HANCOCK, Mich. (WLUC) – “Although our region maintains a strong ethnic pride in its Finnish roots, the loss of language and traditional arts and crafts has left many among our residents very little onto which they can attach their ethnic identity,” Finnish American Heritage Center Director Jim Kurtti said.

It starts small. Emma Bailey, a first-grader with big, expressive eyes, sets her school lunch on a table in the Bay View Elementary School library. Emma sits close to Elaine Sadler, a youthful-looking and enthusiastic 78-year-old.