Jenny Viitala Vachon Research Paper
Jenny “Jingo” Viitala Vachon was an artist, musician, humorist, and writer, but by far she most well known for the exploration of her talents and using them to display her pride in her Finnish heritage. An intelligent woman who could speak both Finnish and English, Jingo used this skill to translate songs for people between the languages. Even as a young child, her independence and strong will helped her through any trials she encountered. Her father came to America not long before Jingo’s birth, along with many other Finns looking to start a new life. At the end of her story, in exchange for her traditional Finnish books, music, and art, she earned the Michigan Heritage Award.
America
“D ad had it pretty rough in Finland. He was a beggar boy, he went around with a pack sack on his back, and worked for a few crusts of bread, and he wanted to come to
America, because he had heard that a man had a chance in America.”
Jenny “Jingo” Viitala Vachon2
1 Aslani, Layla. "Jingo's The Name." D aily Mining Gazette [Houghton] n.d.: 1+. Print. Michigan Tech Archives & Copper Country Historical Collections.
2 L oukinen, …show more content…
She and everyone who knew her, considered her a tomboy. By age six, she went trapping, even though this was unusual for women. Jingo claims that she had traps from Misery Bay, not far from her Toivola home, all the way to Ontonagon.17 Long before she trapped, she already began showing her future life of determination and independence. As a toddling twoyearold, she managed to find a way to climb on the roof of her house, and proudly perched herself on top. After her father got her down and disassembled the ladder she used to get up there, she promptly responded with: “I can still get up
America
“D ad had it pretty rough in Finland. He was a beggar boy, he went around with a pack sack on his back, and worked for a few crusts of bread, and he wanted to come to
America, because he had heard that a man had a chance in America.”
Jenny “Jingo” Viitala Vachon2
1 Aslani, Layla. "Jingo's The Name." D aily Mining Gazette [Houghton] n.d.: 1+. Print. Michigan Tech Archives & Copper Country Historical Collections.
2 L oukinen, …show more content…
She and everyone who knew her, considered her a tomboy. By age six, she went trapping, even though this was unusual for women. Jingo claims that she had traps from Misery Bay, not far from her Toivola home, all the way to Ontonagon.17 Long before she trapped, she already began showing her future life of determination and independence. As a toddling twoyearold, she managed to find a way to climb on the roof of her house, and proudly perched herself on top. After her father got her down and disassembled the ladder she used to get up there, she promptly responded with: “I can still get up