There was a time when Ely, Minnesota had 50% either immigrants, direct immigrants, or people of Slovenian descent.

My name is Ronald Hein and I am the project manager of the Slovenian History, culture and cuisine.

So many Slovenians immigrated to northeastern Minnesota to work in the forest industry and to work on the, the iron ore mine.

That's the purpose of this of this event is to maintain the background, history.

My name is Joe Valencic, and I'm president of the Slovenian Union of America.

There are clusters of Slovenians all over the Iron Range and through the, original, missionaries from then, from today Slovenia, then Austria-Hungary, like Monsignor Buh, like, Bishop Frederick Baraga.

They helped establish these communities all over, Virginia, Eveleth, Ely, Tower.

And so we still express ourselves through, holiday events through our cooking, our lively, polka music.

Through our faith.

We are going to be celebrating in Tower, Minnesota, our hundredth anniversary in our national convention in July of 2026.

We're still riding that wave from 150 years ago.

The Slice from PBS North, presented by the Teberg Fund.