UP North TV has a feature with two Native American poets, Lois Beardslee and Eva Petoskey, reading poetry at Eyaawing Museum that you might enjoy.
The artwork to the right was created by Lois, and appears in a cool feature about her years ago by Jim Rink in our Northern Michigan Journal entitled Lois Beardslee, Daughter of the Earth. It was about her artwork, but I think it gives a great sense of Lois's dedication to the preservation of her culture:
...Beardslee is good at filling the gaps--she feels a strong responsibility in her role as a cultural emissary for Native Americans. Whether she's telling stories on paper or in person, the imagery she creates is the essence of life in the Ojibwe and Lacandon tribes into which she was born. Make no mistake--the myths and the legends she distills are for our benefit. Long part of an oral tradition, the spirit world of the past has been kept alive through a well organized underground. Only recently have these cultural icons resurfaced, as a soothing balm for troubled and restless times.
Beardslee has had her own share of troubles, and the gaps here are a little bit wider. Born into a family of nine siblings, her mother died when she was 10; her father at 15. But she has no complaints.
"I grew up around here, came from a rural background," she says. "We hunted, fished, farmed. I grew up in a privileged era--I remember ducks being piled on the table, each of us having our own duck for dinner. It was a time of plenty--a lifestyle that's disappearing."
T
he annual Holiday Bazaar at Eyaawing Museum and Cultural Center takes place on December 3rd, 2011 from 9:00pm to 3:00 pm. The Holiday Bazaar is being held to give Artists and Crafters the opportunity to showcase their talents and bring in a little extra income before the holiday season. All are encouraged to participate either as a vender or as a shopper. If you are interested in being a vender please call Cindy Patek at 534-7764 or Doris Winslow at 534-7965 for an application.
The museum is located at 2304 North West Bay Shore Drive (M22) in Peshawbestown, 20 miles north of Traverse City; open Wednesday – Saturday; 10am.-4pm.
More about Eyaawing Museum & Cultural Center
Eyaawing (pronounced a-ya-wing) means “Who we are” in Anishinaabemowin, the traditional language of Michigan’s Native people. Eyaawing Museum & Cultural Center is a place that serves both members of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and the larger community. It is a place where the traditions, language, and art of the Tribe are kept, taught, and celebrated. It also provides a portal to Tribe for the community -- a place where the public is welcome to learn about the culture and history of the Grand Traverse Band. For additional information, click the link above call 231-534-7764.
The Leelanau Enterprise reports that units of government and other organizations in Leelanau County will receive about 20% of the nearly $1 million in casino revenue sharing funds paid by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB). The largest single award is $75,000 through Grand Traverse County for a Father Fred Foundation program to offer financial assistance to families facing utility shutoffs. Other highlights:
- Government-to-government agreement with Leelanau County for a prisoner housing contract, $63,875.
- Empire Township, funding to purchase a generator to be used on conjunction with the township’s agreement with the American Red Cross for emergency needs, $4,568.
- Leelanau Conservation District, funding to purchase two new desktop computers, three sets of new office software, and one operating system for existing laptops, $2,400.
- Leelanau County, funding for Leelanau Clean Water programs for various projects, $9,930.
- Leelanau County, funding for the county Planning Commission to update aerial mapping, $20,000.
- Suttons Bay Township, funding for Inland Seas Education Association to develop and install an "Asian Carp Exhibit," $7,550.
Also included are numerous payments to the Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library, Fire & Rescue Authority, and Suttons Bay Public School.
Photo credit: day trip-34 by 1Cher
Tonight from 4-8 PM, shops, stores & galleries in the village of Leland will host their annual Men's Shopping Night to help all you Last Minute Larrys find that perfect gift.
If you are in last second mode, definitely consider doing your shopping in Leland, Lake Leelanau, Suttons Bay & Peshawbestown, Northport & Omena, Glen Arbor & Empire, Cedar or Maple City - you won't have to fight the crowds and you will get friendly and personal service and help your neighbors!
Photo: Aurora Borealis Designs by farlane
The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports that:
Odaawe Gamik, the gift shop at the new Eyaawing Museum and Cultural Center in Peshawbestown, is now open. The shop is stuffed with the work of artists from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and other local Indian artisans.
..."Odaawe Gamik" melds the word "Odawa," meaning "trader," with "Gamik," meaning "this place."
The store features traditional and contemporary works, including black ash baskets, bead and quill jewelry, Petoskey and native stone jewelry, dream catchers, prints, birch bark mirrors and herbal soaps and lotions.
The store is located across from the Leelanau Sands Casino and you can call 534-7764 for info.
The artwork is called Leelanau Dancing by Leelanau native artist Lois Beardslee and you can check out a great article that Jim Rink wrote titled Lois Beardslee: Daughter of the Earth in the Northern Michigan Journal.
The new m22colortour.com web site hopes to cooperatively market M-22. A feature in the Traverse City Record-Eagle relates that Rand McNally recently rated the scenic route as one of the five greatest driving tours in America and that:
The M-22 Color Tour promotion is a collaborative effort of the visitors bureaus in Benzie and Manistee counties, along with the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The three organizations pooled resources and marketing dollars to spread the word about the color route.
In addition to the Web site, the groups printed about 10,000 rack cards that are available at their respective offices, at Michigan Welcome Centers and at businesses along the route...
At a time when many folks are watching their gas gauges, one appeal of the M-22 Color Tour is that it's a one-tank trip for many in Michigan and across the Midwest. That makes it an appealing day trip or weekend getaway for those who want to savor autumnal beauty.
It certainly is a gorgeous route, as you can see from the photos in the Michigan Highway M-22 Group on Flickr - here's a slideshow for "fall" from the group which I imagine will grow as the color proceeds.
I should add that you can also find great places to stay along M-22 on our lodging page!
photo courtesy m22colortour.com
The Leelanau Enterprise has a feature that explores how the new Turtle Creek Casino in Acme might impact the Grand Traverse Band's first casino (and major Leelanau county employer and economic driver), Leelanau Sands.
...(Ron Olson, CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of the GTB) said the GTB is “very aware of the fact Turtle Creek will be very successful” — and the effect that might have in drawing gamblers from Leelanau Sands.
But he also sees opportunity for Leelanau Sands, which will continue to cater to a more local clientele. Olson expects the base of visitors to expand to include users of a proposed 129-slip marina planned within walking distance of the casino. Also being built in Peshawbestown is a cultural center and museum designed to tell the history and ways of the Grand Traverse Band.
...Notably absent from the rebuilt Turtle Creek is an entertainment center of the capacity of the Leelanau Sands Showroom, which will host country music legend Marty Stuart on June 28. Turtle Creek’s Level 3 lounge was designed as a 200-seat nightclub on the third flood overlooking the gaming area, but lacks capacity to host big-name acts.
Read Tribe: New Turtle Creek is opportunity for Sands in the Enterprise.
Photo: kasino by The Real Ferg (a photo of te Turtle Creek Casino while it was under construction)
The Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce hosts their annual Leelanau Business Expo next Wednesday (Apr 30) from 11 AM - 6 PM at the Strongheart Center in Peshawbestown.
The event is free to the public and the Leelanau Enterprise reports that over 100 businesses will be exhibiting.
Event co-organizer Jackie Morrison expects a full house of exhibitors, but said the Chamber will try to fit in any last-minute attendees.
“There is still some room,” said Morrison. Jackie and Bill Morrison are organizing the event, which is held every other year. They are owners of the Business Helper in Suttons Bay.
“But it’s going to be cozy,” she added, with some 112 spaces already rented out to a variety of businesses and non-profit groups. Some businesses, such as the Bill Marsh auto dealership in Traverse City and Stander Marine of Leland, will be showing cars and boats on the grounds of the center.
Read the rest of Big Turnout Expected at Chamber's Expo in the Enterprise.
Photo: Strongheart Center by Andy McFarlane
Peshawbestown is located just a few miles south of Omena and is part of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians'. The Leelanau Sands Casino is located in Peshawbestown and attracts many visitors every summer. Originally founded as a mission, Peshawbetown's exact history and dates are disputed. Peshawbestown was established by 1855 and in 1911 the Detroit Free Press published an article about the village. According to the article in 1911 Peshawbestown "was the only pure Indian village in all of Michigan." The village had "two long rows of log cabins" which showed "the battering of nearly three-quarters of a century of tempestuous northern winds and snows... broken window panes [are] stuffed here and there with rags to keep out the cold... the doors of the houses all fasten with a latch string, a piece of bent wire hooked over a nail or an occasional padlock." The village was originally called Eagle Town and then renamed Peshabestown after Chief Peshaba who was Chief in 1859. Today the Peshawbestown Pow Wow remembers the history and culture of the Ottawa Chippewa Indians.
Wikipedia's Peshawbeston Entry
Peshawbestown is located just a few miles south of Omena and is part of the Grand Traverse Indian Reservation, which is owned by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. The village is composed of a community center, Indian art store, medicine lodge, governmental center, Strongheart Civic Center, Fire/Rescue/Police departments, and the historic Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church, and many historic houses. The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians' Leelanau Sands Casino is located in Peshawbestown and attracts many visitors every summer. Originally founded as a mission, Peshawbetown's exact history and dates are disputed.
Peshawbestown was established by 1855, and in 1911 the Detroit Free Press published an article about the village. According to the article in 1911 Peshawbestown "was the only pure Indian village in all of Michigan." The village had "two long rows of log cabins" which showed "the battering of nearly three-quarters of a century of tempestuous northern winds and snows... broken window panes [are] stuffed here and there with rags to keep out the cold... the doors of the houses all fasten with a latch string, a piece of bent wire hooked over a nail or an occasional padlock." The village was originally called Eagle Town and then renamed Peshabestown after Chief Peshaba who was Chief in 1859.
Today the Peshawbestown Pow Wow remembers the history and culture of the Ottawa Chippewa Indians.
Local area links:
Wikipedia's Peshawbestown entry
Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce's Peshawbestown page
Sleeping Bear Dune Rides: Remembering the Dunesmobiles
