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Happenings in the Keweenaw Peninsula January 27, 2007 Text © 2007 Isle Royale Natural History Association and Keweenaw National Historical Park. Photos © 2007 Michele Anderson.

National Parks to sponsor Children's Ethnic Recipe Contest for traveling exhibit

CALUMET -- A Children's Ethnic Recipe Contest has kicked off as part of an upcoming Smithsonian traveling exhibit called "Key Ingredients - America By Food" to be featured at the Keweenaw Heritage Center (formerly St. Anne's Church) in Calumet this summer.

The Isle Royale Natural History Association and Keweenaw National Historical Park, sponsors of the project, are encouraging all area youth to research their family history and submit a food recipe from their ethnic background. Anita Campbell, of Calumet, a board member of the Isle Royale Natural History Association, is coordinating the project. The deadline for submitting recipes is Feb. 1, 2007.

Anita Campbell, right, coordinator of the Children's Ethnic Recipe Contest, marches with some of the recipe contestants in the Heikinpäivä Parade on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007, in Hancock. (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson)

The Exhibit, which will be traveling to 150 rural communities across America until 2008, will be at the Keweenaw Heritage Center in Calumet July 13 through Aug. 26, 2007. Through the efforts of Kim Hoagland, chair of the Key Ingredients Steering Committee, the site was selected as one of six in Michigan to host the Exhibit.

"To gear up for the Exhibit we are trying to get local children and their families involved," said Anita Campbell, coordinator of the Recipe Contest. "The hope is to encourage families to share with their youngsters stories of their ancestors and to pass on a special ethnic recipe that has been in their family. In addition to the recipe, parents are asked to help children write a short paragraph about their ancestors. Photos of those ancestors are also welcome."

During Heikinpäivä tori (market) on Jan. 20, 2007, Jim Kurtti, left, director of the Finnish American Heritage Center, chats with Paul and Anita Campbell at the display for the Children's Ethnic Recipe Contest in the First United Methodist Church in Hancock. Kurtti is wearing an authentic Saami outfit for Heikinpäivä, the local mid-winter Finnish-American heritage celebration. Also pictured is Emma Tervo, right, of Calumet. (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson.)*

Campbell noted also an exhibit of vintage aprons, donated by CLK school staff and parents, is now on display in the Calumet Public Library (located in the high school building) through Feb. 16.

On February 17, all children and families will be invited to a program and "bake-off" contest at the CLK Schools' Cafeteria at 2 p.m. There will be a program of cooking demonstrations for kids and judging of the submitted recipes, followed by a taste-testing potluck. Winners will be selected in each ethnic group and then featured in a special edition of note card packets published by the Isle Royale Natural History Association.

The note card packets will be for sale at local stores, museums and visitor centers at both local National Parks. Proceeds will go toward educational programs at Isle Royale and Keweenaw National Historical Parks.

Recipes should be mailed by Feb. 1 to Anita Campbell, 26031 School St., Calumet, MI 49913. Entry forms are available at The Daily Mining Gazette and local schools. For more information contact Campbell at 337-2704.

Editor's Note: Watch for more photos of Heikinpäivä events, coming soon.