Gerry Henkel has a Finnish background and is originally from Finlayson, MN. He traveled to Finland as an adult and learned to make kanteles and jouhikkos, each a stringed Finnish instrument. He is teaching and passing the tradition of making and playing both of these instruments on to younger generations, as well as selling kanteles through his website. In 1997 and 1999 he was the recipient of the Minnesota Folk Artist award and he has been heavily involved with Finnish and Finnish American culture and music since the 1990s. He is featured in an educational handout created by Sallie Anna Pisera, “Kantele in the Upper Midwest”
Fieldwork conducted by Sallie Anna Pisera with support from the Minnesota State Arts Board.