Native Americans attend the dedication of the Old Mission School and Chapel, 1939 | A Century of Service Photo
Native Americans attend the dedication of the Old Mission School and Chapel, 1939 | A Century of Service Photo
Feel free to share this post...

The Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society is presenting a program on “The History of Odawa Leadership in Northern Michigan” this week on Zoom.

The Zoom presentation will be in two parts, with the first taking place on Thursday, Jan. 14, at 6 p.m., and the second on Thursday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m. If you’d like to attend, please email Ann Swaney for the Zoom link, [email protected].

Old Mission Gazette is Reader Supported.
Click Here to Keep the Gazette Going.

The presentation will feature speaker Eric Hemenway, Director of Repatriation, Archives, and Records for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.

He notes, “The Odawa of Northern Michigan have experienced many difficulties and challenges throughout history, including fighting in multiple wars, and avoiding forced removal from Michigan. Leadership has been critical in the Odawa persevering through these trying times.”

His presentation will explore some of the actions of those northern Michigan Odawa leaders.

Chum Reay paddling on a raft in Old Mission Harbor in 1910, next to a fish shanty and Native American camp on Haserot Beach
Old Mission, Michigan, 1910: Chum Reay paddling on a raft in Old Mission Harbor. The building is a fish shanty on Haserot Beach; on the shore is a Native American camp | A Century of Service Photo

Much of Eric’s work has centered on retrieving human remains and sacred objects under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).

Eric Hemenway, Director of Repatriation, Archives, and Records for the Little Traverse Bands of Odawa Indians | Hemenway Photo
Eric Hemenway, Director of Repatriation, Archives, and Records for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians | Hemenway Photo

He has worked with Michigan tribes on many successful dispositions of culturally unidentifiable human remains from the NAGPRA Review Committee, including repatriation claims for human remains, sacred objects, funerary objects and objects of cultural patrimony.

Thank you to Historical Society members Judy Weaver and Ann Swaney for arranging for this two-part series.

For more about the Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society, visit their website. Click here to access the membership form.

2 COMMENTS

  1. It’s wonderful that we have people who’s passion is to document and help to highlight all cultures for preservation. That mean both Hemenway, and you as well for highlighting it. Best regards from Northern Indiana!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here
  
Please enter an e-mail address

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.