Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette Jim Kurtti addresses the press regarding Hancock's designation as the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture. Kurtti went over how the city achieved the status and the positive impacts the events taking place next year will hold, including the chance for Finno-Ugric peoples to learn from one another in Europe and North America.

HANCOCK — A press conference was held Wednesday morning at the Finnish American Heritage Center to reveal details about the distinction recently given to Hancock as the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture. The distinction is a way to identify locations which exhibit their Finno-Ugric identities and raise awareness of their existence and languages. The minimum amount of Finno-Ugric events a location must have is 12, and Hancock exceeds this with 18 such cultural events per year. Honorary Consul of Finland Jim Kurtti was contacted about a year and a half ago by Finno-Ugric Programme Manager Oliver Loode from Estonia. Loode suggested Hancock to consider its place as a potential capital of culture.

“And after some discussion with Finlandia Foundation Director Tommy Flanagan and the city, we thought we couldn’t do it last year, but they came back and suggested a second time that we do it,” Kurtti said. “And so this year, we applied and we were our application was accepted, and we are now the first North American Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture. We’re actually the first Capital of Culture for Finno-Ugric people outside of their traditional homelands.”

The Finno-Ugric ethnic peoples come from Finland, Hungary, Estonia and parts of Russia, Sweden and Norway. Kurtti explained the invasion of Ukraine led to the closure of Russian borders which made free travel difficult to the rest of Europe, and cut off the connections between these groups of people. Because of this, the Finns-Uric Capitals of Culture looked outward.

“Then they realized that the diaspora of these people would also be a significant number of people. There are roughly 6.2 million people in the United States with Finno-Ugric heritage. The largest number are Hungarians, followed by Finns and then Estonians, as well as some of the people from these more unknown peoples in Russia,” Kurtti said.

Kurtti emphasized there has been a struggle to preserve cultural identity and language amongst these peoples, especially from Russia’s attempts at Russification in the past and present and even here in America.

“There’s not a really serious oppression of language, and yet there’s this underlying sense that everyone needs to be Americanized. Everyone should be part of this larger sort of land of face of our country, 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,” Kurtti said.

Kurtti explained there are opportunities for Finns-Ugric peoples to learn from each other about their cultures across the ocean. He said despite the locations each group is doing something to preserve their cultural identities in the face of the modern world.

“We’re going to be looking east, and they’re going to be looking west and examining each other, and I’m hoping that there’s a lot of similarities, but also it can be a learning moment, because we’ve been doing this for 100 150 years, keeping Finnish identity alive. Maybe we have something to share with them, and they certainly have a lot to share with us. And so I think that’s going to be the magic of this particular year,” Kurtti said.

Kurtti said it is not only Copper Country Finns who can take advantage of the chance to celebrate their cultures, with some residents in Calumet having Hungarian lineage and Estonians who live here.

It is the preservation of Finnish culture, language and traditions which have brought overseas eyes to Hancock. Now the city has to prepare for its year as the Capital of Culture with Heikinpäivä likely serving as its official start and Finnish Independence Day in December serving as the finale. Kurttis said Juhannus may serve as the capstone event which invites peoples from Europe. Other Finno-Ugric groups and organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada will also be invited.

A committee will be formed to generate plans for how the city will embrace the designation and its celebrations, which is expected to draw in visitors throughout the year. After the press conference Hancock City Manager Mary Babcock said a notice will be put out for the formation of the committee and its initial meeting.

“The more volunteers we can get, or more ideas that we can get, the better the year will be,” Babcock said. She explained there are no specific qualifications to join the committee and the city is looking for people with ideas and enthusiasm which can bring the upcoming year’s events to life.

The increase in tourism is especially important to the local economy and Visit Keweenaw, Executive Director Brad Barnett was at the press conference. Barnett said the distinction was a once in a lifetime opportunity for Hancock and the broader Keweenaw community to really shine at an international level when it comes to promoting, sharing and cultivating its Finnish-American heritage.

Barnett believes Hancock selected as the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture will continue to distinguish the region as a cultural tourist destination. He expanded on this and said businesses and organizations in the region can capitalize on this and make announcements to spread the word of the city’s designation and do something special related to the naming. Barnett suggested things like special food events or new dining menu options.

Barnett said the Keweenaw area does not get a lot of international tourists due to its remote nature, but there are a lot of visitors from Finland due to family connections. Barnett believes more media connections in Europe will arise due to the distinction and some accommodations may transpire for the Finns-Ugric peoples who may be visiting, including hospitality training or simple readings in the visitor’s native language.

Barnett also believes the Keweenaw has the ability to manage a potential uptick in tourism, given visitors will also likely visit north and south of Houghton and Hancock. There will also be working with community partners such as public emergency services in preparations for influxes.