Session #6 | Sauna Stories from the Copper Country
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National Sauna Week
Sauna Stories from the Copper Country explores the rich and enduring sauna culture of Michigan’s Copper Country (Kuparisaari) through personal narratives and historical insights. Moderated by Honorary Consul Jim Kurtti, the panel features Barbara Männinen, Haley Goodreau, and Daena and Amanda Mäkelä, each bringing a unique perspective on the region’s deep-rooted Finnish sauna traditions.
Kurtti will provide historical context on Finnish settlement, public saunas, and the evolution of sauna culture, while Goodreau will share her journey of discovering Finnish-American heritage through sauna as a photographer. The Mäkeläs will offer insights from their involvement in sauna projects, highlighting the ongoing significance of sauna in the community.
From lifelong residents who recall well-worn paths to family saunas once shared with local miners to newcomers who have embraced the Finnish sauna in all its dimensions, this discussion captures the past and present of one of the most authentically Finnish regions in the United States.