The 2nd Finno-Ugric Open Forum is one of the key events of the Juhannus summer solstice celebration program in Hancock (Michigan, USA) – Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture 2026.
The Forum in Hancock continues a tradition that began in Narva (Estonia) which held the Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture title in 2025.
The main objective of the Forum is to openly discuss important and urgent issues facing Finno-Ugric peoples and the Finno-Ugric movement today.
Given its location in North America, the special theme of this year’s Forum will be “Building Transatlantic Bridges”. Among else, the Forum will seek answers for the following questions:
– What can Finno-Ugric cooperation offer to the Finnish American community?
– How can Finno-Ugric communities and diasporas in North America participate in international Finno-Ugric cooperation?
– What can Finno-Ugric peoples and diasporas in Europe learn from Finnish America?
The 2nd Finno-Ugric Open Forum in Hancock will consist of three panel discussions, followed by an Open Mic session where all participants can present their views and ask questions. The Forum can be attended in-person in Hancock Central High School and remotely via Youtube livestream (details to be announced in due time).
PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME:
9:00-9:30 AM – arrivals, registration
9:30-9:40 AM – opening remarks
– Jim Kurtti (Copper Country Finns & Friends)
– Chris Salani (Hancock High Schools)
– Oliver Loode (URALIC Centre – Estonia)
– Tommy Flanagan (Finlandia Foundation National)
– Alar Karis (President of the Republic of Estonia) – via video
9:40 – 9:55 AM – Keynote Speech: Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, Ambassador of Finland to the United States
10:00-10:45 AM – Panel 1: State of the Finno-Ugric World
Moderator: Oliver Loode (Estonia)
Panelists: Vitaly Romashkin (Erzya / USA), Artem Medvedev (Udmurtia / USA), Niko Partanen (Finland), Alexandra Kellner (Finland), Anti Lillak (Estonia), Rune Bjerkli (Kven / Norway), Bogáta Timár (Estonia/Hungary – via ZOOM)
11:00-11:45 AM – Panel 2: Tradition, Internet, and Identity: Who Owns Finno-Ugric Culture in the Digital Age?
Moderator: Atte Huhtala (Finland)
Panelists: Britt-Kathleen Mere (Estonia), Gage “Touko” Keränen (USA), Mirjami Sipilä (Finland), Artem Medvedev (Udmurtia / USA), Petter-Anne Hutchings
11:45am-1:00 PM – Lunch break
1:00-1:45 PM – Panel 3: Transatlantic dimension of Finno-Ugric cooperation
Moderator: Aleksi Palokangas (Finland)
Panelists: James Kurtti (USA), Thomas Flanagan (USA), Oliver Loode (Estonia), Nate Kilponen-Fix (USA)
1:45-3:00 PM – Open mic / moderated discussion
The 2nd Finno-Ugric Open Forum is organized by URALIC Centre (Estonia), in partnership with Sukukansojen ystävät ry (Finland), Hõimulõimed NGO (Estonia), Copper Country Finns & Friends and Hancock High Schools.
The Forum is made possible thanks to a grant from Finlandia Foundation National (FFN). We are also grateful to the Estonian American National Council (EANC) for its support.
Facebook event of the 2nd Finno-Ugric Open Forum:
Please register your attendance (in-person or online) here:
Link for the YouTube Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@URALICCentre
Contact: Oliver Loode (oliver.loode@uralic.org, Tel. +372 513 2992)
