Cousins Finn Fest 2010_0002.avi

Finnish American children folk dance at international 2010 Finn Grand Fest in Sault Saint Marie, Ontario Canada. Our long lost cousin from Wyoming brought her three young daughters to dance in the Finn Grand Fest. Our grandfathers, the Svartti brothers, emigrated from Finland about 1900. They changed their last names upon arrival because they were afraid of being deported back to then-Russian controlled Finland and drafted into the czarist Russian army to fight the Turks. Some of the family eventually lost contact, other than letters during genealogy research, until this chance reunion with their cousins from Florida and Michigan at the festival in Sault Saint Marie or the Soo. Photography by Shane Vartti and his brother-in-law, Tim. July 2010.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Finnish American
• folk dance
• Finn Fest
• Finn Grand Fest
• Sault Saint Marie
• Shane Vartti
• Svartti