saperstein, environmental justice specialist with the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa’s Treaty Natural Resources Department.... CLICK HERE to read the rest of this article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel online.

State of Michigan grant approval for Copperwood Mine reveals rifts in environmental movement, need for dialogue

By Brian Noell, Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve*

View of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, now threatened by the proposed Copperwood Mine project, a metallic sulfide mine adjacent to Lake Superior. (Photo by Protect the Porkies and courtesy Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve)**

On Tuesday, March 26, the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) board voted unanimously to approve a $50 million grant to Canadian-owned Highland Copper to aid in development of a metallic sulfide mine adjacent to Lake Superior and Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Although the result was not unexpected, it and the subsequent public relations effort are revealing, and I would argue, important for those considering themselves environmentalists to ponder.***

Thanks to the efforts of the grassroots coalition assembled in opposition to the grant, the members of which spoke eloquently at the March 26 and February 27 meetings as well as in writing, the MSF board attached significant conditions to the award. The money is to be paid out as a reimbursement, not an outright gift, and only applies to Highland Copper itself (unless MSF gives its consent), ensuring that the company does not pocket the money and abandon the project to another entity. Moreover, there is an infrastructure construction requirement and an obligation to create jobs (yet to be determined, though press releases are touting 380 as the number). Both provide a level of accountability to the local community that might not have existed had activists not pointed out the speculative nature and generally negative net economic effects of mining development in rural America.

Most importantly, MSF is requiring Highland Copper to raise $150 million before the state money is disbursed, a significant hurdle for a company whose valuation is presently less than the $50 million grant itself. Indeed, the company has owned Copperwood for 10 years and already has successively pushed back construction timetables because of undercapitalization.

Also instructive is the public relations exercise that followed the grant announcement. The unanimity of business groups, Northern Michigan University, local government, state representatives, and the Governor herself, was touted in press releases. Job creation, infrastructure improvement, economic development, and securing resources for electric vehicles and other technologies (ideally to be built in Michigan) were in the forefront. Although there will be an undeniable short-term economic impact if the project clears all the monetary and regulatory hurdles it faces and manages to produce ore, one can question the actual number of jobs for locals the mine will create as well as the sustainability of the development an operation predicted to produce only for 11 years will bring. And what about the market for copper itself, which is notoriously volatile and will largely determine the level of ore production, a common phenomenon that results in the type of "flickering" that keeps traditional mining communities in perpetual want?

Official press releases and local media coverage of the grant announcement were unquestioningly cheery and, even when mentioning opposition, omitted the substance of those objections. Extraction beneath Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park and potentially within 100 feet of Lake Superior itself, for example, as well as construction of a 323-acre tailings facility perched on a slope leading to the big lake and in view of the North Country Trail, Lake of the Clouds Overlook, and Copper Peak were passed over in silence.****

The Lake of the Clouds -- one of the most scenic views in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The view to the right of the photo (west and south) could be impeded by the proposed 323-acre tailings facility, originally estimated to be about 14 storeys high. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

The roll-out of the MSF grant is illustrative of a crossroads being approached in the environmental movement, when destruction of wild lands adjacent to a lake containing 10 percent of the world’s fresh water and an iconic state park is justified in the name of green energy, central to keeping the economy humming in the age of climate change. Political coalition-building underpins the project, which dovetails nicely with conservative priorities to rebuild extractive industries and provide jobs in a region suffering economic hardship and decades of population decline.

This map shows the proposed Copperwood Tailings Disposal Facility (TDF), outlined in orange, lower center of map. For a larger version go to page 53, Fig. 1-2, of Highland Copper/Copperwood Resources' 2018 proposed Part 632 mining permit amendment. The TDF is on a slope, leaning toward Lake Superior. (Keweenaw Now file Screenshot courtesy Copperwood Resources, Inc.)

From a political perspective, this is a winning strategy for both sides and even seems like a path out of our climate dilemma. But what are the costs? Green energy is not green if the result is the fouling of the world’s largest body of fresh water, which also is vital to addressing the effects of climate change. And what of the more sustainable recreation economy that the MSF’s own bosses, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, are also pushing in their "Pure Michigan" campaign? 

This map shows the proximity of the projected Copperwood Mine and its Tailings Disposal Facility to the historic North Country Trail, indicated by the bright green line. (Map courtesy Protect the Porkies.)

Perhaps most importantly, the mainstream narrative that celebrates sustainability, prosperity, and green energy in connection with the development of Copperwood ignores the burden future generations will bear from mineral extraction on the banks of our largest great lake. Maintaining decaying infrastructure and preventing the release of the accumulated waste into Lake Superior will be this project’s longest legacy, adding more than 30 million tons of toxic material to the already steep bill of climate change itself.

Green energy, it turns out, is fraught with trade-offs. For now, however, state and corporate PR apparatus have the information advantage, working hand-in-glove with a local media lacking the resources and perhaps inclination to question the rosy picture being painted for them of "environmentally friendly" industrial projects.

It appears to fall to organizations and news sources outside the establishment echo-chamber to put these questions before the public and for us all to do some tough thinking about the costs of the "green" economy’s rapid growth.  If we begin to see the problem in a multi-faceted way, perhaps a path forward will emerge that includes in the calculus even the effects of our actions on behalf of a warming planet.

Editor's Notes:

* Guest author Brian Noell has given Keweenaw Now permission for republishing this article he wrote for the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve.

** Visit protecttheporkies.com to learn more about the sulfide mining threat to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park and to read and sign the petition against the Copperwood Mine project.

*** The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, near Ontonagon, Mich., was recently named the most beautiful state park in the US.

**** See this video that shows failure of tailings dams.

UPDATED: Yoopers for Ukraine, community groups welcome two visiting "ambassadors" for Ukraine

By Michele Bourdieu

Visiting Ukrainian poet Yuliya Musakovska displays a "Stop Putin Stop War" sign during the Feb. 4, 2024, Walk for Ukraine in Houghton. Pictured with her are the three Loosemore children -- from left, Kaitlin, Jethro and Jacob -- who attend the Walks for Ukraine regularly with their Dad, John Loosemore (holding sign and American flag in background). (Photo courtesy Yoopers for Ukraine)

Yoopers for Ukraine have attracted more supporters this month with two visitors from Ukraine joining the weekly Walk for Ukraine on the Portage Lift Bridge and giving presentations at various events both at Michigan Tech and in the local community. Ukrainian poet Yuliya Musakovska, who was here in early February, was invited by Michigan Tech Associate Professor M. Bartley Seigel, Creative Writing and Literature, Director of the Michigan Tech Writing Center as well as 2021-2022 U.P. Poet Laureate. Following her visit, Emily Marie Rutkowski of Detroit, who travels back and forth to Ukraine delivering first aid kits and other useful items for Ukrainian soldiers, came to Houghton for several days of fundraising for her group, Misha's Angels. Emily was invited by Nadija Packauskas, co-founder of Yoopers for Ukraine, who organized several community events to assist in the fundraising.

Emily Marie Rutkowski, founder of Misha's Angels, is pictured here, third from left, with members of International Neighbors, one of the community groups she visited in Houghton earlier this month. (Photo © and courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

Visit by Yuliya Musakovska, Ukrainian poet

Yuliya Musakovska is from Lviv, Ukraine. An award-winning poet, translator, and member of PEN Ukraine, Yuliya is the author of five poetry collections in Ukrainian, most recently The God of Freedom (2021) and a bi-lingual collection, Iron in Polish and Ukrainian (2022). She has received numerous literary awards in Ukraine and her works have been translated into more than twenty languages.

In addition to reading some of her poems and their English translations, Yuliya spoke during a panel discussion on Ukraine at Michigan Tech on Feb. 1. She spoke about her friends, colleagues and fellow writers who have been killed during Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. She also noted she believes in traveling and sharing her poetry because sharing her culture is an act of resistance against an aggressor who is trying to eliminate Ukrainian culture.*

"Russia is a machine of hate and destruction, and it can only be stopped by force," Yuliya said. "Let's stop this evil together and let justice prevail."

Yuliya also participated in the Feb. 2 opening of the Michigan Tech art exhibit, "Simple Machines: Poetry, Letterpress, and the Art of the Little Magazine" in the Rozsa A-Space Gallery. The exhibit, which continues through March 30, is an interactive poetry exhibit where participants can hear poets reading their work.

Ukrainian poet Yuliya Musakovska joins Michigan Tech Professor and poet M. Bartley Seigel at the opening of the Michigan Tech art exhibit, "Simple Machines: Poetry, Letterpress, and the Art of the Little Magazine" in the Rozsa A-Space Gallery on Feb. 2, 2024. (Photo © and courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

Nadija Packauskas, co-founder of Yoopers for Ukraine, attended the art exhibit and invited Yuliya to join the weekly Walk for Ukraine.

"The community is very grateful to M. Bartley Seigel and Michigan Tech for bringing such a world-renowned poet to the UP!" Nadija said.

On Feb. 4, Yuliya joined the weekly Sunday Walk for Ukraine and spoke afterwards during a reception for her held by Yoopers for Ukraine in the Downtowner restaurant in Houghton.

Here Nadija Packauskas of Yoopers for Ukraine welcomes Yuliya and supporters to the Feb. 4 Walk:

As the 2-year mark of the war in Ukraine approaches, Nadija Packauskas, co-founder of Yoopers for Ukraine, addresses participants in the Feb. 4, 2024, Walk for Ukraine in Houghton.(Videos by Keweenaw Now)

The Feb. 4 Walk for Ukraine begins:

Carrying flags and signs, participants in the Feb. 4 Walk for Ukraine in Houghton head for the Portage Lift Bridge to Hancock.

Karen Liimatta came from Marquette to join the Feb. 4 Walk for Ukraine.

Karen Liimatta of Marquette, MI, who came to Houghton for the Feb. 4, 2024, Walk for Ukraine, tells Keweenaw Now how her church is welcoming Ukrainian families who have come to Marquette since the beginning of the war.

Elizabeth Flynn, Michigan Tech Emerita Professor of Reading and Composition, also participated in the Feb. 4 Walk. 

"I went to the walk in support of Ukraine because the country needs our help in its heroic fight against imperialist Vladimir Putin," Flynn told Keweenaw Now. "I also went because our Congress needs to pass legislation to provide desperately needed aid. I remember when the domino theory explained aggression such as Putin’s. If he wins, he won’t stop there."

After displaying their flags and signs to passing traffic in Hancock, participants in the Feb. 4 Walk for Ukraine return to Houghton.

Led by visiting Ukrainian poet Yuliya Musakovska, participants in the Feb. 4, 2024, Walk for Ukraine return to Houghton, MI, from Hancock on the Portage Lift Bridge.

Following the Feb. 4 Walk, participants attended a reception for Yuliya in the Downtowner restaurant in Houghton. She spoke to the group about Ukraine and also read some of her poetry.

Ukrainian poet Yuliya Musakovska speaks at a reception held for her by Yoopers for Ukraine on Feb. 4, 2024, following their weekly Walk for Ukraine.

At a reception for her following the Feb. 4, 2024, Walk for Ukraine in Houghton, MI, Ukrainian poet Yuliya Musakovska reads a translation of one of her poems.

Miriam Pickens, local resident and artist, who has assisted Nadija Packauskas with several Yoopers for Ukraine projects, commented on the Feb. 4 Walk and reception.

"I really enjoyed meeting new people who were walking -- loved the energy!" Miriam said. "The afterparty was great; got to hear some amazing poetry. Nadija is an amazing organizer."

Miriam Pickens, right, is pictured here with Yoopers for Ukraine co-founder Nadija Packauskas during the reception for Ukrainian poet Yuliya Musakovska on Feb. 4. (Photo © and courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

Emily Marie Rutkowski of Misha's Angels raises funds for Ukrainian soldiers

Who would think that a young woman from Detroit would visit Houghton for a few days and receive more than $5,000 in donations from local community groups for Micha's Angels -- a Kyiv-based organization she founded in Michigan that supports several military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine? In fact, the group has provided over $50,000 worth of aid for Ukrainian soldiers since October 2023. That includes the following:

• Individual first aid kits (IFAKs)
• Winter gear, including thermal socks, thermal underwear, gloves, hand and toe warmers
• Mine detector
• Ballistic glasses
• Tactical medical supplies
• Christmas gifts for children of fallen heroes

The fundraising group is named for Misha, a black kitten rescued from the trenches by a group of soldiers in Ukraine. His dad is a friend of Emily's and a US Marine veteran who served with the Ukrainian Marines and is now on the eastern front with the 3rd Assault Brigade. Emily, his mom, volunteers to help keep Ukraine defenders safe by raising funds for much-needed items.

Emily Marie Rutkowski, second from left, displays a photo of Misha the kitten during one of her visits in Houghton. Also pictured, from left, are Nadija Paskaukas; Emily's parents, Nancy and Dale; Nadija's dad, Vytautas Packauskas; and Emily's aunt, Rose Zidzik. (Photo © and courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

On Feb. 15, Emily spoke about Misha's Angels and her volunteer work of fundraising to provide needed items for Ukrainian soldiers at two local community groups -- International Neighbors (pictured above) and the Rotary Club and received a donation from each, with a combined total of over $1,000.

Emily Rutkowski chats with Nadija's dad, Vytautas, at the International Neighbors visit. (Photo © and courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

Emily speaks about Misha's Angels at the Rotary Club in Houghton. (Photo © and courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

On Feb. 16, Nadija and the NISU bakery in Hancock held a Wine and Cheese event, where Emily spoke for an hour about her work and collected $645.

Supporters of Ukraine pause for a photo during the Wine and Cheese fundraiser for Misha's Angels at the NISU cafe in Hancock on Feb. 16. (Photo © Nadija Packauskas and courtesy Miriam Pickens)

"In total with funds from Yoopers for Ukraine collected for IFAKs Emily left the UP with $5,045!" Nadija reported.

On Feb. 14, for Valentine's Day, Yoopers for Ukraine held an extra Walk for Ukraine across the Portage Lift Bridge, followed by a reception for Emily and her family. She also spoke with Keweenaw Now about Misha's Angels and her work.

Yoopers for Ukraine walk across the Portage Lift Bridge from Houghton to Hancock on Feb. 14, 2024. Visitor Emily Marie Rutkowski of Detroit, founder of Misha's Angels, joins the Walk.

Participants in the Feb. 14 Walk for Ukraine return from Hancock.

Following the Feb. 14 Walk, Emily and her family enjoyed a reception in the Downtowner restaurant, where she spoke with Keweenaw Now about her work for Misha's Angels and her interest in helping soldiers with PTSD.

During the Feb. 14 reception for Emily and her family in the Downtowner,  Emily tells Keweenaw Now about the group she founded, Misha's Angels, and the work they do in donating first aid kits (IFAKs) to Ukrainian military units.

Emily also described many other items the funds for Misha's Angels have been able to supply to Ukrainian troops, especially helpful in the cold winter -- the hand and toe warmers, warm socks and thermal underwear. Some of these soldiers are stationed as close as three miles to the Russian border and in need of supplies. The funds raised here are mostly used to purchase Ukraine-made items, thus saving money and helping the Ukrainian economy as well.

Emily shared photos of safety gear such as night vision devices and a mine detector.

Emily shows Keweenaw Now a photo of a mine detector purchased with Misha's Angels funds.

"Ukraine's actually the most heavily mined country in the world right now," Emily said, "and actually night vision is also really important because one of the units we were helping, without night vision ... the guys were having to hold on to each other when they're walking around at night, which is really dangerous because if they do hit a mine it's going to be not just one person that's injured but a bunch."

They are also in more danger from Russian shooting or bombing when they're all clustered together, she added.

Visiting a facility that helps Ukrainian soldiers who have PTSD inspired Emily to consider such work as a future career for herself.

During an interview with Keweenaw Now, Emily Marie Rutkowski of Detroit speaks about a PTSD center in Ukraine that helps soldiers. She also shares photos of Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines.

If you wish to contribute funds to help Misha's Angels with their work, you can email yoopersforukraine@gmail.com or for Pay Pal: @EmilyRutkowski

Events this weekend: 2-year anniversary of invasion

Yoopers for Ukraine will hold several events this weekend since Saturday, Feb. 24, marks two years of Ukrainian resistance against the Russian invasion:

Noon, Saturday, Feb. 24, at Houghton Pier, near Portage Lake District Library: A rally to recognize the two-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine

6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24: Prayer Vigil at Veterans Park

7:15 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 25: Sunrise Community Prayer Service at Houghton side of Portage Lift Bridge.

3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25: Walk for Ukraine. Meet on Houghton side of Portage Lift Bridge.

For more info on Yoopers for Ukraine, visit them on Facebook.

* Editor's Note: Click here for a video recording of the panel discussion with Yuliya -- videotaped by Nadija Packauskas.

REQUIEM FOR THE OVERLOOKED, exhibit by Cynthia Coté, opens at Finlandia Art Gallery: Feb. 8 - Apr. 3

Cynthia Coté, Calumet artist and founding director of the Copper Country Community Arts Center, has an exhibit of her work, REQUIEM FOR THE OVERLOOKED, at the Finlandia Art Gallery in the Finnish American Heritage Center, Hancock, through April 3, 2024.

HANCOCK --  REQUIEM FOR THE OVERLOOKED, an exhibit by Calumet artist Cynthia Coté at the Finlandia Art Gallery, is open!

A reception for the artist will take place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, at the gallery, with an artist talk beginning at 7:20 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Ink beadwork by artist Cynthia Coté. (Photos courtesy Finlandia Art Gallery)

REQUIEM FOR THE OVERLOOKED is an installation of drawings, collage, beadwork, and fiber art constructions, displayed alongside a collection of objects that inspired the work.

From the gallery installation of Cynthia Coté's colored pencil drawings.

Gallery installation of ink drawings by Cynthia Coté.

Finlandia Art Gallery is located in the Finnish American Heritage Center, 435 Quincy Street, Hancock, 906-487-7500 or email gallery@finlandiafoundation.org

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. REQUIEM FOR THE OVERLOOKED continues through April 3.

Cirque FLIP Fabrique to present BLIZZARD Feb. 9, 10, at Rozsa

FLIP Fabrique -- a circus company based in Québec, Canada -- will present BLIZZARD, an enchanting snowstorm that blends creativity with daring choreography, at 7:30 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 9, and at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts. (Image courtesy Rozsa Center)

HOUGHTON -- This Friday and Saturday, the Rozsa stage will transform into an enchanting snowstorm, whether or not the snow is falling outside! Cirque FLIP Fabrique's BLIZZARD will open at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9. A Sensory-Friendly Matinee at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, is designed to invite all members of our community into the magic of the event without sensory worries, including those on the autism spectrum, young children, individuals with sensory sensitivities, and first-time theatergoers.

Born out of the dreams and the friendship of circus performers in 2011, Cirque FLIP Fabrique is renowned around the world for combining astonishing feats with true visual poetry. (Photo courtesy Rozsa Center)

With BLIZZARD, FLIP Fabrique takes you on a crazy, poetic and gentle journey in the dead of winter, and invites you to lose yourself in a moment of complete wonder. With performers at the peak of their art and outstanding visual poetry, BLIZZARD promises to blow away everything in its path.

The show will last 75 minutes, no intermission. Seating is Reserved. Click here for tickets.

Indigenous Peoples' Participation at COP28

By Nyasha Milanzi*

Prior to attending the COP28 climate conference -- held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from November 30 to December 12, 2023 --  my knowledge of Indigenous Peoples in the environmental justice space was primarily centered around Native American communities in Michigan, which I had learned about through my present role as a research assistant for a ReJUST project at Michigan Tech. Our primary focus is on studying the air quality of an indigenous community in Michigan, specifically evaluating the impacts of a local energy generation facility that predominantly employs a mix of polluting fuels such as wood, paper, plastic, and tire-derived materials.** Inset Photo: Author Nyasha Milanzi is pictured here at COP28 while attending a session on climate finance for youth projects hosted by the Financial Times. (Photo courtesy Nyasha Milanzi)

However, at COP28 I had the privilege of meeting Indigenous Peoples advocating for climate action from various corners of the world -- Africa, Australia, South America, Asia, and Europe. A particularly enlightening moment for me was the conversation I had with Jean Mary Tjiohimba, a San indigenous from South Africa, who delivered a moving closing speech at the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Multi-stakeholder High-Level Dialogue at COP28. During our discussion, she shared insights about the presence of San and Khoisan indigenous peoples in Zimbabwe, a revelation that went beyond the historical narratives I was taught in high school and marked my first encounter with a San individual.

Phase out fossil fuels

Collection of art displayed in Indigenous Peoples Pavilion Building at COP28. (Photo courtesy Nyasha Milanzi)

Indigenous Peoples who participated at COP28 passionately advocated for a fast phase-out of fossil fuels, whether through impactful demonstrations or expressive art forms. This platform served as another crucial opportunity for Indigenous Peoples to highlight the disproportionate toll of climate change on their communities and ecosystems. Simultaneously, they emphasized the adverse effects stemming from the extraction and utilization of fossil fuels. One of the demonstrations that moved with me depicted a poignant scene -- a nurse tending to a patient, representing the Earth, within the confines of an emergency room. The symbolism was striking, as the nurse conveyed a powerful message: the Earth's recovery hinges on our collective commitment to cease the burning of fossil fuels worldwide.

A recent study conducted within the United States has brought to light alarming public health hazards associated with air and water pollution throughout the fossil fuel life cycle, with a starkly disproportionate impact on Black, Brown, Indigenous, and economically disadvantaged communities. Analyzing 2018 Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators data revealed that 56 percent of the toxic burden from refineries is borne by minorities, who constitute 39 percent of the population, while 19 percent is carried by poor individuals, representing 14 percent of the population. Additionally, pollution attributed to natural gas infrastructure poses an elevated cancer risk impacting one million Black/African-Americans.

The authors of that study further say the concept of racial capitalism both elucidates why Black, Brown, Indigenous, and poor communities are disproportionately affected by fossil fuel health hazards and also underscores why more than 30 years of international climate negotiations have thus far failed to curtail fossil fuel production. Notably, it's unprecedented that, for the first time in the history of 28 climate change negotiations, the phrase "phasing away from fossil fuels" appeared in a document agreed upon by all 197 parties at COP28.

Indigenous and Traditional Technologies, Sciences, and Innovations Multi-stakeholder dialogue at COP 28

The Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) within the 2022-2024 work plan is tasked with organizing discussions involving various stakeholders, including Indigenous Peoples, local communities, Parties, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).*** The primary goal is to enhance the involvement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in the development and implementation of global climate change policies.*** The incorporation of indigenous knowledge, with fair and ethical treatment of these groups, aligns with the overarching objective of the Paris Agreement -- which emphasizes the promotion of climate action rooted in the best available science and, when suitable, traditional indigenous knowledge. 

The Indigenous and Traditional Technologies, Sciences, and Innovations Multi-stakeholder dialogue at COP 28 includes discussion of ethical and equal treatment of indigenous knowledge. (Photo courtesy Nyasha Milanzi)

Interplay between scientific knowledge and indigenous knowledge

In this dialogue, a thought-provoking point was raised: Researchers' work typically spans 3-4 years, while indigenous methods have proven effective for thousands of years. The question arises: which do we trust today, the former or the latter? With a background in electrical engineering, I might assume my colleagues prioritize the former. However, delving into social sciences methods as part of my Masters degree study has led me to a nuanced perspective. I refrain from asserting trust in one over the other, recognizing the unique merits and contexts that each brings to the table. Here are my reasons.

Repeatedly, science and engineering solutions have unveiled unintended and sometimes severe consequences, such as climate change. Acknowledging that both science/engineering and indigenous knowledge have their shortcomings, I push for a collaborative approach that leverages the strengths of each for the benefit of our planet and its inhabitants. Reflecting on the unintended consequences of technologies like AI and solar, I recognize the need to critically assess potential harms, even amid the excitement about their positive aspects.

A Sustainable Development class in fall 2023 challenged my Western views on sustainability, emphasizing the valuable contributions of indigenous knowledge to scientific endeavors. From the stories of African pastoralists to instances like the study on fire-spreading birds in Australia, it is evident that Western scientists often dismiss traditional knowledge unless it aligns with their claims. The study on firehawks, while novel to Western science, had long been known to indigenous peoples in northern Australia, revealing a double standard in accepting traditional knowledge within Western science. This discrepancy calls for a re-evaluation of the relationship between these two knowledge systems.

Integrating indigenous knowledge into climate initiatives

Panel discussion organized by Shruti Punjabi, Virginia Tech, at the Dominican Republic Pavilion at COP28. Pictured here, from left, are Jerry Huang, Harvard; Nyasha Milanzi (author of this article, with microphone), Michigan Tech University; Erika Lopez Lara, UCLA; and Neel Dharwadkar, Duke University. (Photo courtesy Kathy Halvorsen)

Sherilee Harper, vice-chair of Working Group I at the IPCC, candidly recognized that many United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) working groups have ample room for improvement in incorporating indigenous knowledge. Nevertheless, the engagement of various stakeholders within the UNFCCC, actively listening to the concerns of indigenous peoples, left a positive impression on me. In addition, Harper highlighted a study by Pasang Dolma Sherpa, the Indigenous Peoples' Representative to the U.N., who has consistently advocated for indigenous voices in the UNFCCC. Historically, global discussions on climate change have overlooked these voices.

Of the 197 parties at COP28, fewer than 100 had negotiators aligned with the Indigenous Peoples' agenda. My perception is that the UNFCCC is taking steps to listen to and encourage the active participation of indigenous voices, notably through the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP). However, it is crucial to move beyond mere acknowledgment and ensure the implementation of sound policies.

I recommend future initiatives should focus on guaranteeing that indigenous peoples are not adversely impacted by UNFCCC policies established during annual COP conferences. The emphasis should shift towards empowering indigenous communities with the necessary resources for comprehensive climate change action, encompassing both adaptation and mitigation, without prioritizing one over the other. A critical component of this approach involves substantial funding for the LCIPP platform, ensuring that those most affected, such as indigenous peoples, play a role in shaping policies that directly impact their livelihoods. Moreover, efforts should be made to include individuals from indigenous communities in party negotiating teams -- especially from Africa.

Notes:

* Nyasha Milanzi of Zimbabwe, author of this article, is pursuing a masters degree in sustainable communities at Michigan Tech University. In her research she merges Geoscience and Social Science methods in studying Socio-Ecological and Socio-Technological Systems in the United States and Sub-Saharan Africa. Click here to read about her reasons for attending COP28. Read about her take on the UAE Consensus here.

** In her current role as a research assistant, Nyasha Milanzi is contributing to a project funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at Michigan Tech, in collaboration with the Center for Energy and Environment in Minneapolis. The primary focus of the project is on studying the air quality of an indigenous community in Michigan, specifically evaluating the impacts of a local energy generation facility that predominantly employs a mix of polluting fuels as she mentions above. The researchers investigate the air quality impacts from the facility as well as the drivers of energy transitions, encompassing fuelwood use, efficiency improvements, and beneficial electrification, with a dedicated effort to assess the broader impacts of transitioning to renewables.

*** See: LCIPP Third Annual Gathering of Knowledge Holders -- Dialogue with Parties and other stakeholders | Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform.