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Historical and Cultural Documentaries
Oral histories that preserve Finnish, Native American, and other cultures and traditions in the Upper Midwest.
Michael Loukinen, PhD is a retired sociologist from Northern Michigan University. Of Finnish decent himself, he began studying the Finnish-American population in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in the 1970’s. He did his doctoral dissertation on a small town in the Up called Pelkie. 40 years later, he would make a documentary about that town as well.
Michael’s filmmaking career started with Finnish American Lives in 1982, which began a long and award-winning series of documentaries that aim to preserve the traditional cultures of the Upper Midwest. Michael’s training as a sociologist captures the big picture of what is happening to these populations as they assimilate into American culture. His personality as a friendly Finn allows his subjects to open up and tell the personal side of the bigger picture.
Loukinen’s “folklore films” will be a resource of historical information for many years to come, capturing stories and traditions that would otherwise fall into obscurity.
Michael received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from Michigan State University for 40 years as a sociology professor and filmmaker. Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns was there to present the award.