Exploring Ojibwa Culture
in St. Ignace, Michigan on
Your Mackinac Island Vacation
Understanding and exploring the Ojibwa culture should be part of the Mackinac Island experience. One of the best ways to explore some of the history of the Straits of Mackinac is by visiting the Marquette Mission Park and exploring the Museum of the Ojibwa culture in
St. Ignace, Michigan.
It's a short 15 minute ferry ride. Shepler's is a short walk and Star Line Ferry is right across the street from this small but important museum.
Located at 500 N. State Street, this wonderful place pays tribute to what was once and still is a great nation of people. It is here that you can take a step back in time and learn about the
Straits
first settlers; and experience for yourself a little of what their lives and the Ojibwa society was like.
Learn about the importance of family to the Ojibwa and how each member contributed to the rich life they all shared. Step inside a miniature of the longhouses once built by the Huron and experience for yourself what living in a sapling and bark house must have been like.
Imagine the stories that were told on those long cold winter nights, and the excitement a young Ojibwa boy felt going on his first hunt. Learn how despite the seemingly endless work each family needed to do in order to survive they still made time for fun.
Parents can help their children by asking them to compare their family to the lives of these families to discover the many things both share in common despite the passing of the centuries.
Discover why the Ojibwa are considered semi-nomadic people and how each season brought new tasks that needed to be done to insure their survival. Learn about their seasonal movements. Discover how life was different at their spring camp from what they did at their winter camp. Learn about the animals they hunted, the types of fish they caught and the wild plants they cultivated in order to survive the harsh Northern Michigan winters.
You will be amazed to see for yourself how theses people once considered savages by the Europeans who arrived on Michigan's shores, actually were a great society having their own Ojibwa culture with
• their own religion,
• and their own birch bark writing paper to make maps, recall events and record their legends.
Experience all these things and more at the Museum of Ojibwa culture.
About The Museum Itself
The Museum of Ojibwa Culture is a combination inside and outside museum and the oldest documented Archaeological site in Michigan. It is open for the summer season during the hours of 9 to 6. There is no actual admission charge but, the museum does ask for donations to keep this special place up and running. Suggested Museum donations are only $2.00 per adult and a $1.00 per school age child or entire family donation of $5.00.
The gift shop is a must see. It is filled with books, music, and crafts all about the Ojibwa way of life and many authentic crafts created by Ojibwa artists. If you would like to learn more about
Ojibwa culture click on this link.
Make a Day of It!
While visiting the Museum of the Ojibwa Culture in St. Ignace why not make an entire day of it and take in the
Father Marquette
park as well. Then take a stroll around historic St. Ignace itself, Michigan's third oldest town. There is plenty to see and do including some magnificent sights of the Mackinac Bridge and the Straits of Mackinac.
Insider Tip: The Driftwood Restaurant just next door to the museum has some of the best white fish and other delightful yummy items on the menu! Or if you want to go for a short walk head to Java Joe's and enjoy the "fun and light hearted" ambience and food! Some people make their "fudge sundae" a whole meal!!
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