Keweenaw native Heather Courtney has been hard at work. Her latest work, “Where Soldiers Come From”, documents a group of friends form the Upper Peninsula and throughout their service in the National Guard and serving in Afghanistan.  For four consecutive years she filmed, both in the Keweenaw and in Afghanistan.  The film looks at just how much change a young soldier goes through and how it affects such a small community, friends, and family.

Where Soldiers Come From trailer

The film has been featured close to home at the Traverse City Film Festival, was an official selection for the Los Angeles Film Festival and won Best Editing for Documentary Feature at the 2011 SXSW Film Festival.

Here’s a great great interview with Heather Courtney from the Traverse City Film Festival and you can read more about on the official website.  Stay tuned for upcoming screenings, one is scheduled in Calumet and another in Detroit.

Upcoming Screenings

Village East Cinemas
New York, NY
Opens Sept. 9, 2011

Gene Siskel Theater
Chicago, IL
Opens Sept. 16, 2011

Calumet Theater
Calumet, MI
Sept. 25 – Sept. 30, 2011

Detroit Institute of Art
Detroit, MI
Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, 2011

Alamo Drafthouse
Austin, TX
Oct. 12, 13 and 15, 2011

Heather’s work also includes “Los Trabajadores/The Workers”, a 2001 documentary about immigrant day laborers and “Letters from the Other Side”, a 2006 document about women and children left behind in Mexico.

→ Courage

→ Determination

→ Strong will

→ Fortitude

→ Having guts

→ Grit

→ Endurance

Recently an article titled “Michigan’s Upper Peninsula struggles to survive” seemed to make headlines in every news source in the Upper Peninsula, many across the state, and a few national sources. In each case the reporters failed to mention that, Finnish or not, Yoopers have sisu.

Sisu embodies all of the characteristics mentioned above and is an ability to overcome adversity. However, sisu is not defined by a moment of courage. Sisu is continuous, the ability to sustain pressure and adversity over long periods of time.

The idea of sisu is highly regarded in the history of Finnish culture, a culture that has flourished in the Upper Peninsula. Today nearly 16% of people in the Upper Peninsula have a Finnish heritage. The core of it being in the Keweenaw, home to Finlandia University. With the Upper Peninsula’s strong Finnish heritage we too have embraced the quality of sisu.

Whichever words above you use to define sisu, it is an idea that’s been long embraced by Yoopers. The New York Times in 1940 said that sisu is “A word that explains Finland.” They go on to say:

“They will tell you it is the most wonderful of all their words. It is not easily translated, because no other language has its precise equivalent. Even the Finns have difficulty in defining it.”

A TIME Magazine article published in 1943 further elaborates on concept of sisu.

“… sisu enables [the Finnish] to say: ‘We have nothing worse than death to fear.’”

If the Upper Peninsula is “struggling to survive” or not (Yooper Steez remains biased), we’ll leave for the experts to determine. At the end of the day we have something more important, sisu.

A fresh 7 inches of snow fell in Baraga and several other parts of the Upper Peninsula today.  A great day to head to the Baraga Drive-In for some ice cream.

Most Yoopers, and especially Trolls, are eager for nice spring weather in April, especially by April 17.  Even the Lansing Lugnuts celebrate the Yooper heritage with Yooper Night.  They offered attendees of Yooper Night to use their tickets for another game this season if the weather was above 60 degrees.  That was on Friday, and I’d be surprised it was even 50 degrees for the opening pitch.

Although winter seems to be prolonged, we all know that you can’t be sure of any weather in the Upper Peninsula. We may very well skip from winter straight to summer this year.  For about a week anyway, then it will be fall again.

Don’t worry, I promise you that sunny warm days are coming soon.

Feel free to share your photos on our Facebook Page from today’s snowfall. Using twitter?  Follow us at @UpperPeninsula and use the hash tag #LoveDaUP when talking about the Upper Peninsula.

Enjoy a few more photos. Today’s photograph are taken a very special guest contributor, Nancy Sailor, better known as my mom!

Over two years ago I posted a blog about the origin and first use of the word Yooper. My source for the blog was Professor Richard W. Bailey from the University of Michigan who did a more extensive write-up on the history of Yooper.  It cites a contest that was held August 5, 1979 by the Escanaba Daily Press.  Brett Crawford of Bark River was credited with submitting Yooper.

Many people commented that they had heard the word used earlier than 1979, many stating that they recall hearing it used during their college days in the 70s.  I have no doubt that it may have been used earlier, but when was it first published?

However…

Introducing Dan Rosandich…

Recently I received an e-mail from Dan Rosandich who was a cartoonist for the Daily Mining Gazette.  He attached a few images and sure enough, they predate the Daily Press article.

Then editor, and U.P. evangelist, Bob Skuggen asked Dan to contribute a comic bi-weekly to the Mining Gazette.  At the time Dan, an Ontonagon High School graduate, was just 21 years old.  This was the very first comic which was published on May 11, 1979.

Dan had the following to say:

“Bob Skuggen has since passed away, but was a big promoter of the Upper Peninsula back in those days, when tourism wasn’t promoted like it is now. Initially the cartoons I showed him back in those days had no title, so he insisted I think one up… I showed all of these U.P. cartoons to a few friends and we brainstormed one day and eventually after saying “U.P. , U.P.’er….YOOPER hit me in the head like a ton of bricks and it stuck.”

–Dan Rosandich

When I posted the original blog entry there was a lot of conversation (mainly on the Yooper Steez Fan Page) if this was the first use of the word Yooper, or at least the first time being published which is what I focused on.

I think we can agree that it’s not difficult to derive the word Yooper.

U.P. —> U.P.-er —> and finally Yooper.

Regardless, I have to hand it to Dan Rosandich, Bob Skuggen, and Brett Crawford.  They have helped give the people of the Upper Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula itself a strong identity.  Well done gentleman, well done.  I owe you all a lot of credit (perhaps a beer and a pasty?) and it’s now a word that I use daily. I find it pretty remarkable how strong of an identity Yoopers and the Upper Peninsula have.  There are only a few places across the country that can compare.

By all means, let the conversation continue.  Leave a comment and share what you think.  Perhaps you can dig up some more resources on the early publications of the word Yooper.

(click the photos for a larger version)

The following post is an interview with the Cattani family from Menominee. A few weeks ago I was in the middle of my morning routine when I started receiving e-mails and tweets that Yooper Steez shirts were spotted on the Today Show on NBC. I thought it would be a fun post to interview them about their trip to NYC and what it was like to be on the Today Show and actually be interviewed by one of the correspondents. Not to mention exploring a city with 27 times the population of the entire U.P., crammed into an area 35 times smaller than the U.P.

YS:If you don’t mind sharing, what do you and your family do in the Menominee?
Mary:Mike is a principal in the Menominee public schools, I am a technologist in the hospital microbiology lab, Katie is a junior in high school, and Nick is in 8th grade.

YS:Are you natives to the U.P.?
M:Yes.  Mike grew up in Caspian and Mary in Stambaugh.  We have lived in Menominee for 25 years.

YS:It seems that not many Yoopers make it to the NYC, was this your family’s first trip?
M:It was our first time as a family, though both Mike and I had been there once before.

YS:What was your most memorable experience in the city?
M: Climbing the stairs within the Statue of Liberty to peek out the windows of the crown.
Mike: Walking around Times Square and going to the see “The Adams Family” with Bebe Neuwirth and Nathan Lane on Broadway.

YS:How about your kids, what were they most impressed by?
M:The Statue of Liberty and China Town

YS:I hear NYC is just a little different than the Upper Peninsula. Besides the obvious, what differences did you notice between the Yoopers and New Yorkers?
M:First, there were many, many foreign tourists –  we were surprised at how many people were speaking foreign languages. People on the street are not as openly friendly as in the UP – they go about their business without looking at anyone they pass on the street.

YS:So, you were on the Today Show, that had to be pretty incredible. Did you ever think you’d be one of the people that was interviewed?
M:It was pretty neat.  We hoped to get on camera at some point, but didn’t expect to be interviewed.

YS:That morning I started getting e-mails reporting that Yooper Steez shirts were spotted on the Today Show. Was it part of the plan when you bought the shirts?
M:Actually, we bought the shirts quite a while ago, and wore them in Orlando first.  But as soon as we decided to go to NYC and to the Today Show, we knew we would be wearing the Yooper Steez shirts!

YS:Anybody ever ask what that is on your shirt?
M:Yes!  They have gotten a lot of attention!  Even people who don’t say anything, look as they pass, and you know they are trying to figure it out.  In Orlando, we met people from Escanaba and Watersmeet because we were wearing the shirts.  A few others have recognized the shape of the UP and told us that they had ties to the UP.  One person asked if was a bat, another a rabbit, and several others wondered, “What IS that?”

YS: That’s funny, I’ve gotten Cuba a couple of times. How about the NBC correspondent, Stephanie Abrams, did she know what the U.P. was or ever hear of Menominee?
M:She knew right away that it was the outline of the UP.  She had never heard of Menominee, and had quite a difficult time pronouncing it, despite trying numerous times.

YS:What advice would you give other Yoopers who might want to step out of the rural U.P. and into the Big Apple?
M:It’s a great place to visit!  Don’t plan to drive in the city – either fly or find a place to park outside the city and take public transportation into the city.   A bus tour is a great way to see a lot, and it will help you get your bearings before venturing out on your own.  Get a good map of the city before you go or when you first arrive to help you find your way – it’s easy to find your way around.  Don’t be afraid – there is a very noticeable police presence – there was never a time when we didn’t feel safe.
Order tickets online to go to the crown of the Statue of Liberty as soon as you have your travel dates – they sell out several months in advance.  If it’s too late to get those, try for monument  access tickets.

YS:On the other hand, what advice would you give New Yorkers who might want to visit the U.P.?
M:The parks in NYC are lovely, but nothing compared to the wide open natural spaces in the UP.   Plan to allow yourself to leave the frenetic pace of the city behind, slow down, and really relax!

With Ann Curry

With Stephanie Abrams

———

Big thanks to the Cattani family for sharing their story.

Readers, have you been to New York City?  Any desire to visit?  Share your comments.

And by all means, if you have a story about wearing your Yooper Steez shirts share those in the comments or contact me.

Man vs. U.P.

Well done Kris, now let’s see if Bear Grylls or Les Stroud come to the Upper Peninsula for an episode of either of their shows.

Also, might not want to giveaway that we have pasties growing in the wild, or beer trees, too many people might start moving to the U.P.

Tom Izzo is certainly all over the media right now as we wait his decision to stay and coach at Michigan State or go on to the NBA to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers.  There’s no doubt that the Iron Mountain native has made a permanent impact on college basketball.

But is he the most famous Yooper ever?  He does have some worthy competition with friend and classmate Steve Mariucci and football legend “The Gipper”.

Tom Izzo clearly has my vote, but I will admit that I’m biased as an MSU alum. So what do you think? Please leave a comment after you vote.

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*Update
Check out this site and let the world why you love Izzo: www.weloveizzo.com

Photo by sophnsoph9 on Flickr

It was difficult to see my beloved Red Wings get thumped by the San Jose Sharks in the playoffs this year. During game 2 of the series, however, I found a wonderful consolation prize if the wings weren’t going to pull off the series. That’s when I realized that Dwight Helminen, a native of Hancock, was playing for the San Jose Sharks.

In the history of the league there have only been a few native Yoopers to play in the NHL. Currently, there is one other Yooper playing in the NHL, Jeff Finger for the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Though Helminen was born in Hancock he spent most of his youth in Metro Detroit.

Helminen has played seven games for the Sharks in the playoffs thus far, including three against the Red Wings.  On April 22nd he scored his first playoff goal against the Colorado Avalanche.

“It’s definitely a thrill to play against them,” Helminen said, indicating he idolized Steve Yzerman and Sergei Fedorov as a youngster, but as he developed into a checking role on the ice, came to follow another Wing more closely – Detroit centre Draper.

“He’s always been one of the Wings’ go-to penalty killers,” Helminen said. “When I was in school [at Michigan], that was kind of my role, so I used to watch Draper, and tried to emulate some of the stuff he does, especially on the penalty kill.”

This series is causing a bit of a rift amongst Helminen’s circle of friends.

“My immediate family all claim they’re cheering for the Sharks, but my sister informed me that a couple of her friends weren’t,” Helminen said. “They actually live in a house I own, so I’m going to have to adjust the rent. It might be going up.” — CBC Sports

Helminen, 26, was drafted 244th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Helminen played for the U.S. Junior National Team and went on to play college hockey in the CCHA, lacing up for the Michigan Wolverines for three seasons, from 2001-2004.

After playing for U of M he went on to play in the AHL and ECHL.  The New York Rangers acquired his rights in 2004 and he entered the NHL in 2008 after signing a one-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes.  He would go on to play 23 games with the Hurricanes that season finishing with one goal and one assist.  On July 16, 209 he signed a one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks.

He spends his off season in Brighton, MI.

If you’re a big Red Wings fan don’t throw out cheering for San Jose just because they beat the Red Wings.  It would be great to see a fellow Yooper have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup.  And hopefully he will be able to develop as a regular player in the NHL.

Dwight Helminen after his 1st NHL goal

On January 26 it was announced that Yooper Nick Baumgartner made the Olympic team for the snowboard cross. Baumgartner hails from Iron River and is making his first Olympic appearance at age 28.

Tune in today (Feb 15) to watch the men’s snowboard cross competition.   Check out the complete schedule at Vancouver2010.com.

Nick’s biggest accomplishment to date is winning a bronze medal at the FIS Snowboarding World Championships 2009.  He has also competed in the Winter X Games the last few years.

Before taking on snowboarding full-time Nick was a state champion wrestler in high school and went on to play football at NMU.

If you know of any other Yoopers who have compete in the Olympics please send me a message or leave a comment.

**UPDATE**

After a crash Nick’s gold medal hopes came to a halt during the 1/8 finals.  He finished 20th overall with a starting field of 34 racers.

“I came here for the gold,” Baumgartner said between qualifying runs. “I am definitely taking the experience in. But the gold is what I worked so hard for. I set a goal four years ago.”  — From the examiner.com

Medals

Gold – Seth Wescott – USA
Silver – Mike Robertson – Cananda
Bronze – Tony Ramoin – France

Congrats Nick! Great job representing the country, but even more so thanks for representing the Upper Peninsula. We hope to see you back in 4 years with a world championship between now and then.  Keep up the hard work.

Good to see Nick get some press in Sports Illustrated as well.

Some classic Upper Peninsula Christmas cheer.

“Rusty Chevrolet” by Da Yoopers

From Da Yoopers 1987 release,
“Culture Shock”

C’mon, cmon!
C’mon, you can do it!
(car starts)
All right!

Dashing through the snow
in my Rusty Chevrolet
Down the road I go
Sliding all the way
I need new piston rings
I need some new snow tires
My car is held together
By a piece of chicken wire

CHORUS
Oh, rust and smoke, the heater’s broke
The door just blew away
I light a match to see the dash
And then I start to pray
The frame is bent, the muffler went
The radio, it’s okay
Oh what fun it is to drive
This Rusty Chevrolet

I went to the IGA
To get some Christmas cheer
I just passed up my left front tire
And it’s getting hard to steer
Speeding down the highway
Right past a county cop
I have to drag my swampers
Just to get the car to stop

(chorus)
(instrumental)

Bouncing through the snowdrifts
In a big blue cloud of smoke
People laugh as I drive by
And I wonder what’s the joke
Got to get to ShopKo
To pick up the lay-away
‘Cause Santa Claus is coming soon
In his big old rusty sleigh

(chorus)