The Heart of the Great Turtle Island/Gchi Mshiikenh Deh Minising project, a collaborative effort to add Native American context and perspectives to the Father Marquette National Memorial site in St. Ignace, held its symbolic start Monday as project partners gathered for the blessing and breaking of the ground.
The project is a collaborative effort between tribal, local and state representatives to add Native American context to the Father Marquette National Memorial site in Straits State Park in St. Ignace.
Representatives from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Bay Mills Indian Community, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potawatomi Indians (Gun Lake Tribe), Moran Township, Mackinac Straits Health System and Lake Superior State University were on hand for the event.
Plans for the memorial site include the construction of educational structures, exhibits and art.
“It is important to share the complete story of Michigan’s history. This project will help us do that. This effort wouldn’t be successful without the partnership that has gone on behind the scenes in the planning process. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with tribal, local and state partners to help make this possible," said Sandra Clark, the director of the Michigan History Center.
Bridgett Sorenson, Sault Tribe Board of Directors for Unit 3, is looking forward to the finished project.
"It takes a big collaboration to make this come together. It has been several years and a lot of organizations and a lot of people have put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears to make this be rebuilt. We look forward to this opportunity to work with the state and all agencies and tribes," Sorenson said.
Construction on the Learning Commons, pow wow ground structures and Community Kitchen Pavilion begins this summer and will take about a year to complete.
