Discovering the History of the Ojibway nation August 11, 2025
In the 19th century all of Michigan, as well as portions of Wisconsin , Minnesota and Canada. They numbered over thirty five thousand strong. Along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, are several Indian founded towns. Harbor Springs, Good Heart and Cross Village are on the lake shore. I was staying in Good Heart, the middle area of the settlements. St Ignatius Catholic church and cemetery was two property from the cottage. The church dates from 1869 when the original church burnt to the ground. The interior is plain with narrow pews. The music is provided by a foot pump organ. The windows behind the alter is not stain glass but shows the sunrise over the lake. Hanging from the choir loft is a replica of a birch bark canoe used by the missionaries to travel the lake shore.
The historical church and graves sites overlooks the beach. The beach at the church is a public beach and free for all to use.
Walking along the shore road, I noted many old wooden stairways built on the top of the bluff and descending to the road for beach access. Many are neglected and have fallen to the forest floor.
The old trading post and store, is on the main highway on the top of the bluff. They sell groceries , souvenirs and Petoskey stones. It is the remnants of ancient coral. They are gray and covered with small circles in a honeycomb pattern.
After shopping, we traveled to Cross Village the northern settlement. There I sought an example of woven boxes decorated with porcupine quills. I wanted to feel the image on the box. I found a box made by a local native craftsmen in 2021. It depicts a hummingbird with the cardinal flowers small tall stems of red blooms coming out of the main stems. The small tubular flowers rich in nectar. The greens of the bird contrast with the bright red of the blooms. (see photo)
Before lunch we visited another art gallery with paintings of the native people and activities of their lives. The outdoor garden displayed a series of metal tubes that when hit or blown into mad a different musical note. Taking my cane, I tapped each tube as I slowly walked the circle.
At the restaurant, we visited the garden to see wood carvings of native animals carved from pieces of driftwood. The largest was a adult black bear standing over six feet tall. Feeling the claws, I found the claws were curved and slightly under 4 inches in length. The bear’s teeth were as long as their claws.
The day ended with a walk to the boat launch on the beach. Unlike the beach of white sand by the cottage, this beach was covered with small wave washed round rocks. I imagined the first missionaries traveling by birch canoes up and down the shore line to each settlement.
We ended the day around the beach fire, watching the hazy sun descend into the water. My brother passed around pieces of Mackinac fudge with the flavor of Rocky road. It is a combination of chocolate, cherries and nuts and marshmallow.. We watched as the first evening stars appeared to signal the end to the day and my vacation.
***. poem
Whispers
Bird call a greeting to the rising sun.
Pine trees dance in the breeze.
Lapping waves tease the bare toes as I walk.
Nature sounds, none of man.
I find a driftwood log.
A remanent of a ghost pine.
Smooth and bleached silver from months/years of floating.
I remember the tales of the first nation people and their ways.
Now gone, mostly- replaced with another.
Will we care for this gift of the land any better?
Time will tell.
carolaspot@aol.com
copyrighted 8/11/25
traveling up and down the blind highway 