Gazette file photo Since Finland achieved its independence, the Copper Country has celebrated the event. In this photo from the 2019 celebration the Heikki of Hancock was crowned.

HANCOCK — It’s been at least four generations since Finland achieved its independence in 1917, and this year’s observance of that courageous achievement at the Finnish American Heritage Center will put several members of the youngest generation in the spotlight.

Beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, the Heritage Center, located at 435 Quincy Street in Hancock, will host its annual celebration of Finland’s independence, an occasion the Finnish-American community of the Copper Country has marked each year since 1918. Featuring performances by the Kivajat Dancers and the newly-formed Kuparikielet youth folk dance band, attendees will surely be uplifted to see such high levels of engagement in cultural preservation by today’s young people. Keeping with recent tradition, the program will also include the announcement of the 2026 Hankookin Heikki, the person honored for significant contributions to the advancement of Finnish-American and Finnish culture in the area.

The program’s keynote speaker will be Upper Michigan TV personality Mandy Koskela, who has embraced her immersion into the Finnish-American culture of the U.P. since moving here in 2023. She’ll share her perspectives about her fondness for her roots and just how deep they go in this region.

“It’s rewarding to see that almost every aspect of our program, from the presenters to the speaker, includes representatives of the next generations,” Heritage Center Director David Maki said. “Young people taking interest in history and culture is tangible proof that what we’re doing is sustainable – and it matters.”

Immediately following the Independence Day event, the Heritage Center will host an opening reception for its newest art exhibit, the Friends of Finland youth exhibit, which includes works from four high schools in and near the U.P., as well as individual submissions from students outside the Midwest. Much of this work is inspired by Finnish modernist painter Helene Schjerfbeck, who is the first Finnish artist exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

“It’s been interesting to see how elementary and high school students took what they learned about Finnish culture and interpreted it in their own ways,” said interim Gallery Director Clare Zuraw. “From joyful bursts of color, to contemplative self-portraits, these young artists have created a memorable show.”