By Shannon K. Jones
Staff Reporter
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SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - Saturday, June 25, will go down in the books as a historical day for both the Bay Mills Indian Community and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians as the Brady Park mound was formally recognized and marked as an ancient Ojibwe burial ground.
"This is just awesome," said Bay Mills Historian Wanda Perron. "It was a really good experience; it is unbelievable to be here today."
Representing Sault Tribe's Cultural Division, Cecil Pavlat Sr., opened the memorial ceremony with an invocation as a small crowd circled him.
"On this day we affirm this land as our sacred burial ground," said Pavlat. "This is an important day for Anishnaabek."
The mound is the site of an unknown number of remains of tribal ancestors and former home of Fort Brady. Despite concern from local Natives in the 1800s that the area was a sacred burial site, the Federal Government proceeded with the construction of Fort Brady on the property.
Native's concerns were warranted as remains were uncovered during fort construction, but the discovery was not made public. Local tribes were not informed of the discovery until 1990, when the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) was passed by Congress. As a result, the Smithsonian was required to inform tribes of all Native remains in their possession and where they were found.
Bay Mills Historians Wanda Perron and Paula Carrick began working with Pavlat to provide the documentation required to have the remains repatriated back to the area. In 2001 the remains were brought back and buried on Sugar Island, as they could not be returned to their original place of origin.
Concerns about the preservation of the Brady Park site came to the forefront of both tribes in 1998 as the Corps began talk of constructing a pavilion where the burial ground lay. Carrick, Perron and Pavlat began working with the Corps to have the site marked and secured properly to prevent any further destruction to the area.
Their efforts came to fruition in May of this year as an iron fence was placed around the mound. Further marking began on June 24, as a Mountain Ash tree was planted on the site to replace one torn down by soldiers in 1822. In addition, four spirit houses were placed on the site in the four directions, one representing a father, one a mother, one a daughter, and one a son.
On June 25, the area was formally memorialized and dedicated as home to Anishnaabek ancestors and the archway to the site was revealed. The arch combines a traditional Ojibwe floral pattern flowing around a centered upside-down crane. The crane symbol was discovered on a grave marker at the site - placed upside-down the crane indicates passing on to the spirit world. The City of Sault Ste. Marie provided a signage placed on the outside of the fence detailing the history and importance of the area.
The burial ground remains locked while two keys remain in the hands of both tribes for future use, such as maintenance and ceremonies.
The six-year project was also a first time collaborative effort between both tribes and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
"We are grateful to the Corps for working with us," said Sault Tribe Chairman Aaron Payment. "It's fitting that we finally put to rest this area in respect to our elders."
Representatives from the Corps and the City of Sault Ste. Marie said they hope this project will serve as a model for other cities and tribes to work together.
