Hancock has always been a unique town. Recently, the city was bestowed the honor of being the Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture in 2026. The special designation highlights the community’s Finnish heritage. But also, countries and communities outside of the country many immigrants to the region came from.
Finnish, Estonian, Hungarian, and Moldovan languages are each unique. But all are tied together as members of the Finno-Ugric language family. Across history in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and Russia Finno-Ugric languages have been kept alive by people.
There’s this movement towards Russification, which all Finno-Ugrics have had to deal with. And so I think that if they look at what we’ve been doing here, the Finns have been here 100 to 150 years. And we have also struggled with keeping our identity. There’s not serious oppression of language. And yet there’s this underlying sense that everyone needs to be Americanized… and I don’t think it works because we are such a large country. It’s the diversity of our country that I think makes it interesting. – Jim Kurtti, president, Copper Country Finns and Friends
Hancock City Manager Mary Babcock sees the honor as recognition of not just what Hancock has preserved in the city. But also as a recognition of the Copper Country’s Finnish and immigrant heritage.
Nobody comes to a finished American activity and leaves here feeling judged. They leave feeling uplifted like they’ve learned something, they’ve met new people, they’ve picked up a new skill. It’s really about positivity. – Mary Babcock, City Manager, Hancock
Starting next year Hancock will open the year as the cultural capital of Finno-Ugric languages with the city’s Heikinpaiva festival. Throughout the year the Finnish American heritage center will continue to serve as a headquarters of activity.
And I think this is kind of a capstone of all the work that the Finnish Foundation national has done, the copper country Finns, the city of Hancock, and the surrounding areas to capture the Finnish culture. – David Maki, Executive Director, Finnish American Heritage Center
Visit Keweenaw Brad Barnett says the honor of becoming a cultural capital will draw international visitors. In 2013 Finn Fest welcomed between 8 and 10 thousand visitors to the area. He’s confident the year’s celebrations will impact communities and businesses throughout the region.
So, folks are coming here because they have heard that the city of Hancock and the Keweenaw at large is a place to stop along their journeys when they’re visiting North America, but this is someplace special. We hear it whether it’s Finnish tree farmers or individuals working in the forestry industry, people are coming to visit their friends and family that have Finnish connections here in Hancock. So, we would expect that to increase to some degree just because of this opportunity to celebrate. – Brad Barnett, Executive Director, Visit Keweenaw
Hancock’s designation as the 2026 Finno-Ugric capital of culture marks the first time the title has been given to a community outside of Europe and Finno-Ugric-speaking regions. Finns and Friends President Jim Kurtti sees the honor as an investment in cultural preservation, locally and internationally. Those interested in helping plan next year’s festivities, or programs, or want to find a way to get involved can contact the city of Hancock, David Maki at the Finnish American Heritage Center, or Jim Kurtti with Copper Country Finns and Friends.
