"Jim Denomie: Recent Work" opens at Finlandia Gallery Feb. 7

HANCOCK – A reception for Minnesota Ojibwe artist Jim Denomie will take place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 7, at the Finlandia University Gallery in Hancock's Finnish American Heritage Center. "Jim Denomie: Recent Work" will be on display in the Gallery through March 19.

"Untitled" by Jim Denomie. Oil on canvas, 2005. (Photo courtesy Finlandia University)

Beginning at 7:30 p.m. Denomie, a member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe, will present a slide lecture about his work in the theatre adjacent to the gallery. The reception is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

This is Denomie’s second visit to Finlandia University. In 2004 he participated in a brief visiting artist program.

"Although I was raised in Minneapolis, I always went back to the reservation for summer and winter breaks and stayed with my grand parents," Denomie says. "I am still strongly connected to my reservation and other Indian communities in the area by my many friends and relatives."

"Untitled" by Jim Denomie. Oil on canvas, 2005. (Photo courtesy Finlandia University)

In 2005 Denomie embarked on a "Painting-a-Day" project, creating a painting every day of the year, resulting in over 430 small-scale works, of which approximately 300 are portraits. He calls the series "Rugged Indians"; and together the series reflects the powerful shifts of thought, emotion and events that mark daily life.

"During the Painting-a-Day project, I fell in love with portraiture but also tried a number of other ideas and subjects," says Denomie. "I will probably always do some portraits here and there, but I also intend to work on large canvases involving storytelling in the future. And I will always listen to new ideas that float my way and hopefully I will continue to evolve."

Artist Jim Denomie in his studio. (Photo courtesy Finlandia University)

These quick studies of the face, the portal into the expressive and complex nature of an individual, are usually completed within 15 to 30 minutes.

What can you express about an individual in such a short time? In a 2005 article for mnartists.org, "Finding the New Country in the Old," Lightsey Darst describes the power of Denomie’s brushwork.

"He does not try to create a perfect work of art; instead he lets himself play with the paint. He uses the colors already on the palette or adds new ones based on his mood. Daily surges of emotion affect the work, sometimes directly -- one day’s face is grinning, another sour, one yelling (after the Red Lake shooting) -- but more often indirectly: the faces evolve their own personalities, their own neutral but suggestive expressions, so that looking at many of the faces at once is like staring into a crowd of strangers."

Jim Denomie received a bachelor of fine arts from the University of Minnesota in 1995. His work has been widely exhibited, most recently in solo exhibits at the Bockley Gallery of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. His work is included in the permanent collections of the Westphalian Museum of Natural History in West Germany, the Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth, the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota and the Montana Museum of Art and Culture at the University of Montana.

The Finnish American Heritage Center is at 435 Quincy Street, Hancock. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., or by appointment. Please call 487-7500 for more information.

* For the text of this article, visit mnartists.org.

DNR to make recommendation on Kennecott mining lease Feb. 7

MARQUETTE -- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company (KEMC), which is seeking permits for a nickel and copper sulfide mine on the Yellow Dog Plains near Marquette, recently met to discuss the requested information on Kennecott's Land Use Lease and Mining and Reclamation Plan.

According to Tom Wellman of the DNR's Mineral and Land Management Section, "The DNR has issued a letter to Kennecott…whereby it will recommend an approval of an amended Mining and Reclamation Plan and Surface Use Lease to the Director (Rebecca Humphries) for the February 7, 2008, Natural Resources Commission Meeting."

According to Save the Wild UP, this is only a recommendation and no official action has been taken.

The Feb. 7 Natural Resources Commission Meeting will be held at the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, 4125 Beaumont Road, Lansing.

See the updated agenda for that meeting.

Michelle Halley of the National Wildlife Federation explains, "While DNR staff continue to recommend that Director Humphries approve KEMC's surface use lease request, we urge you to let her know that this policy decision is in her hands. Sacrificing public land as corporate welfare is not acceptable to Michiganders. Please, write or call Director Humphries and urge her to protect our public lands for public use!"

At the January 10, 2008, Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing, the Michigan DNR announced that it was delaying its decision on approving a surface use lease for 120 acres of public land for 35 years, requested by Kennecott for the proposed sulfide mine near Marquette. The MDNR decision is the second part of the State approvals required for the mining operations. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has already announced its approval of Kennecott’s permit to develop the sulfide mine. On December 21, 2007, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Huron Mountain Club and Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve announced they were filing a contested case petition and a lawsuit against MDEQ as the first step in a legal challenge to halt the mine.

See the Michigan DNR Web site for documents related to Kennecott's application for a surface use lease on state land.

You may express your views to DNR Director Rebecca Humphries at humphrir@michigan.gov.

Editor's Note: This information was received through Save the Wild UP. For more information and related news visit their Web site.

Ski for Heart fundraiser offers family fun Feb. 9; volunteers needed

CALUMET -- The annual "Ski For The Heart of Our Community" fundraiser, which includes cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Swedetown Ski Trails in Calumet.

Participants (from left) Jaqueline Mace, Mary Herlevich, and Joan Hosafros test their snowshoes as they get ready to rack up kilometers during the "Ski, or Snowshoe, For the Heart of Our Community" event to be held Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Swedetown Trails in Calumet. (Photo courtesy Lois Berg)

The money raised will benefit two local non-profits, Omega House and the Copper Island Cross Country Ski Club.

Omega House funds will continue to provide much needed hospice care to local residents, while the money for the Copper Island Ski Club will help maintain their chalet and beautiful network of trails in Calumet.

"This is a great way to get yourself and your family outdoors during mid-winter," said Lois Berg, one of the event organizers. "Besides fresh air and exercise, participants will be treated to food and drinks, along with t-shirts and door prizes. The Swedetown Trails are beautifully groomed for skate and classic cross-country skiing as well as for snowshoeing. We encourage children and adults to come out for a fun day."

Participants of all ages can cross-country ski or snowshoe individually or join a team. Donations are collected in advance and turned in during registration the day of the event. For more information and registration materials call Omega House at 906-482-4438. Registration materials can also be obtained at the Swedetown Chalet. Hours are 12 p.m. - 8 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday through Tuesday.

Everything is set for the Ski for Heart event except lining up CHALET VOLUNTEERS, who are needed for two shifts: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The first shift will be doing lots of registering, and the second shift will include clean up. Both have the potential for lots of good eating. If you want to work one of these shifts please contact LOIS BERG at 482-5960 or loisaberg@charter.net.

Finlandia to hold Spaghetti Dinner for Tanzania Feb. 2

HANCOCK -- A spaghetti dinner fundraiser, hosted by eight Finlandia University students preparing to travel to Tanzania in May, will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Hancock.

The dinner is $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for children under 12 years. Children under five years are free.

This is Finlandia’s third annual service and learning trip to Tanzania. It is part of the course titled Service and Learning in Tanzania and is organized in cooperation with the Northern Great Lakes Synod-ELCA and the Eastern and Coastal Diocese-Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania.

While in Tanzania, the students and faculty chaperons will assist a secondary school with building projects, stay with host families in Dar es Salaam and learn about Tanzanian people and society.

For tickets and additional information please contact René Johnson, interim campus pastor and director of servant leadership, at 906-487-7239 or rene.johnson@finlandia.edu.

Updated: Michigan Tech student dies in ski accident

HOUGHTON -- A student at Michigan Technological University has died following an accident on Mont Ripley Ski Hill.

Robert W. Smith, 18, of Norton Shores, was skiing at about 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, when he apparently lost control, went off the run, and hit a tree. First aid was provided by members of the ski patrol, who transported him down the hill. He was taken by Mercy Ambulance to Portage Health System, where he was pronounced dead.

"This is devastating for all of us here at the University," said Michigan Tech President Glenn Mroz. "Our hearts and prayers are with his friends and especially his family as they struggle to cope with this tragic loss."

Smith, a mechanical engineering major and 2007 graduate of Mona Shores High School, was an experienced skier and a member of the University's ski team club.

Michigan Tech's Public Safety Department and officials at the ski hill have investigated the accident and will submit their findings to the state's Ski Area Safety Board.

University Counseling Services is providing grief counseling to Smith's friends in West McNair Hall, where he was a resident, and to the rescue workers who responded to the accident.

Funeral arrangements announced.

Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, at the Clock Funeral Home, 1469 Peck St., Muskegon, MI 49941. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 8, at the Laketon Bethel Reformed Church, 1568 W. Giles Road, in North Muskegon. Condolences can be sent to the Rob Smith family, in care of the Clock Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions can be made in Rob's memory to the Mt. Ripley Ski Patrol in care of the Michigan Tech Fund, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton MI 49931.

Information on Rob's life will be at http://www.lifestorynet.com/memories/32760/ .

Smith, a mechanical engineering major, was an experienced skier and had been training to be a member of the Mt. Ripley Ski Patrol.

Editor's Note: This press release is courtesy Marcia Goodrich, senior writer for Michigan Tech University Communications. Keweenaw Now wishes to express our deepest sympathy for the family and friends of Robert W. Smith.

"Home and Variations" exhibit opens at Community Arts Center

HANCOCK -- The Community Arts Center presents new pastels by local artist jd slack in the Kerredge Gallery through February 29. Slack paints the ruins and dwellings of the Copper Country and the structures of home experienced in her travels. An opening reception will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1.

"Home in the Hills," pastel by jd slack. (Image courtesy Community Arts Center)

"These paintings are sensations, feelings, and situations as I see them: through the structure, architecture, and context of 'home,' Slack explains. "That shape, that child-like shape of 'home,' has resonated deep within me for as long as I can remember (as it does with most children I think), but also has taken a particular form here in the Copper Country. That tall, skinny mining house and that rough-hewn cabin, shed, or barn, keep appearing."

She paints local landscapes and also the structures of home experienced in her travels: Italian chateaus, Guatemalan huts, Native American pueblos, etc. Working with soft pastel, Slack creates images with many layers of intense color. Her use of texture adds depth to the images, which lean toward abstraction.

The Community Arts Center is located at 126 Quincy Street in Hancock. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. For more information call (906) 482-2333 or visit the website at www.coppercountryarts.com.

Fashion exhibit opens at Finlandia's Reflection Gallery Jan. 31

HANCOCK -- "Hung Up on Color," fashion photography and fiber works inspired by the London fashion scene -- by artist Andrea Puzakulich (formerly Baldridge) -- will be on exhibit from Jan. 31 through Feb. 29 at Finlandia University's Reflection Gallery.

An opening reception for the artist will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, in the Gallery, located on the 2nd Floor of the Portage Campus (old hospital) in Hancock. The exhibit offers viewers the gift of color in the heart of winter!

Maple Sugar Folk to perform in Calumet Jan. 31

CALUMET -- Maple Sugar Folk will celebrate the Keweenaw's French-Canadian heritage with traditional folk music and dance from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Jan. 31, at the AmericInn in Calumet.

Dave Bezotte at the keyboard leads the Maple Sugar Folk in singing French Canadian songs during the Calumet Heritage Celebration last August. Also pictured here are, from left, Barry Pegg, Marcia Goodrich, Janet Wieber, Amanda Binoniemi (hidden in back), Barbara Lide (seated), Karin Schlenker and Deb McDowell (on mandolin). (Keweenaw Now file photo by Gustavo Bourdieu)

Sing along on the chansons à répondre, or "response songs," learn French-Canadian jigs and folk dances and try your skill at podorythmie, the foot-tapping often heard in French-Canadian music.

You don't have to be French to enjoy the evening so please come and join this local group of talented singers, musicians and dancers at the Keweenaw Kafé, sponsored by Keweenaw Krayons.

Food for the evening will be Bannock (delicious fried bread) or if you have a favorite French-Canadian food you want to share bring it along...

For more information call Keweenaw Krayons at 337-4706 or email staff@keweenawkrayons.com.

Webcast on global warming to be shown Jan. 31 at MTU

HOUGHTON -- The "2% Solution" webcast, originally planned for Wednesday but postponed because of the blizzard, will be shown at 8:15 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Jan. 31, in Fisher 138 on the MTU campus.

Focus the Nation, a project of the nonprofit Green House Network, has organized a national effort to promote environmental activism on college and university campuses on Jan. 31. Professors at more than 1,100 colleges, including Michigan Tech, have agreed to discuss issues relating to global warming in their classes or take part in panels throughout the day.

As part of this effort, MTU students are sponsoring the interactive webcast "2% Solution," which advocates lowering carbon emissions by 2 percent every year.

Another webcast, "Face It," can be viewed at www.architecture2030.org. This webcast will reveal a challenge that offers creative and innovative students a way to get involved, as well as an opportunity to win money.

For more information, visit www.climate.mtu.edu and www.focusthenation.org.

Updated: Dance at the Scarlet Masquerade Feb. 2 in South Range

HOUGHTON -- The Michigan Tech Social Dance Club will sponsor the Scarlet Masquerade from 5 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, Feb. 2, in the South Range Community Hall. Several local bands and singers will provide music for dancing. These include Tony Lowe, Jose Camillo, Jonathan Soper, the MTU Jazz Combo, the Moon Dogs and the Pasi Cats.

The theme is red and black (le rouge et le noir). Wear a mask for fun and enter the mask contest (optional but recommended)! The Library Brew Pub and Restaurant will cater the event with great food! The dance itself starts at 5 p.m. with solo artists. Dinner will be at 6 p.m. (included in the ticket price). The PasiCats will play from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m, and Pat Valencia from 10 p.m. - 12 a.m. Tickets are $15 a couple and $10 single. In addition to the live musical performances, a door drawing will be held.

Isle Royale Botany Workshop to be June 16-21, 2008

HOUGHTON -- The Isle Royale Botany Workshop will be held June 16-21, 2008. Participants will experience four days in Lake Superior's Isle Royale National Park and learn to identify the diverse plants that live on the island.

Hepatica, one of many Isle Royale plants, blooms in the spring on the island. (Photo courtesy Janet Marr.)

This special Botany Workshop, sponsored by the Isle Royale Natural History Association (IRNHA), and taught by botanist Janet Marr, is open to anyone with beginning/intermediate knowledge of plant identification and who is interested in learning to identify the spring/early summer native flora of this species-rich Lake Superior island.

Workshop participants should be able to hike up to seven miles in one day with a daypack.

Participants will meet in Houghton, Mich., on Monday afternoon, June 16, and travel from Houghton to Rock Harbor on the Ranger III on Tuesday, June 17. The group will spend four days on the island learning native plant species, using such tools as a dichotomous key and hand lens to identify plants. Other topics will include discussion of island plant communities, rare species, ecology, and invasive species. Participants will return to Houghton on the Ranger III on Saturday, June 21.

Participants in the Isle Royale Botany Workshop will have a chance to identify a variety of plants that bloom in the spring on the island, including this Marsh Marigold. (Photo courtesy Janet Marr.)

Workshop activities will take place mostly outdoors. Optional evening sessions will also be offered to review plants learned earlier. Field trips will include Tobin Harbor, Scoville Point and Raspberry Island -- places that are all located in the vicinity of Rock Harbor.

Botanist Janet Marr, the workshop instructor, has had many years of experience studying plants across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Isle Royale. Janet taught last year’s Isle Royale botany workshop as well as many botany and aquatic plants workshops in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. She is co-author of IRNHA's recently published Island Life, an Isle Royale Nature Guide.

ENROLLMENT IS LIMITED TO 12 PARTICIPANTS. Contact Jill Burkland at 906-482-7860 or jburkland@irnha.org to obtain more information or to register for the workshop. In order to attend this workshop PARTICIPANTS NEED TO PRE-REGISTER AND SEND A $100 DEPOSIT TO BE RECEIVED BY MAY 1, 2008, to Isle Royale Natural History Association, Attn: Jill Burkland, 800 East Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, MI 49931.

Total cost for the workshop is $550 per person ($525 for IRNHA members; see http://irnha.org/ for information on becoming a member) and includes instruction, camping, meals (Tuesday lunch through Saturday breakfast), hand lens, notebook, Slavick/Janke’s Flora of Isle Royale, and transportation to and from the island on the Ranger III. Participants may travel from Grand Portage, Minn., on the Voyager at their own expense. See http://www.isleroyaleboats.com/ for Voyager information.

Participants may camp for free at a Rock Harbor group site for the four nights on the island. They can also stay in the Rock Harbor Lodge or Housekeeping units at their own expense. For information about lodging (at Rock Harbor Lodge or Housekeeping units), boat rentals, etc., please see http://www.isleroyaleresort.com/ or call 866-644-2003 (winter season) or 906-337-4993 (summer season).

For information about Isle Royale National Park, see their home page at http://www.nps.gov/isro/ or call 906-482-0984.

MTU students honor Martin Luther King, Jr.

By Michele Bourdieu*

Vincent Iduma, originally of Enugu, Nigeria, and now of Detroit, delivers Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, while Ashli Fueri of Farmington Hills, Mich., displays King's photo, in front of the Memorial Union Building (MUB) on the Michigan Tech Campus Monday, Jan. 21, 2008. (Photo © 2008 Keweenaw Now)

HOUGHTON -- Despite single-digit temperatures this morning, Jan. 21, a large group of Michigan Tech University students, faculty and staff turned out for a ceremony honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. A reading of King's inspiring "I Have a Dream" speech, which King delivered during the 1963 March on Washington, was followed by a candlelight procession from the Memorial Union Building to the Rozsa Center on the MTU campus.

Vincent Iduma, an MTU senior in biomedical engineering, continued the tradition of reading the "I Have a Dream" speech in honor of King's birthday (actually Jan. 15, 1929), celebrated nationally today. Iduma, president of the Glory to Glory Campus Ministry, is also the regional publicity chair of the National Society of Black Engineers. Iduma and his family are from Enugu, Nigeria, but now live in Detroit.

This video clip is an excerpt from Vincent Iduma's reading of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech in front of the Michigan Tech Memorial Union Building on Jan. 21, 2008. (Video © 2008 Keweenaw Now)

Ashli Fueri, vice-president of the National Society of Black Engineers and a member of MTU's Black Student Association, displayed a photo of King during the reading of the speech and the candlelight procession that followed. During the procession participants joined in singing James Weldon Johnson's "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," the African American National Hymn.

Singing "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," the African American National Hymn, Michigan Tech students, faculty and staff follow a colorful banner commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr., the famed civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, during a candlelight procession from the MUB to the Rozsa Center on Jan. 21. (Photo © 2008 Keweenaw Now)

In the lobby of the Rozsa Center participants warmed up with hot chocolate and cookies, followed by two student presentations.

"Past to Present" was the title of a talk by Lisa Grayson, who invoked the example of African American leaders and pioneers -- from Frederick Douglass to Harriet Tubman to Oprah Winfrey. All of these leaders, Grayson said, shared with King an "awareness" and made or are making people aware of the world around them. Grayson, of Detroit, is majoring in interdisciplinary liberal arts.

MTU student Lisa Grayson of Detroit cites the example of several African American leaders who, like Martin Luther King, have served as role models for young African Americans who want to pursue their educational goals. (Photo © 2008 Keweenaw Now)

Noting that her own parents had attended segregated schools, Grayson expressed her strong belief in the value of education.

"Education cannot be taken away from you," she said.

Tendi Hungwe, originally from Zimbabwe, followed with her presentation, "Present to Future." Hungwe mentioned that her parents moved to Houghton especially so that she and her sisters could attend school here. Her own goal is to attend medical school, beginning next year.

MTU senior Tendi Hungwe, originally of Zimbabwe, whose family now lives in Houghton, speaks about "Present to Future," during the Martin Luther King Day ceremonies in the Rozsa Center Jan. 21. (Photo © 2008 Keweenaw Now)

"I can stand here today as a result of a legacy here over 50 years ago," Hungwe said in reference to Martin Luther King's work in the Civil Rights Movement. "He refused to accept that the situation around him could not change."

More events, sponsored by MTU's Black Student Association and Educational Opportunity department, are planned in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., this week. See our previous article for the schedule.

*Editor's Note: The author of this article, editor of Keweenaw Now, formerly Michele Anderson, recently changed her name to Michele Bourdieu, through marriage to Gustavo Bourdieu, also of Hancock.

MTU to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., Jan. 21-26

HOUGHTON -- Michigan Technological University is holding a series of events Jan. 21-26, in recognition of Martin Luther King's birthday, observed Monday, Jan. 21. The MLK events are sponsored by the Black Student Association and Educational Opportunity.

Classes are not held on Monday in recognition of Martin Luther King Day. At noon, senior Vincent Iduma will deliver King's "I Have a Dream" speech outside the Memorial Union. A candle-lighting ceremony will be held, followed by a walk to the Rozsa Center. The public is welcome to attend. In the Horner Lobby, two undergraduates will discuss their personal experiences at Michigan Tech and their hopes for the future. Lisa Grayson will present "Past to Present," and Tendi Hungwe will give the talk "Present to Future."

At 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, in Fisher 329, Assistant Professor Matthew Seigel (Humanities) will give a talk, "Mixing Blood: On a Diverse Lit, Obiter Dicta," Latin for "things which are said in passing." He will discuss the landscape of American literature post-King and the relationship between the civil rights movements of the 1950s, '60s and '70s and American literature.

On Wednesday at 6 p.m., in Fisher 139, Keweenaw Pride will host "Eye of the Storm," based on the “Blue Eyes, Brown Eyes” exercise devised for a third-grade, all-white class in response to King's assassination in 1968. The exercise labels its participants as inferior or superior based on eye color, exposing them to the experiences of being a minority.

The Black Student Association will host a free movie and discussion at 6 p.m. on Thursday in Fisher 329. The title will be announced later.

MLK Week observances are capped by the Martin Luther King Jr. Banquet, set for 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26. State Rep. George Cushingberry (D-Detroit) will be the keynote speaker; he will be introduced by State Rep. Mike Lahti (D-Hancock).

In addition to serving in the State House of Representatives from 1974 to 1982, Cushingberry chairs the House Appropriations Committee. He also served on the Wayne County Board of Commissioners for 16 years, practices law, and is an assistant pastor of New Starlight Baptist Church.

The MLK Gospel Choir will give a performance dedicated to Inetta Harris, who died Jan. 14, 2008. Harris, a former faculty member in the Fine Arts Department, directed the University's Echoes from Heaven Gospel Choir from 1994 to 2003.

Tickets for the banquet are $10 for students, $15 for everyone else, and are available from Educational Opportunity (at 487- 2920) and from the student concessions desk on the ground floor of the Memorial Union.

For more information, call Educational Opportunity at 906-487-2920.

Editor's Note: View a short video clip of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech on U Tube.

Oren Tikkanen named Hankooki Heikki for Heikinpäivä 2008

HANCOCK -- Musician and storyteller Oren Tikkanen of Calumet is this year’s recipient of the Hankooki Heikki honor, which Hancock’s Finnish Theme Committee bestows each year on a person or people whose commitment to preserving and promoting Finnish culture in the area goes above and beyond "normal" efforts. The Hankooki Heikki presides over the Heikinpäivä festivities, wearing the crown and robe that come with the honor.

Musician Oren Tikkanen, right, performs during Heikinpäivä 2007 with his young apprentice, fiddler Kelly Suvanto, who studied under the late fiddle master Ed Lauluma. Kelly is now playing mandolin under Tikkanen's direction. (Photo © 2007 Sharon Cuffe)

A regular with numerous Copper Country bands, Tikkanen plays a wide variety of instruments and an equally wide variety of tunes. He is well known in the Finnish communities of North America for his musical performances with several bands at festivals and dances. Tikkanen also recorded four albums with old friend and mentor Al Reko of St. Paul, Minnesota. The two musicians, who both sing in Finnish, have performed together many times at FinnFest USA programs, the Smithsonian Institution’s Festival of American Folklife and three times at Finland’s Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, among others.

In January 2007, Tikkanen was selected by the Michigan Traditional Arts Program as a "master folk musician" and began teaching his style of Finnish-American mandolin playing to apprentice Kelly Suvanto of Houghton. Along with mandolin techniques, she and Tikkanen are also reviewing the music she learned while apprenticing under the late fiddle master Ed Lauluma. Tikkanen and Lauluma had played together on a regular basis for two decades.

Oren Tikkanen and his apprentice Kelly Suvanto on mandolin join kantele players Matt Durocher, third from left, and Dave Bezotte in playing a Finnish tune during Finlandia University's Finnish Independence Day Celebration on Dec. 6, 2007. (Video © 2007 Keweenaw Now)

When asked how he feels about being honored with the Hankooki Heikki award, Tikkanen replied with his typical creative improvisation:

On Heikinpäivä

Take the best of Christmas Day,
Fourth of July and the First of May,
Mix with snowflakes falling down
On a pretty UP hillside town.

Music, dancing, old-world food,
Arts and crafts, and a cheerful mood,
Ice-hole divers, lots of smiles,
Parading Finns and Finn-o-philes.

But my mouth goes dry, and my knees grow shaky
When I am named as Hankook Heikki.
Great the honor--yes, by golly!
(And I hope I don't meet Hankook Lalli...)

Tikkanen’s name will be added to the Hankooki plaque, which lists each Hankooki Heikki since the award’s inception in 1998. The plaque is displayed year-round at the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock.

For more information about Hankooki Heikki, or any aspect of Heikinpäivä, call (906) 482-0248 or visit pasty.com/heikki.

Updated: Heikinpäivä 2008 offers family fun Jan. 17-21

A toddler enjoys the thrill of the Finnish vipukelkka (whipsled) during Heikinpäivä 2007. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

HANCOCK -- Heikinpäivä 2008, Hancock's Mid-Winter Festival, will offer Finnish cultural activities for the whole family this week from Thursday through Monday, Jan. 17-21. The Finnish Theme Committee has again planned music, art and cooking events, the traditional parade at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19 -- followed by the whipsled, boot-throwing and wife-carrying events on the Hancock Middle School lawn -- dances, cross-country ski races, the Polar Bear dive and more.

A contestant in the Heikinpäivä 2007 wife-carrying contest, a Finnish tradition, negotiates some obstacles during the competition. (File photo © 2007 Keweenaw Now)

Finnish dance lessons, begun last week, will be offered again from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 17, in the Community Arts Center, Hancock. To register, call (906) 487-7505 or e-mail htepsa@webtv.net.

On Friday, Jan. 18, the dancing begins at 6 p.m. with Tango lessons by Ralph Tuttila at the South Range Community Center. Cost is $15 per couple, $8 for singles (partner not necessary). Class size is limited only by available space. To register, call (906) 487-7505 or e-mail htepsa@webtv.net. Karhun Tanssi (The Bear Dance), featuring Finn Hall, will follow, from 7:15 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Kivajat Dancers will perform at the beginning of the dance. The cost is $8 at the door.

The Kivajat Dancers, under the direction of Kay Seppala, right, perform Finnish folk dances at the Finnish American Heritage Center during Heikinpäivä 2007. (File photo © 2007 Keweenaw Now)

The Calumet Theatre's Club Finndigo promises again a full evening of Finnish food and film on Friday, Jan. 18. A Finnish buffet, yooper style as created by the chefs at Toni's restaurant, Laurium -- famous for their Finnish foods, and especially their Finnish pasties -- will take place at 6 p.m. in the ballroom, followed at 7:15 p.m. by a multi-internationally awarded 2003 movie, Elina. Set in the northern part of Sweden near the Finnish border, it reveals the story of a lonely 12-year-old Finnish girl, her Swedish teacher and a serious crisis that brings everyone -- teacher, Elina and the rest of her family and friends -- together. The buffet and movie for this special event cost $13; the movie alone, $5. Since the film is a winner for children, they will be permitted admission to both buffet and film at half price. Assurance for seating at the buffet requires a reservation made in advance by calling the theatre at 337-2610.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, the Tori Market will be held in the Finnish American Heritage Center and in the First United Methodist Church hall. It features ethnic crafts, foods and Finnish items. For more information contact Debbie at (906)-482-0248 or jkurtti@chartermi.net.

Mary (Biekkola) Wright, community artist and creator of the mitten and door art projects in Hancock, was chosen as "Hankooki Heikki" for Heikinpäivä 2007 along with Rick Kauppila, who crafted the stands for each mitten. Here Wright presides over the festivities in the Tori (market), which was held in the Finnish American Heritage Center and also in the First United Methodist Church hall. (File photo © 2007 Keweenaw Now)

A new event this year will be the Lumijuoksu (Snow Run) at 11 a.m. Saturday on Quincy St. in Hancock. Hosted by the Michigan Tech University women’s track team, this 5K road race will serve as a fundraiser for the program. To register, call (906) 487-3143 or e-mail mjhutchi@mtu.edu. Young people will have a chance to try a different sort of race as well. The Finnish Theme Committee has purchased three youth-sized kicksleds, and committee members are planning a race course for the traditional Finnish recreational vehicles.

On both Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 19-20, the Maasto Hiihto trail system will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for leisure classic skiing. At 1 p.m. Saturday on the Michigan Tech Trails the TalviTohinat (Winter scramble) Cross-country ski races will begin with a 2.5 k youth race. This will be followed by a 10 k freestyle race at 1:30 p.m. and a 5 k freestyle race at 1:35 p.m. At 2:30 p.m. a 6.2 k skijor race will be held for individual skiers with 1-2 dogs. Registration begins on-site at 12:00 p.m. on race day. For information, call (906) 482-0820. Visit the Keweenaw Land Trust Web site for details, a schedule and maps. *

For the very hardy (foolhardy?) athletes, the traditional Polar Bear Dive will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Hancock waterfront, near the Ramada Inn.

Polar Bear divers brave the icy Portage during Heikinpäivä 2007. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Saturday night, Jan. 19, offers two musical events. At 7:30 p.m. the Keweenaw Youth Symphony will offer a concert at the Rosza Center on the MTU campus in Houghton for free admission. The Copper Country Suzuki Association (CCSA) Preparatory String Orchestra and the CCSA "Classics" (the Adult Orchestra) will also perform.

At 8 p.m. Saturday, following the Seisovapöytä (Finnish buffet), the Tanssit (Dance) featuring Wilho Kilpelä and Friends, begins in Finlandia Hall on the Finlandia University campus. Dance-only tickets are $5.

Finland-born Anneli Lähteinen Johnson, now of Garfield, Massachusetts, will offer a variety of courses and presentations during Heikinpäivä. An award-winning homemaker and nutritionist formerly with the University of Massachusetts Extension and the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture, Johnson has taught numerous courses in Scandinavian cuisine and coordinated international cooking demonstrations in and around her home area.

On Sunday, Jan. 20, Johnson will offer a Finnish coffee table demonstration and cooking class at 2 p.m. and a nisu-making demonstration at 5 p.m. at Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, Hancock St., Hancock. On Monday, Jan. 21, she will teach Finnish baking for commercial kitchens at 1:30 p.m. at Little Brothers. Johnson will also offer a Finnish Coffee Table - demonstration/cooking class at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 21, at Zion Lutheran Church. The classes are $10 per person per class. To sign up for any of these sessions, call (906) 487-7505.

Visit the Heikinpäivä Web site for the complete schedule of events and more details about the festival.

*Editor's Note: Please note the changes on times and events for these ski races. We regret the incorrect information posted earlier.

Dems offer voters advice for Jan. 15 Primary

HOUGHTON -- Houghton County Democrats have provided this information for supporters of Joe Biden, John Edwards, Bill Richardson and Barack Obama -- who are not listed on the Michigan Primary Ballot for the primary election Tuesday, Jan. 15.

Voters for any of the above candidates are encouraged to vote “uncommitted” so that their vote will count to send to the Democratic National Convention delegates who are not committed or pledged to any candidate. These delegates can then vote for any candidate they choose at the Convention. A "write-in" vote for any of the above candidates, however, will not be counted under state law.

The Democratic ballot will have the names of the following candidates only: Hillary Clinton, Christopher Dodd, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich. There is also an option for "Uncommitted" or "Write-in."

In order to vote at a polling place, voters must show a photo ID or sign a statement that they do not have a photo ID with them. Absentee voters do not have to produce a photo ID.

Visit the Michigan Democratic Party Web site for more details. See also the Voter Guide.

"Wilderness is ..." exhibit to open at Omphale Gallery Jan. 11

CALUMET --The Omphale Gallery in Calumet will host an opening night reception for "Wilderness is ..." -- a community exhibit by artist George Desort -- at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11.

While completing an artist's residency at the Porcupine Mountains in August 2007, Mr. Desort began gathering contributions to a project titled "Wilderness is..." Visitors to the exhibit will have the opportunity to participate in this project by expressing their thoughts on wilderness using available art materials and 4 x 6 inch postcards. Hundreds of these postcards have already been completed by individuals around the country and will be on display at the Omphale Gallery and at wildernessis.com.

This is one of hundreds of community contributions to George Desort's art project, "Wilderness is ..." (Photo © 2008 George Desort)

Mr. Desort's exhibit also includes a piece of artwork exploring the recent botulism e outbreak in the northern waters of Lake Michigan. A two-minute video of a long-tailed duck stricken with the bacterium will also be shown throughout the evening.

The opening night reception will include refreshments as well as opportunities to purchase Mr. Desort's work and to support local preservation efforts.

A short film, "Wilderness is..." -- with an introduction by wolf biologist John Vucetich -- will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on opening night. The film explores the different philosophies of wilderness among park visitors to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The film is available for viewing during gallery hours as well.

A wilderness advocate displays his sign for the "Wilderness is ..." project. (Photo © 2008 George Desort)

The exhibit will be held through Feb. 29. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The Gallery phone number is (906) 337-2036.

For more information, please visit www.wildernessis.com or contact George Desort at (906) 523-4771 or georgedesort@gmail.com.

"New Year; New Beginnings" opens at Vertin Gallery Jan. 11

The Back Wall at the Vertin Gallery features paintings and a reading/visiting table. (Photo courtesy Keweenaw Krayons)

CALUMET – The Vertin Gallery, located on the corner of Sixth and Oak in Calumet, welcomes the New Year with a new diverse platform of art works from the Upper Peninsula. An opening reception for all of the gallery artists, "New Year; New Beginnings," will take place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 11.

Music will be provided by the Cat’s Meow featuring Brian Parmeter, John Munson and Greg Wright. Light refreshments will be provided.

The Cat's Meow includes, from left, local musicians John Munson, Brian Parmeter and Greg Wright. (Photo courtesy Keweenaw Krayons)

Pablo "Pig" Casso, Keweenaw Krayons’ traveling Piggy Bank, will be making a guest appearance.

"We are excited about Pablo being invited to this New Year celebration," stated Keweenaw Krayons’ director, Susan Hallwachs. "The Vertin also supports us by carrying our line of greeting cards. All this helps to keep our doors open and our programs free or low cost."

In addition to the gallery space on the main floor, the second floor of the Vertin houses artists' studios. Tom and Leona Blessing are two of the current artists occupying this space.

"Having a studio in the Vertin has been very productive for me," Tom stated. "It has given me a place away from the distractions of home to write, edit and draw. The openness and light on the studio floors would be impossible to duplicate anywhere else."

Blessing has been writing and publishing poetry for over 25 years. His work has appeared in several anthologies and many magazines including Passages North, Modern English Tanka, Modern Haiku, Ocho, MiPoesias, Thunder Sandwich and From East to West.

"When I first began taking painting lessons in 1997 I never thought I would be able to work in a place as wonderful as the Vertin studio," Leona Blessing said. "The light here is fantastic. I wish I could spend more time painting."

Artist Leona Blessing works in her studio at the Vertin Gallery. (Photo courtesy Keweenaw Krayons)

For additional information about the opening reception, the artists, available studio space and more, call the Vertin Gallery at 337-2200.

Lahti encourages communities to apply for recreational grants

LANSING -- State Representative Mike Lahti (D-Hancock) advises local governments in the Western Upper Peninsula to take advantage of recreational grants offered through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The funding is designed to help communities enhance their outdoor recreational opportunities and facilities.

"There are a lot of great things about the Upper Peninsula, but it's our untold natural resources that make us so special," Lahti said. "Recreational tourism plays a huge role in our economy; and, by strengthening our trails and parks, we will bring more people and more dollars into our communities."

Communities have until March 1 to apply for grants through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The LWCF is a federal program, administered by the National Park Service and managed by the DNR in Michigan. The program provides funding assistance for state and local outdoor recreation needs, including development of outdoor recreation facilities.

Types of development projects that are eligible for LWCF funding include non-motorized trails and riverwalks, skate and spray parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, picnic areas and other types of outdoor recreation. Roughly $1 million in LWCF assistance is available annually.

"This is a great opportunity for local governments to enhance recreational opportunities in their communities," Lahti said. "I strongly encourage local leaders to take a look and get involved."

Grant application materials can be obtained from the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr-grants. For more information, call at (517) 373-9125.

Public comments needed on DNR Land Use Lease for sulfide mine

MARQUETTE -- The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) will discuss the "Metallic Mineral Mining Operations Surface Use Lease" from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for Kennecott's proposed sulfide mine at the next NRC meeting on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, in Lansing.

Kennecott wants to lease 120 acres of public land for 35 years from the State of Michigan to use for most of the surface facilities associated with their proposed mine.

Although the comment period has ended for the mining permit, concerned citizens can still send letters to members of the NRC, reminding them that all Kennecott permits need to be granted before the surface use is considered. In addition to the DEQ permits outstanding, the EPA has yet to issue an Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit. Moreover, the Mining Safety Health Administration has not yet received a permit application.

Please visit Save the Wild UP for a letter you can edit and sign to be emailed to the Governor and the NRC decision makers before the Jan. 10 meeting.

Click here for a map showing the location of this state land Kennecott plans to lease and close off to the public for 35 years.

Click here to read the Draft Lease.