Updated: Rail Transportation Education Center opening ceremony, Railroad Night to be Feb. 16

HOUGHTON -- The grand opening of the new CN Rail Transportation Education Center (CN RTEC) will be from 8:55 a.m. to 9:55 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 16, in Dillman Hall 315 and 316.

The event begins with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and short speeches by David Ferryman, vice president of Network System Engineering at CN; David Reed, vice president of Research at Michigan Tech; and Pasi Lautala, director of the Rail Transportation Program at Michigan Tech. A showcase of current and recent rail activities and light refreshments will be provided in the rooms after the ribbon cutting. Everyone is welcome to the opening ceremonies.

CN (Canadian National), one of the largest railroads in North America, recently donated $250,000 to Michigan Technological University's Rail Transportation Program to create the CN Rail Transportation Education Center (CN RTEC).

Update: Railroad Night to be Feb. 16

On Tuesday evening, Feb. 16, Michigan Tech's Rail Transportation Program will sponsor its 5th annual Railroad Night, at the North Shore Grill at the top of the Best Western Franklin Square Inn, Houghton. The keynote speaker will be Tony Hatch, a senior transportation analyst on Wall Street. A number of rail-related companies and sponsors of the Michigan Tech program will have displays. Railroad Night begins at 7 p.m., and Hatch is scheduled to speak at 9 p.m.

Keweenaw Krayons, Horizon School to host Mardi Gras celebration Feb. 16 in Mohawk

MOHAWK -- Keweenaw Krayons will hold its annual Mardi Gras celebration from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 16, at Horizons Alternative High School and Keweenaw Krayons Art Center, 110 Stanton Ave., Mohawk.

Directions: Coming from Calumet turn right on either 2nd or 3rd St. and go one block to Stanton (the school is between 2nd and 3rd).

The Mardi Gras Celebration features Cajun food -- including vegetarian options -- music, silent auction, art sales, mask making and more…

The menu consists of Gumbo (vegetarian and regular), Cajun salad, red beans and rice, corn bread and Keweenaw Krayons' famous berry sundaes.

From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. the talented duo of Heaven Hawkins and Tony Laux will play a mix of easy folk and indie. Jazz and Blues by Steve Loukus and John Snyder will follow from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Heaven Hawkins, right, and Tony Laux will perform a mix of easy folk and indie music at the Keweenaw Krayons - Horizon Alternative School Mardi Gras celebration Tuesday, Feb. 16, in Mohawk. (File photo by Keweenaw Now)

Tickets are $10 in advance and $20 at the door. Pre-schoolers eat free and family discounts are available. If you can’t make it, but want to support Keweenaw Krayons and Horizon's S.T.A.R.S., consider purchasing tickets for us to give away…

Tickets are available at the following places: Mohawk: the Mohawk Superette, Horizons Alternative High School, Keweenaw Krayons Art Center; Copper Harbor: the Gaslight General Store, the Mariner; Calumet: Vertin Gallery, Michigan House Café and BrewPub, 5th and Elm Coffee Shop; Hancock: The Lone Wolf Hair Den, 5th and Elm Coffee Shop; Houghton: Good Times Music, Cyberia Café.

If you cannot make it to one of these sites but know for sure you are coming, you can call Keweenaw Krayons at 337-4706 or email staff@keweenawkrayons.com and tickets will be put aside at the $10 price. For current information on the Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras event check out www.keweenawkrayons.com.

Yellow Dog Summer to hold Feb. 15 event supporting Rio Tinto Borax mine workers

MARQUETTE -- Yellow Dog Summer will hold an event at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 15, in the Chapel of Messiah Lutheran Church, located at 305 W. Magnetic St., Marquette, Mich., in support of the roughly 560 workers in the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 30 who were locked out of their jobs at Rio Tinto’s Borax mine in southern California on Jan. 31.

The event will feature informal speakers, a film showing and refreshments.

"With Rio Tinto trying to slip through the backdoor in our community, we must stand in solidarity with the Borax workers and demand that Rio Tinto finally make good on their claims to respect worker rights and labor laws wherever the company operates," said Yellow Dog Summer organizer Teresa Bertossi.

Read more on the Yellow Dog Summer Web site.

Ski for Heart to benefit Omega House, Swedetown Trails Feb. 13

The Swedetown Chalet will be the scene of Ski for Heart on Saturday, Feb. 13, to benefit Omega House Hospice and Swedetown Trails. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

CALUMET --Celebrate Valentine's Day this Saturday at Swedetown Trails in Calumet, by participating in Ski or Snowshoe for the Heart of our Community!

You can do something good for your heart and have fun at the same time on one of the best trail systems in the Midwest! It isn't a race; you challenge yourself to see how far you can go within five consecutive hours. The event benefits Omega House Hospice and Swedetown Trails.

The minimum donation is only $10, which includes the daily trail pass ($8) and food. Registration is from 8:30 a.m. to noon and you can ski or snowshoe until 2 p.m. If you can't make it Saturday, you can ski another day this week providing you turn in your donation by Saturday. With a donation of $50 or more you will receive a stainless-steel-lined mug.

Click here for more details.

NOSOTROS student group collects $4,379.40 for Haiti

HOUGHTON -- NOSOTROS, Michigan Tech's Hispanic students' organization, would like to thank everybody involved in making their Haiti fund-raising campaign such a success. Between the Wells Fargo donations, money collection at the MUB and the two pasta dinners held at Canterbury House, they were able to collect US$4,379.40 between Jan. 15 and Jan. 26. The funds were sent to the Red Cross last week.

Their fund-raising efforts were a response to the terrible earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010.

For a detailed report of all donations and transactions, visit the NOSOTROS Web page: http://nosotros.students.mtu.edu/ and click on "Haiti Earthquake Relief."

Rozsa Center to host musical comedy set in 80s Feb. 17

HOUGHTON -- The Wedding Singer is bringing back the 80s when it dances into the Rozsa Center at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 17. This musical comedy will take audiences back to a time when pastel was in, hair was big and the wedding singer was the coolest guy in the room!

Scene from The Wedding Singer. (Photo courtesy Rozsa Center)

Based on the hit film starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, The Wedding Singer is crammed with 80s pop-culture and songs that have a familiar sound to Bon Jovi and Heart. Wannabe rock star Robbie Hart makes his living as New Jersey’s favorite wedding singer until he is left at the altar. Broken-hearted, Robbie takes out his bitterness on stage at everyone’s weddings. Every wedding he plays is a disaster until a charming waitress named Julia captures his affections. The only trouble is, Julia is engaged to a successful Wall Street broker and, unless Robbie can pull off the performance of his lifetime, the girl of his dreams will be gone forever. Can he win her heart before she says "I Do" or will it be too late?

Starring in the lead roles of Robbie Hart and Julia are real life husband and wife J. Michael Zygo and Jillian Zygo. J. Michael Zygo has performed on previous national tours as Rooster in Annie and as Will Parker on the first national tour of Oklahoma! Other roles that he has performed include Jamie in The Last Five Years, Jerry and Malcolm in The Full Monty, Chad in All Shook Up, Emcee in Cabaret and Monty in Violet. Michael is also a singer/songwriter and has two full studio albums of country music with his band Zygo and The Deuce.

Jillian Zygo has performed with PEG on the national tour of Beehive the 60s Musical, Fanny Brice (Funny Girl AriZoni Award Best Actress), Georgie in The Full Monty and Nancy (Oliver). Her tour/regional credits include Ado Annie (Oklahoma! First National), Annie Oakley (Annie Get Your Gun), Kathy (The Last Five Years),Violet (Violet) and Ginger ( I Love A Piano national tour).

The Wedding Singer is produced by Prather Entertainment Group, owned and managed by Will Prather with show direction by M. Seth Reines, choreography by Amy Marie McCleary, Musical Directing by JR McAlexander and lighting design by Russell Thompson.

Don’t miss this chance to see the musical Newsday called "One Big Party! A good natured, high-energy musical." Put on your legwarmers and head over to the Rozsa Center to see The Wedding Singer on Wednesday, Feb. 17.

Sponsored by the Student Entertainment Board (SEB) and the James and Margaret Black Endowment.

Ticket prices for the general public are $25 and $20; Michigan Tech student prices are $20 and $15 (MTU student ID required). To purchase tickets contact the Rozsa Box Office at 487-3200, The Central Ticket Office (SDC) at 487-2073, Tech Express (MUB) at 487-3308 or go online at tickets.mtu.edu. No refunds, exchanges or late seating, please.

Nordic Film Series to feature Finnish film by Kaurismäki Feb. 11

HANCOCK -- As part of its Nordic Film Series, the Finlandia University Finnish American Heritage Center, Hancock, will show the Finnish film Juha at 2 p.m. and at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11.

Juha is a 1999 Finnish film written and directed by well-known Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki. It is based on a famous 1911 novel by the Finnish author Juhani Aho.

Although the original story takes place in the 18th century, Kaurismäki’s remake is set in the 1970s. It tells the story of a simple peasant woman, Marja, who leaves her husband after falling in love with a modern city slicker who lures her to the big city.

However, Marja’s dream quickly becomes a nightmare when she is enslaved.

The film is in the Finnish language with English language sub-titles.

There is no charge to attend the film, but donations are accepted.

For additional information, call 906-487-7549. The Finnish American Heritage Center is located at 435 Quincy St., Hancock.

Black History Month continues with exhibit, presentation this week at Michigan Tech

HOUGHTON -- Black History Month celebrations continue this week, Feb. 8-12, at Michigan Tech with a Black Inventors and Entrepreneurs Exhibit at the J.R. Van Pelt and Opie Library. See the various inventions and businesses of legendary minorities throughout history.

A Food for the Soul Brown Bag Lunch at Noon on Wednesday, Feb. 10, will feature a presentation, "Beyond Color: Cultural Identity and Shared Experiences," by Thy Yang, director of Michigan Tech's International Programs and Services. The presentation will be in the Memorial Union Building (MUB) Alumni Lounge. These presentations are free and open to the public.

Public Hearing on Kennecott's Woodland Road to be Feb. 10

MARQUETTE -- The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) will hold a Public Hearing for Kennecott’s Woodland Road, the proposed 22-mile haul "highway," at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Westwood High School. The proposed project area covers over 184,000 acres of land.

Visit Save the Wild UP to read more. Click here for the MDEQ Public Hearing posting.

Heikinpäivä 2010: Hancock celebrates mid-winter

The bears that "roll over" in mid-winter lead the 2010 Heikinpäivä Parade on Quincy Street in Hancock on Saturday, Jan. 30. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

By Michele Bourdieu

HANCOCK -- Heikinpäivä 2010 attracted good crowds and what appeared to be a record number of Polar Bear divers. No less than 128 of them leaped into the icy water of the Portage Canal near Hancock's Ramada Inn.

This year's Heikinpäivä Polar Bear Dive attracted 128 intrepid divers and a crowd of spectators. (Video clips by Keweenaw Now)

The air temperature rose a few degrees into the double digits (maybe 13 degrees F) so Parade watchers didn't freeze quite so fast as in previous years.

Presiding over the Parade and other Heikinpäivä festivities was this year's Hankooki Heikki award winner, Melvin Kangas, a Suomi College graduate and a faculty member at the school for more than four decades.

Presiding over the 2010 Heikinpäivä festival, Melvin Kangas as Hankooki Heikki, dressed in his royal garb, rides in the reindeer sleigh during the parade.

After attending Suomi, Kangas received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan in music composition and won a Finlandia Foundation scholarship to attend Sibelius Academy in Finland, where he studied under Ulla Katajavuori, Finland’s foremost kantele player.

After many years as music director at Suomi College/ Finlandia University, Kangas now serves as adjunct associate professor of music, providing instruction on the kantele, the Finnish national instrument. Dozens of students through the years have benefited from his tutelage, not only in music but also in drama. Kangas has directed the Finlandia University fall play for many years, and several times he has opted for Finnish plays or productions (including some performed in the Finnish language) with distinct Finnish or Finnish-American themes.

In the Heikinpäivä Parade, Finnish Theme Committee representatives Debbie Kurtti, left, wearing a Finnish national costume and holding banner, and Glenn Tapio, far right, are followed by Barkell Elementary School second graders with their teacher Maija Stadius, behind banner.

Heikinpäivä is a Finnish-American festival created by the City of Hancock's Finnish Theme Committee, a group of community leaders charged with preserving Finnish heritage and utilizing Finnish themes for community development.

Hancock City Council members John Slivon, left, and Richard Freeman, second from left, and City Manager Glenn Anderson, second from right, participate in the Heikinpäivä Parade on Jan. 30, 2010.

State Rep. Mike Lahti (D-Hancock) was on hand for the parade and other festivities, accompanied by his granddaughter Ava Lahti, who was celebrating her fifth birthday. Mike joined other parade participants in tossing candy to children in the audience.

State Rep. Mike Lahti and his granddaughter Ava Lahti celebrate Ava's fifth birthday at the Heikinpäivä 2010 festival.

"This was an exceptional Heikinpäivä Parade," Lahti said. "I noticed the crowds are consistently larger. I almost ran out of candy!"

Following the parade, another favorite event, the Wife-carrying competition, provided entertainment for the crowd and challenges for the participants, who had to perform a series of traditional Finnish "skills" on the way to the "Finnish" line.

The Wife-carrying contestants first had to shake a typical Finnish rug to show their housekeeping skills. For some reason, only the "wives" chose to (?) perform this task.

Contestants Diane Miller of Houghton and Mark Janeczko of Harrison, Mich., fulfill the second Finnish "skill" in the Wife-carrying competition -- the sauna. Miller and Janeczko ended up winning the competition with a time of 33 seconds. At right, a young visitor enjoys a ride on a Finnish kicksled.

Contestants Christine Randell, left, wearing a Karelian folk costume, and her husband, Kent Randell (Finnish American Heritage Center archivist), wearing a Saami gakti, join "Champion Wife-Carrier" Glen Johnson and Kris Kyro Johnson, far right, for the third Finnish custom, a stop for coffee and gossip. Glen and Kris were the judges for the wife-carrying event.

No lingering at the café! Couldn't tell what the "wife" was yelling here, for lack of translation, but she managed to stay on hubby's back through the "Finnish" line.

While adults enjoyed outdoor competitions, kids had fun on the whipsled (Vipukelkka). In the background, parents and kids learn about the visiting reindeer.

The Tori, or market, has grown over the years and now has two locations -- the Finnish American Heritage Center and Hancock's First United Methodist Church. Community members sell and demonstrate handicrafts and sell food items while local musicians entertain.

Phyllis Fredendall, fiber artist and associate professor at Finlandia's International School of Art and Design, demonstrates weaving techniques at the Tori (market) in the First United Methodist Church.

Sandy Soring chats with a customer about her baskets during the Tori (market) in the Finnish American Heritage Center.

Jim Kurtti, Finnish American Heritage Center director, said visitors have a strong preference for Finnish items such as mojakka (stew) and karjalan piirakka (a Karelian "pasty," a rye crust with a rice porridge filling, topped with egg butter).

"At the Finnish Theme Committee's booth, the mojakka was sold out before 1 p.m.," Kurtti noted.

Meghan Pachmayer, left, and Anna Leppanen sell Finnish pastries at the Tori in the First United Methodist Church.

Items from Finland are also popular, Kurtti added. Finnish singer Tanja Stanaway successfully sold Finnish chocolate, coffee, licorice and pearl sugar.

At both Tori locations musicians, singers and dancers entertained most of the day.

The Finn Woods Ramblers play a popular schottische, "Osa Poika, Onni Poika" (The Lucky Boy), sung by Oren Tikkanen, left. Musicians also include, from left, Eleanor Taylor on accordion, Matt Durocher (behind Eleanor) on fretless bass guitar, Randy Seppala and Gail Braden on bones. Braden, who learned to play bones from the late Johnnie Perona and from Seppala, won the World Bones Championship in Ireland a few years ago.

Under the direction of Kay Seppala, the Kivajat dancers perform a Finnish folk dance. Kivajat traveled to Finland last summer to perform.

Dave Bezotte, at the keyboard, sings a French tune, accompanied by Oren Tikkanen, left, and Matt Durocher.

See more photos of Heikinpäivä 2010 in our slide show, above, right column.

First Friday in Calumet offers art exhibits, music, benefit for Haiti

CALUMET -- First Friday in Calumet offers a variety of art exhibits and events as well as musical entertainment on Feb. 5.

Copper Country Associated Artists: Sketching with Clyde Mikkola

The First Friday Feature of the Copper Country Associated Artists Gallery (CCAA) on Friday, Feb. 5, will be sketching with member Clyde Mikkola.

The emphasis will be that drawing is learning to see with a pencil. This poses an interesting sketching question: Does the eye need the pencil or does the pencil need the eye? The instruction will be individualized and adapted to students' learning styles.

Mikkola graduated from the University of Michigan in 1976 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in painting. In school and afterwards he did much exploring and experimenting, trying a great variety of media and styles. In addition to creating his work, he has been teaching for many years in the Copper Country.

"Much to my surprise, I found depicting and interpreting the people and world around me to be the most fun," Mikkola says, "giving me the greatest challenge and satisfaction."

First Friday CCAA demonstrations are an opportunity to introduce visitors to a variety of arts and fine craft techniques by some of the area’s most talented practitioners.

The CCAA Gallery is located at 112 Fifth Street in Calumet. Winter Gallery hours are Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. First Fridays, the Gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information about the CCAA call 906-337-1252 or visit their web site at ccaartists.org.

Vertin Gallery: Stephanie Trevino

The February exhibit at the Vertin Gallery, "Dolls and Dress Up by Stephanie Trevino," opens with a reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5. The exhibit continues through March 3, 2010.

Stephanie Trevino is a self-taught photographer and studio arts student at Finlandia University. She shoots film and digital, though recently most of her work has been film-based, using an array of plastic, vintage and homemade pinhole cameras. She has lived in the Copper Country off and on all her life and currently resides in Hubbell, Mich.

The reception is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. The Vertin Gallery's winter hours are Mon. - Sat., 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Miskwabik Ed Gray Gallery

An opening reception for the "Miniature Show" will be held from 6:30 - 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, at the Miskwabik Ed Gray Gallery, 109 Fifth St. in Calumet.

This is an all-media, juried open show.

Music by John Munson at Café After Hours

After the Gallery exhibits stop in at the Conglomerate Café, 104 Fifth St., to hear music by John Munson at the piano from 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. -- a new Friday feature. Wine, beer and tasty treats are available. The Conglomerate Café is open from 7 p.m. to midnight on Fridays.

Calumet Art Center benefit for Haiti

Remember to stop in at the Calumet Art Center Friday, Feb. 5, for music and art to benefit disaster relief efforts in Haiti. Click here for our previous article.

Finlandia's Reflection Gallery to host group exhibit Feb. 4-Mar. 2

An illustration by Rachel Reidenga from her book Welcome to My Kingdom. Reidenga hopes that those who view her illustrations will be transported back to the world of their own childhood fantasy adventures and boundless dreams. (Photos courtesy Finlandia University)

HANCOCK -- The work of four Finlandia University International School of Art and Design students is featured at Finlandia’s Reflection Gallery Feb. 4 to Mar. 2, 2010.

An opening reception and artist talks will take place from Noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at Finlandia's Reflection Gallery, located in the Jutila Center. The reception is open to the public and all are welcome.

The group exhibit features book illustrations by Josh Jaehnig and Rachel Reidenga and photographs and paintings -- in an exhibit titled "But There is So Much to Climb!" -- by Sarah Anderson and Stephanie Trevino.

An illustration by Josh Jaehnig from his book Concerto No. 23. Jaehnig’s illustrations are partly created using a watercolor press technique -- painting on a hard surface and then pressing paper onto that surface.

Junior illustration major Josh Jaehnig is showing his illustrations for Concerto No. 23, a book about failing to appreciate the things that you have, almost to the point of not realizing they exist. Jaehnig explains that the book tells the story of a man who spends so much time practicing his own ways that he loses himself. In order to find himself again, the man must travel to the point of no return to discover everything that has been lost or missing.

Rachel Reidenga is a junior studying illustration at Finlandia. The Reflection Gallery exhibit features illustrations from her children’s book Welcome to my Kingdom, whose pages are full of colorful and playful skewed perspectives in ink and watercolor. The colorful images of the characters and landscapes in Reidenga’s book highlight the amazing ability of watercolor to create everything from the rigidity of rocks to the fluidity of water.

Reidenga describes her love for watercolor as, "a passion which resides in my ability to be precise yet spontaneous with the medium."

Senior illustration major Sarah Anderson and junior studio arts major Stephanie Trevino will show an exhibit they’ve titled, "But There is So Much to Climb!"

Photography by Stephanie Trevino, who is collaborating with senior illustration major Sarah Anderson in an exhibit titled, "But There is So Much to Climb!"

Anderson says the collaborative work is centered around a particular event, explaining that, "in our minds, events become polished and it is impossible for us to exactly re-live them. Some details are clear. Some are preserved in photographs and objects associated with the event. Some are only the memories of one person until their recollection is retold. The rest we make up a bit, we polish it, exaggerate and become nostalgic about it -- until finally, one day, that 4th of July evening, for example, becomes greater than it ever was. It becomes our very own epic tale."

In the exhibit, the women’s epic tale is retold through Anderson’s illustrations and Trevino’s photographs.

The Reflection Gallery is located on the second level of the Finlandia University Jutila Center campus. For additional information, contact Yueh-mei Cheng, associate professor of studio arts, at 906-487-7375 or yueh-mei.cheng@finlandia.edu.

Kerredge Gallery February exhibit to feature work by Denise Vandeville

HANCOCK -- The February exhibit in the Community Arts Center’s Kerredge Gallery is "Dignity, an installation in clay, metal, wood and rock" by Denise Vandeville, dean of Finlandia University's International School of Art and Design.

Denise Vandeville, dean of Finlandia University's International School of Art and Design, is exhibiting her work in the Kerredge Gallery of the Community Arts Center in Hancock through February 27. Here she is pictured at a 2009 Finlandia Faculty Exhibit in the Finnish American Heritage Center. (File photo by Keweenaw Now)

Vandeville received her Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics from The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Finlandia University. She was invited to Oxford University, England, in July 2008, to present her research on fractal geometry and aesthetic preference.

The public is invited to a Reception and Gallery Talk from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4. The exhibit continues through Feb. 27. The Community Arts Center is located at 126 Quincy Street in Hancock. For more information call (906) 482-2333.

Gospel music kicks off Black History Month at Michigan Tech

HOUGHTON -- Black History Month began on Feb. 1 with a kick-off event of gospel music at Michigan Tech, featuring the visiting Riverside University High School Gospel Choir from Milwaukee and Tech's own Praise in Effect Gospel Choir.

Diante M. Harris leads the Riverside University High School Gospel Choir in a concert held Feb. 1 in Michigan Tech's Memorial Union Ballroom. The group took a bus from Milwaukee to Houghton in order to join Michigan Tech's Praise in Effect Gospel Choir in a kick-off event for Black History Month. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Under the leadership and direction of Diante M. Harris, the energetic young singers from Milwaukee performed several gospel hymns as guests of the university and enjoyed a tour of the campus during their visit.

The Riverside University High School Gospel Choir, combined with its serious passion for singing Gospel Music, believes in speaking to spiritual and physical needs throughout their community and abroad. Through song, the choir works together to share a message of hope, outreach and service. The group also recently released their first CD, "God's Got It."

Michigan Tech's month-long 2010 Black History Month Celebration will include weekly lecture presentations; a library exhibit of Black Inventors and Entrepreneurs; an Open Mic Coffee House; the film Amazing Grace; a comedy show; discussions; and -- at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 22 -- An Evening with author Jabari Asim, author of The N Word and What Obama Means.

The celebration will conclude on Sunday, Feb. 28, with African Night: An African dinner will be served at 5 p.m. in the MUB Ballroom, to be followed, at 7 p.m. in the Rozsa, by an African Night Performance -- Africa: The Story from Within, featuring the Hayor Bibimma Dance Company and sponsored by the Michigan Tech African Students Organization.

Kevin J. Walker, Michigan Tech African-American Outreach coordinator, will offer a photo presentation, "Dispelling the Myths of Detroit," at Noon today, Wednesday, Feb. 3 in the MUB Alumni Lounge. This is the first in a series of Food for the Soul / Brown Bag Lunches being offered at Noon on Wednesdays this month.

Watch for more updates on the Black History Month events. Click here for the schedule.

Calumet Art Center to host Fundraiser for Haitian Disaster Relief Feb. 5

CALUMET -- The Calumet Art Center will host a special First Friday in Calumet Fundraiser for Haitian Disaster Relief from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5.

In partnership with the American Red Cross and the Copper Country Associated Artists, the Center invites the public to enjoy musical entertainment by Dave Morehouse and artist demonstrations.

Musician Dave Morehouse, pictured here during the November 2009 exhibit at the Ed Gray Gallery, will provide musical entertainment at the Calumet Art Center's Fundraiser for Haitian Disaster Relief from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5. (File photo by Keweenaw Now)

All proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross Haitian Disaster Relief Efforts. If you cannot attend but would like to donate, please send a check, payable to the American Red Cross, to Calumet Art Center, P.O. Box 7, Calumet, MI 49913.

The Calumet Art Center is at 57055 Fifth St., Calumet. Call 906-281-3494 for more information.

Video: Protect Salmon Trout River, Coaster Brook Trout, water resources from sulfide mining

MARQUETTE -- MiWater.org recently posted a video, "There Is No Pure Michigan Without Pure Water," featuring the Salmon Trout River and its Coaster Brook Trout, which will be in danger of acid mine drainage pollution from the potential Eagle Project sulfide mine on the Yellow Dog Plains near Marquette.

Check out this video for some convincing visual and verbal arguments for protecting this scenic recreation and wilderness area. Speaking on the video are Cynthia Pryor, Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve Sulfide Mining Campaign director; Casey Huckins, associate professor in Biological Sciences at Michigan Tech University; and Michelle Halley, National Wildlife Federation attorney.

In addition to great shots of the river, Coaster Brook Trout, wetlands and forest, the You Tube video, just under 10 minutes long, includes maps showing the many areas in the Upper Peninsula now under exploration for mining as well as an explanation of the purpose of the proposed Michigan ballot initiative -- not meant to ban mining but to require mining companies to prove they have done this sort of mining safely in the past and to provide a buffer around surface water.

Click here to watch the video on You Tube.

State Rep. Mike Lahti receives Legislator of the Year award

LANSING -- The Michigan Township Association (MTA) awarded State Representative Mike Lahti (D-Hancock) their 2009 Legislator of the Year award at the 56th Annual Educational Conference and Expo at the DeVos Center, in Grand Rapids. Rep. Lahti received the award in front of over a thousand township officials, legislators, vendors and guests at the Association’s Annual Banquet on Thursday, Jan. 28.

In 2006, Lahti was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives. He represents the 110th House District, which is located in the Western Upper Peninsula (Powell Township in Marquette, Keweenaw, Houghton, Ontonagon, Gogebic, Iron and Baraga counties). Lahti is a member of the Appropriations Committee, where he is Chair of the Natural Resources Subcommittee. He also sits on the Corrections Subcommittee, General Government Subcommittee and Joint Capital Outlay Subcommittees of the Appropriations Committee.

"Since coming to Lansing, Rep. Lahti’s priorities have included creating good-paying jobs for Michigan workers, expanding educational opportunities for all residents and protecting the Great Lakes and Michigan’s natural resources," said David Bertam, a Legislative Liaison/Team Leader for MTA. "These factors made Lahti a natural choice for our 2009 Legislator of the Year award."

Raised in Hancock, Mike is married to Sharon, also of Hancock. They have six children and nine grandchildren.

Sons of Norway Barneløpet Ski Race to be Feb. 7 at Maasto Hiihto Trails

HANCOCK -- The Sons of Norway Ulseth Lodge 5-670 invites area youth and their families to the 3rd annual Barneløpet* Cross-Country Ski Race from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010, at the Maasto Hiihto cross-country ski trails, Hancock.

Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club (KNSC) and Sons of Norway representatives participate in the recent Heikinpäivä Parade, with banners announcing the coming Barneløpet, or "children's race" for youth and their families, to be held at the Maasto Hiihto ski trails on Sunday, Feb. 7. Carrying the KNSC banner in the foreground are Jay Green, left, and Sandy Aronson. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

The Barneløpet, a Norwegian word meaning "the children’s race," is open to youth ages three through 17 and their families. The event is sponsored by Sons of Norway, Portage Health, the City of Hancock and the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club (KNSC).

The non-competitive family ski race is free this year, with a suggested free-will donation of $3.00 per skier or $5.00 per family. Registration begins at 1 p.m. at the ski chalet. Ski start times are from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Parents are encouraged to ski with their children if they wish.

"This is a special day for youth and their families to spend some time skiing and having fun together," says Wayne Stordahl, president of the local chapter of Sons of Norway. "Cross-country skiing is a popular family activity in Norway and we want to encourage that here, too."

Stordahl adds that a second reason for hosting the Barneløpet is to spotlight the great cross-country trails in Hancock. He says that the KNSC maintains and grooms over 26 kilometers of "striding" ski trails, with financial assistance from the City of Hancock.

Skiers head for the finish line during the 2009 Annual Barneløpet Cross Country Ski Race at Maasto Hiihto Trails in Hancock. Click here for our slide show of last year's Barneløpet.

The KNSC will groom four courses for the event. Relatively easy one-, two-, and four-kilometer courses will be open, as well as a more difficult six-kilometer course, which descends into the gorge and follows the stream. Skiers can "stride" any of the four courses, and a large time clock will be running for those who wish to time themselves.

All youth who finish their course will be awarded a colorful Norwegian Olympic-style enameled medallion. Skiers will also be treated to cookies and hot chocolate or coffee.

A Barneløpet registration form can be downloaded at www.keweenawtrails.com/events.html.

For additional information, contact Wayne Stordahl at 906-482-0292.

Visit www.nlc-calumet.org/SON for more information about the local chapter of Sons of Norway.

Sons of Norway is an international organization promoting Norwegian traditions, fraternal fellowship and cultural learning in the United States, Canada and Norway. Local Sons of Norway lodge activities may include language camps, scholarships, handcrafts, cooking and cultural classes, heritage and sports awards programs, travel opportunities and the monthly Viking magazine. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., Sons of Norway was founded in 1895.

*Pronunciation guide: Barneløpet = bar NEE lop it

Heikinpäivä to celebrate mid-winter Jan. 29-30

By Michele Bourdieu


Kay Seppala reigns as 2009 "Hankooki Heikki," riding in the reindeer sleigh during last year's Heikinpäivä Parade. Click on photos for larger versions. (2009 Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HANCOCK -- Heikinpäivä, Hancock's mid-winter festival, will offer events the whole family this weekend, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 29-30.

Melvin Kangas is the 2010 festival's "Hankooki Heikki," who will preside over the festivities, wearing the crown and robe that come with the honor. Each year, the Finnish Theme Committee selects, as "Hankooki Heikki," one person whose work toward preserving and promoting Finnish culture in the area goes above and beyond "normal" efforts.

Longtime Finlandia University (Suomi College) music professor and theater director Melvin Kangas' contributions to Copper Country Finnish-American culture aren't limited to the campus. A master kantele player, he has performed at countless weddings, funerals and other events. Many of the plays he's directed have had a Finnish connection, including his most recent production, which he translated from the original Finnish.

Pictured here with her husband, Hal Seppälä, 2009 Hankooki Heikki Kay Seppälä is most recognized for her efforts leading the youth dance group Kivajat. Kay also offers kantele lessons and has taught dance for adults with her husband, Hal. The Kivajat traveled to Finland in the summer of 2009.

Here's the schedule for this weekend:

Friday, Jan. 29
6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. -- Club Finndigo, all-Finnish dinner/movie featuring Mother of Mine, a story about a boy shunted from a Finnish home to one in Sweden during the war with Russia. Calumet Theater. Dinner and film - $16; Movie only: $5. For information, call (906) 337-2166.

6 p.m. -- Tango Lessons by Ralph Tuttila, Range Lounge, South Range, Mich.

7:30 p.m. -- Karhun Tanssi - The Bear Dance - old style Finnish ballroom dancing, featuring Finn Hall Band, Range Lounge, South Range, Mich.

Saturday Jan. 30
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. -- Tori Market, Finnish American Heritage Center and First United Methodist Church. Featuring ethnic crafts, foods and Finnish items. There will be live music throughout the day at both sites. Click here for the music schedule and details.

The Tori Market in Hancock's First United Methodist Church offers ethnic food, including a tempting array of Finnish goodies.

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Family Fun Day -- Vipukelkka - Whipsled, Hancock Middle School lawn.

The Vipukelkka -- Whipsled -- is a favorite Finnish tradition for kids.

Demonstrations (dog sleds, kicksleds, etc.)

11 a.m. Parade, downtown Hancock. Line up at BRIDGE School at 10:30 a.m. Prizes.

Barkell Elementary second graders, proudly wearing Finnish hats with Hancock colors, march in the 2009 Heikinpäivä parade.

Immediately following parade -- Boot-throwing and Wife-carrying contests, Hancock Middle School lawn. Prizes.

The Wife-carrying competition is a great Finnish tradition.

1 p.m. -- Himmeli-making workshop with Ernst Hensersky, Finnish American Heritage Center archive reading room, Hancock. $10 registration. To register, call (906) 487-7505.

2:30 p.m. -- Bones workshop, First United Methodist Church, Hancock. $2 fee. Bones provided. To register, call (906) 487-7505

3 p.m. -- Polar Bear Dive, Hancock waterfront, near Ramada Inn.

The Polar Bear Dive is always a crowd-pleaser. As for the participants ...Brrr! (File videoclip by Keweenaw Now)

6 p.m. -- Seisovapöytä (Finnish buffet), tickets $16 each, Finlandia Hall, Finlandia University. Silent auction during the banquet.

8 p.m. -- Tanssit (Dance), Finlandia Hall. Pasi Cats to perform. Dance-only tickets: $5.

For more information about Heikinpäivä, visit their Web site.

International Food Booth begins Jan. 29 at Michigan Tech: first lunch proceeds go to Haitian relief

HOUGHTON -- Khana Khazana (Hindi for Food Treasure) will be an international food booth at lunchtime in the Memorial Union Commons, beginning Friday, Jan. 29. The project was proposed by international students Sahil Thakkar and Safayat Alam and enthusiastically adopted by Eric Karvonen, executive chef, and Matt Lean, associate director of retail dining for Dining Services. Student chefs from various countries will cook, and every Friday the booth will offer a different international menu.

A full meal, including drink, will cost $6. Dishes will also be available a la carte. All proceeds beyond expenses for the first (Jan. 29) lunch -- approximately $3 per plate -- will be donated to Haitian relief, according to Lean.

Some of the international meals will focus on a single ethnic cuisine. Others will combine foods from various countries.

"Eating is an adventure, and more and more people want to eat more diverse foods," said Karvonen. He said he believes Michigan Tech is one of the first universities to offer a regular ethnic menu in its main campus dining facility, cooked by students from the countries represented.

The third International Food Festival in November was such a success, followed by an international food tasting in the Memorial Union in early December, that "this is the next logical step," said Bob Wenc, Michigan Tech International Club advisor from International Programs and Services.

"There are limited opportunities to eat authentic ethnic food in the Houghton area, and people are hungry for this," said Thakkar, publicity chair of the International Club and an enthusiastic Indian cook.

An undergraduate in electrical engineering technology from India, Thakkar will cook the first Khana Khazana meal: egg bhurji, featuring eggs, onions, tomatoes and spices, served with bread; mixed spice veggie pulav with vegetables and rice; Sahil's fruit salad, which includes mangoes, apples, bananas and blueberries; and chai (Indian spiced tea). Other international students will cook on subsequent Fridays. Dining Services hopes to see students cooking ethnic specialties from all over the world.

"The success of Khana Khazana all depends on the students," said Lean, "If they become excited and involved, they will support the booth; and I believe others will too, from Michigan Tech and the surrounding community."

Khana Khazana and other food services at Michigan Tech are open to the public as well as the campus community.

Stupak issues statement supporting President Obama's State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) released an audio statement in response to President Obama’s State of the Union address on Wednesday, Jan. 27.

Stupak praised President Obama for the "serious tone" of the speech at a time when the country is facing serious problems. Listen to the speech at this link:
http://www.house.gov/list/hearing/mi01_stupak/20100127sotu.mp3

North Woods Conservancy purchases Conglomerate Falls property

By Michele Bourdieu

CALUMET -- After years of inquiry and negotiation, the North Woods Conservancy (NWC) was finally able to purchase, in August 2009, forty acres of big trees and a quarter mile of the Gratiot River, including the spectacular Conglomerate Falls.

Photographer Eric Munch recently captured this glimpse of the fishing hole under the snow at the bottom of Conglomerate Falls. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photo Copyright Eric Munch 2010. Reprinted with permission.)

"It really is breathtaking," said NWC President John Griffith, "a fly-fishing paradise."

John Griffith said NWC is grateful to the sellers, Dr. and Mrs. Brumm, for ensuring that this property was conveyed into public access ownership rather than being split into river-front lots.

Bill Deephouse, former president of the Copper Country Chapter of Trout Unlimited (CCCTU), is excited about this fishing spot being preserved for the public.

"It's a place that I've known since the spring of 1960 when, as a freshman at Michigan Tech, I was introduced to steelhead fishing," Deephouse said. "It's great that public access to the river will be maintained in perpetuity."

The property also includes a cabin, which is destined to accommodate visitors.

The cozy cabin on the Conglomerate Falls property will be available for rent in May 2010. To cover the down payment for this land purchase, North Woods Conservancy is seeking 30 donors of $1000, each of whom will be awarded a week-long stay at the cabin. (Photo Copyright Eric Munch 2010)

"The sellers have given us a year to raise the $30,000 down payment, so we’re seeking thirty $1,000 donors, each of whom will get a week-long stay at the cabin," John Griffith explained.

The names of all 30 donors will be engraved on a plaque and displayed at the cabin. To reserve your week please contact NWC at the link below.* Reservations can be made for 2010-2012 beginning May 14-21, 2010. Deer hunters take note: cabin renters have exclusive bow and crossbow hunting rights on the Conglomerate Falls property.

"You can get in here 365 days a year," said NWC Board member Jane Griffith. "In winter you have to ski or snowshoe. In the summer you can drive close to the river, but you need to climb up and down a steep bank -- or take the walking path to the river."

Another view of the Gratiot River at Conglomerate Falls -- a favorite fishing spot, not far from Ahmeek in Keweenaw County. North Woods Conservancy recently purchased 40 acres of big trees with a quarter mile of the Gratiot River, including the Falls. (Photo Copyright Eric Munch 2010)

NWC would like to increase their membership from the present 250 to 2,000 in order to finance this new land acquisition and help pay for Gratiot River North, which has been added to Keweenaw County's Gratiot River Park for public access.

"We'd like all NWC members to renew at the $25 or $100 level," Jane Griffith said, "and also for each member to get at least one new member at the $25 level. Our goal is 2,000 members in the next two years!"

Eventually, membership could be used as a match for grants, once the bills are paid, Jane Griffith explained.

*Contact NWC at the address or email listed on their updated Web site.

For more information about Conglomerate Falls and North Woods Conservancy's recent work in conserving Keweenaw land for public access, see their latest newsletter.

NWF, KBIC challenge DEQ decision on sulfide mine permits

MARQUETTE, BARAGA -- Both the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) recently issued strong statements opposing the Jan. 14, 2010, decision by the former Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to allow permits to Rio Tinto / Kennecott for their proposed metallic sulfide mine on the Yellow Dog Plains near Marquette.*

"The mining plan is unsafe, and the DEQ’s decision to let it proceed is flawed, illegal and goes against the interests of the people of Michigan," said Michelle Halley, an attorney representing the National Wildlife Federation. "We will challenge this decision to protect Michigan from this dangerous form of mining that has proven to be unsafe to people, communities and wildlife in other states."

Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Council President Warren "Chris" Swartz and Secretary Susan J. LaFernier issued a statement expressing their disappointment with the decision in which the MDEQ ignores issues that "will be to the ultimate detriment of the waters and natural resources of (their) Tribe’s Ceded Territory and the Upper Peninsula."

The Eagle Mine would be adjacent to the Salmon Trout River -- one of the last mainland U.S. rivers used as spawning grounds by the Coaster Brook Trout.

The Salmon Trout River is near the site of the proposed Eagle Mine. (Photo © and courtesy Save the Wild UP.)

"We are extremely disappointed with the Final Decision of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality approving the issuance of the Mining Permit and the Ground Water Discharge Permit to Kennecott for the proposed Eagle Project sulfide copper/nickel mine in the Yellow Dog Plains," the KBIC officers' statement says. "It is simply impossible to understand how the MDEQ approved these permits without addressing even 'one' of the hundreds of environmental problems with the proposed mine that have been identified by the Keweenaw Bay Community, the Natural Wildlife Federation, the Huron Mountain Club and the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve during the course of the contested case proceedings."

The decision to issue two permits for the Eagle Project mine also flies in the face of a recent decision by Administrative Law Judge Richard A. Patterson, who concluded that the grounds on which the mine would be constructed -- in particular Eagle Rock, where Rio Tinto / Kennecott had planned to put the entry to the mine -- is a sacred site to native people that should be protected.

On the other hand, the Jan. 14 MDEQ Press Release stated the following:

"The announcement today (Jan. 14, 2010) follows a decision by former DEQ Director Steven E. Chester to remand the PFD (Proposal For Decision) back to the Administrative Law Judge in November, 2009, and asked that clarification be provided on a recommendation that the permit contain a condition that requires avoidance of any direct impact to a land feature known as Eagle Rock. That recommendation was premised on the conclusion that Eagle Rock needed to be considered a place of worship under Michigan's mining law. However, that legal issue was not briefed by the parties in the contested case prior to the issuance of the PFD, nor did the Judge give further detail as to how that conclusion would apply to the DEQ's decision under Michigan's mining law."

According to Eartha Jane Melzer of the Michigan Messenger, the DEQ has decided Eagle Rock, despite the fact that it is sacred to the Anishinabe (Ojibwe) people, cannot be considered a place of worship under Michigan law because it is not a building.**

Eagle Rock, a sacred site for the Anishinabe (Ojibwe) people. (Keweenaw Now 2009 file photo)

The KBIC statement objects to the MDEQ's judgment on Eagle Rock and affirms they plan to appeal.

"The MDEQ’s decision that Eagle Rock is not a 'place' of worship after Administrative Law Judge Patterson recommended that provision be made to avoid direct impacts to Eagle Rock that may interfere with the religious practices thereon, also reveals that 'undermining' Native American religious practices and sacred places is also allowable by the state in order to protect the private interest of the mining companies. This determination is clearly contrary to the provisions of state law and we will appeal these decisions," state KBIC's Swartz and LaFernier.

The National Wildlife Federation criticized the timing of the decision, which was made before the administrative law judge had finished reviewing new information that the DEQ itself had requested to evaluate the risk the mine could pose to people and water quality. The decision comes days before the authority to decide on the mining permits would have been shifted to the newly appointed director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE).*

"Instead of leveling with the people of Michigan, the Granholm Administration has chosen to push a controversial decision forward without a full accounting," said Halley. "The result is a decision that short-changes the people, wildlife and economy of Michigan. We will appeal this decision and seek justice elsewhere."

In addition to NWF and KBIC, other groups opposed to the mine -- including the Huron Mountain Club and Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve -- also intend to appeal the decision, according to Halley.

"Any final decision on this mine and the fate of the Great Lakes is a long way off," said Cynthia Pryor of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, a local group opposing the mine. "We will fight this project, because it is unsafe and because the process has been perverted, for as long as we can."

The KBIC statement also asked that the public become involved by learning about sulfide mining and its impacts:

The KBIC officers continue, "We also find it hard to understand that, on the one hand, President Obama has allocated $475 million dollars to restore the Great Lakes and confront serious threats to these waters and that, on the other hand, the State has once again determined, by issuing the Mining Permit and the Groundwater Discharge Permit to Kennecott for the Eagle Project, that the discharge to the waters, as authorized by the Part 31 permit, will neither be injurious to the public health, safety, or welfare or to any uses protected by Part 31, nor will likely cause pollution, impairment, or destruction of natural resources, or the public trust therein. We urge you to try and find a sulfide acid mine that has not caused any of these environmental problems anywhere in the United States, even in states that have strict mining laws.

"You, however, can make a difference in protecting, restoring, and guarding our most precious natural resources and the gift of water -- Our Great Lakes. We ask that you continue to become involved and educate yourselves to find out all that you can about sulfide acid mining and the proposed mines for the Upper Peninsula especially the Eagle Project in the Yellow Dog Plains," the KBIC officers state.

According to NWF, the permits allow a controversial mining project to move forward that would fence off a documented indigenous sacred site and allow the discharge of pollutants to ground water and surface water. The mine would change the nature of the region from valuable wildlife habitat to an industrial park.

The Eagle Mine is the first mine in Michigan that aims to extract metals from sulfide ore bodies. This type of mining -- known as hard rock mining in the West -- often produces, as a byproduct, sulfuric acid that can prove deadly to rivers, streams, fish and wildlife for decades after closure of the mine.

Editor's Notes: * On Jan. 13, 2010, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm announced Rebecca A. Humphries as director of the new Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE), effective January 17, 2010. Created by Executive Order 2009-45, the DNRE will assume the powers and functions of the departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality, both of which are abolished by the executive order. Click here for the article on Michigan.gov.

** Read the article, "Controversial Kennecott mine permits OK’d at 11th hour," by Eartha Jane Melzer on the Michigan Messenger.

Documentary on Isle Royale Wolf-Moose study to air on PBS stations beginning Jan. 31

HOUGHTON -- Scientists have been studying the interdependence of wolves and moose at Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park for half a century. It is the longest continuous predator-prey study ever conducted. Anchored in the northwest depths of Lake Superior, Isle Royale is one of America’s last remaining wild places.

Filmmaker George Desort spent over four years exploring this wilderness island with wolf biologists Rolf Peterson and John Vucetich, as they attempted to make sense of the delicate balance between wolf, moose and climate.

Desort's documentary film, Fortunate Wilderness: the Wolf and Moose Study of Isle Royale, will air on WNMU Channel 13 Marquette at 9 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 31, and at 1 p.m., Monday, Feb. 1.

Michigan Tech helped sponsor the airing of this film on Public Broadcasting stations in Michigan and across the nation.

The film is also scheduled to air on KQED in San Francisco at 9 a.m. and noon on Friday, Feb. 5, and on Milwaukee Public Television at 9 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 21.

Lake Superior Mining News: Kennecott plans mines on sacred sites

MARQUETTE -- The Lake Superior Mining News recently posted three articles showing Rio Tinto / Kennecott's continued disregard of Native American sacred sites and of public safety in their copper and nickel mining projects, from Michigan to Arizona to Utah.

DEQ: Eagle Rock not a "place of worship"

In "Controversial Kennecott mine permits OK’d at 11th hour: Dept. rules that sacred rock is 'not a place of worship,'" Eartha Melzer of the Michigan Messenger, points out that the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), shortly before it was recently combined officially with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), used a Michigan definition of "place of worship" as a "building" in its Jan. 14, 2010, ruling to permit the Eagle Project, Rio Tinto / Kennecott's proposed nickel and copper mine on the Yellow Dog Plains near Marquette.

Based on this definition, the DEQ decided that Eagle Rock, located within the proposed mining site, need not be considered a place of worship for the purpose of their mining permits, despite the fact that it is held sacred by the Anishinabe (Ojibwe) people.

Click here to read the Jan. 14, 2010, article.

Rio Tinto / Kennecott plans Arizona copper mine on public land

Meanwhile, the same Rio Tinto plans to disregard Native American sacred sites in the Tonto National Forest and "make off with an astounding $140 billion in publicly-held
mineral rights, in Arizona, for what is expected to be North America’s largest copper mine." The project awaits an environmental review.

Click here to read this Dec. 17, 2009, article, "Rio Tinto Set to Make Off With $140 Billion in Public Mineral Wealth; Company and Plan Criticized."

Kennecott tailings site in Utah still a threat

Finally, Kennecott's company report on the danger of a massive 5,700 acre tailings impoundment, north of Magna, Utah, says the tailings dam may fail, but will not harm residential neighborhoods, even in the case of an earthquake. Read more.

Eric Hansen: Citizen action for conservation can make a difference

By Michele Bourdieu

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukeean Eric Hansen, an award-winning conservation and environment essayist, and author of Hiking Wisconsin and Hiking Michigan's Upper Peninsula -- A Guide to the Greatest Hiking Adventures in the U.P., was interviewed by WUWM, Milwaukee Public Radio, in December 2009, at the time of the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change.

Eric Hansen, award-winning author, hiker and conservationist. (Photo © 2009 Susan Ruggles. Reprinted with permission.)

In this interview, titled "Copenhagen, climate change and common sense conservation," Hansen spoke of several recent conservation and environmental victories by Wisconsin citizens, including their 27-year campaign, finally successful, against a metallic sulfide mine (the Crandon Mine).

Michigan opponents of Kennecott/Rio Tinto's proposed sulfide mine on the Yellow Dog Plains, recently given approval by the (now former) Michigan Department of Environmental Quality would do well to listen to Hansen's encouraging words: "When citizens organize and demand meaningful conservation action, governments move into motion."

Click here to listen to the interview with Eric Hansen on Milwaukee Public Radio's "Lake Effect" program.

The transcript of this interview can be found on the Madison Capital Times Web site.

Editor's Note: Eric Hansen spoke with Keweenaw Now's editor last August during the Protect the Earth Walk to Eagle Rock. Hansen has written articles pointing out the dangers that metallic sulfide mining poses to groundwater, streams and lakes in both Michigan and Wisconsin. See "Protect the Earth: Part 1" for his comments.

Hansen has a deep spiritual attachment to the Upper Peninsula. See Keweenaw Now's videoclip of Hansen reading his poem, "A Place Where Water Sparkles," at Eagle Rock in "Protect the Earth: Part 2, Walk to Eagle Rock."