For details on how to purchase these items, please click on the links below to order online, call the FAHC at 906-487-7347 or email archive@finlandia.edu. Proceeds go to the Finnish American Heritage Center, a non-profit organization.
Sirkka: Past and Present (DVD) – $20 +shipping
Sirkka, who turned 99 during summer 2019, has witnessed almost a century of Finnish-American history.
From her grandfather fighting for the Reds during the Finnish Civil War to her immigrant parents’ involvement in labor strikes, to being trailed by the FBI and being subpoenaed to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee, Sirkka has led a fascinating life.
She spent years on the Finnish-American amateur stage and served overseas during World War II. She has spent her life fighting for what she believes in and the rights of others. She has devoted her life to progressive and liberal causes. An actress, activist and veteran, Sirkka has written and been involved in numerous books and research on Finnish-America, socialism, labor, peace activities and feminism. Sirkka’s column in the Finnish American Reporter is the most read and loved by subscribers.
This film was produced by Kristin Ojaniemi in partnership with the Finnish American Heritage Center.
Click HERE to purchase the DVD
Click HERE to rent or buy the digital copy of the film
Finns of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (Book) – $21.99 +shipping
“On Midsummer Eve, 1865, more than 30 Finnish and Sami immigrants disembarked from a Great Lakes ship to a place called Hancock, Michigan. At the time, Hancock consisted of nothing more than a small cluster of humble buildings, but it was here, on the outskirts of mid-19th-century civilization, that Finnish settlement in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP) took root. In short order, hardworking Finnish immigrants became reputable miners, lumberjacks, farmers, maids, and commercial fisherman. A century and a half later, the UP boasts the largest Finnish population outside the motherland and sustains the determined spirit the Finns call sisu–an influence that remains palpable in all 15 UP counties.”
The staff of Finlandia University’s Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC) takes pride in “being Finnish” for a living. The FAHC actively preserves materials to tell the story of Finnish immigrants in the US. This book offers a small glimpse at the FAHC’s extensive collection while illustrating a spectrum of the experiences of Finns across Michigan’s UP.
CO-OPERATIVELY YOURS (DVD) – $20 +shipping
“For a century, Settlers Co-op in Bruce Crossing has been the hub of a very Finnish-American community, serving patrons and passers-through at the crossroads of Highways 45 and 28 in the heart of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Filmmaker Kristin Ojaniemi, a daughter of the community, captures the history and collective memories of the residents and patrons of the Co-op, from its humble beginnings in 1917 to the present day. This film goes beyond one U.P. community; rather, it celebrates the legacy of the Finnish-American co-operative movement in America.”
“Co-operatively Yours” is the second feature-length production by Kristin Lee Ojaniemi (Oja Media), a lifelong resident of Bruce Crossing, Michigan.
This film was created in collaboration with the Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC) here at Finlandia University, a national center for the preservation and promotion of Finnish-American and Finnish culture in America.
Click HERE to purchase the DVD
Click HERE to rent or buy the digital copy of the film
Tastes of Finnish American: Foods that make us smile (Book) – $15 +shipping
Even a casual visitor to Michigan’s Copper Country can notice the region has a Finnish flavor. From Hancock’s bilingual street signs to sisu license place covers, pride in Finnish heritage can be spotted around every corner. It’s just part of daily living here, and makes visitors curious.
This book celebrates the summer food traditions of the Finnish-Americans who call the Copper Country their home. Foods that gather families together, ground us in our unique Finnish-American culture – and, whether we love to eat them, or love to only tell tales about them, they are food that make us smile. “Foods that make us smile” shares, explains and celebrates the Finnish-American food traditions found in Michigan’s Copper Country.
All proceeds of this book benefit the Finnish American Heritage Center and their mission of keeping Finnish Heritage alive in our community.
The Finnish American Club of New Port Richey (DVD) – $15 (+shipping)
This short film highlights the history of the Finnish community in New Port Richey, Florida, and the activities of the Finnish American Club that flourished there for decades.
Click HERE to rent or buy the digital copy of the film