Overview:

The Grand Rapids Public Museum celebrated the reopening of its fully renovated Anishinaabek: The People of This Place exhibit with a powwow bringing together hundreds of Michigan tribal citizens and allies to honor Anishinaabe culture, community and storytelling.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Grand Rapids Public Museum was buzzing with energy Saturday evening as hundreds of Michigan tribal citizens and allies gathered for a powwow celebrating the reopening of Anishinaabek: The Original People of This Place, a completely renovated exhibit. The powwow kicked off the exhibit’s highly anticipated reopening, filling all three floors of the museum with celebration and community.

The new exhibit replaces the previous one that opened more than 30 years ago.

“This may be the most significant thing the museum has ever done,” Dale Robertson, president and CEO of the Grand Rapids Public Museum, told Native News Online during the powwow. “I have been told that some of the technology we used in the exhibit is the only place in the world where it is being used.”

Anishinaabek: The Original People of This Place continues that spirit and dedication of the original exhibit with updated technology and enhanced storytelling,” the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Anishinaabe Curator Katrina Furman (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians) said. “Once again the Grand Rapids Public Museum collaborated with the Anishinnaabek community to create a space that is welcoming, engaging, and honest.”

Shannon Martin (Gun Lake Tribe) served as the powwow emcee. Her father, George Martin (Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians), served as head veteran. Mike Medawis (Potawatomi/Ottawa) served as the powwow arena director.

The Anishinaabek: The Original People of This Place is located on the third floor of the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

Editor’s Note: On Monday, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the Grand Rapids Public Museum will hold a press conference to allow the media to tour the new exhibit and ask questions of the museum staff. Native News Online will attend the press conference and provide a more thorough article on the exhibit.

All photographs by Levi Rickert.

Levi “Calm Before the Storm” Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher, and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded the Best Column Award in the print/online category...