HANCOCK – Ontonagon native and founder and leader of the internationally known Kivajat Finnish-American Folk Dance group, Kay Seppala, was honored Monday evening by the Michigan Traditional Arts Program and the state of Michigan.

Seppala was the recipient of the 2025 Michigan Heritage Award at Monday’s Kivajat Dancers Performance and Michigan Award Ceremony, held at the Finnish American Heritage Center, in Hancock.

The Michigan Heritage Awards honor individuals who continue their family and community folk traditions with excellence through practice and teaching, or individuals who are recognized as outstanding community leaders in the maintenance, documentation, or presentation of traditional arts.

Micah Ling, associate director of the Michigan Traditional Arts Program and curator of th

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