Straits of Mackinac

Tribe Involved in Commemorations of British Arrival in the Straits

Kate Fort

From the Petoskey News:

MACKINAW CITY — In the Straits of Mackinac region 250 years ago, the French ruled as the British began making their way westward across the U.S. from the eastern seaboard. It was the time period surrounding the French and Indian War, and in Northern Michigan, everything was about to change.

In early autumn 1761, Patrick McGulpin arrived in Michilimackinac with British soldiers as part of the winding down of the French and Indian War. Their arrival ushered in radical cultural change in the previously French-dominated Straits.

To commemorate this period of change and the influence brought by the British, Emmet County, its historical commission and members of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians will host an event, “The Stage for Change,” from noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at McGulpin Point Lighthouse.

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On Oct. 15, members of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Historical Commission members and county staff will tell the stories of this era. At 1 p.m., Eric Hemenway, repatriation specialist with the tribe, will present overview information and provide a sense of place for how the Native Americans utilized the land later called McGulpin Point.

 

Dispute over Access to Straits of Mackinac

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Petoskey News-Review:

In a pending lawsuit, the owners of a Wawatam Township lot are seeking ownership of an adjacent strip of property that the public often uses to access the Straits of Mackinac.

The legal efforts have raised concerns from county and township officials about the potential loss of public water access.

“What we don’t want to do is, we don’t want it to fall into the hands of a private owner,” said Wawatam supervisor Roger Moore. “We want to keep it so it would be accessible to the public like it always has.”

Adjoining landowner Ralph Reisinger said he’s looking for a way to control illegal activities by visitors rather than putting the spot off limits. He noted that some of the people who’ve visited the area at the end of the road have engaged in activities such as littering and building unauthorized campfires on his lot and setting off illegal fireworks.

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