An award-winning documentary that explores the history of the Finnish-American cooperative movement, with a focus on Settlers Co-op in Bruce Crossing, will be screened at Northern Michigan University. The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at NMU will present Co-operatively Yours at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, in 1100 Jamrich Hall. Admission is free.
Filmmaker Kristin Ojaniemi uses historic photos, memories of employees and co-op members, and archival research to explore the cooperative system the Finns brought to America when they immigrated more than a century ago. She highlights Settlers Co-op in Bruce Crossing, which celebrated its centennial in 2017 and is one of the few remaining Finnish-founded cooperatives in the United States.
The film was awarded best documentary feature at the 2018 Eclipse Awards in Grand Rapids. It was produced in conjunction with the Finnish American Heritage Center at Finlandia University.