JoAnne Cook

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The Anishinaabek: Michigan’s original people

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Tim Mulherin, author of “This Magnetic North: Candid Conversations on a Changing Northern Michigan” includes an excerpt of his book that features JoAnne Cook, chief appellate court judge for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and an outreach educator. Cook sometimes teaches an adult education course at Northwestern Michigan College, “The History of the Anishinaabek.” Her historical overview incorporates cultural and spiritual aspects of the band, and she covers the legal issues involving treaties (which are still ongoing) leading up to tribal life in modern time and the efforts to restore and advance Native traditions.

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Leland library holds Summinars speaker series

The Leland Township Public Library will once again hold its Summinars speaker series that brings together leading thinkers, authors, and educators for a season of free, thought-provoking lectures on history, policy, culture, science, and more. Held in the Munnecke Room at the Leland Township Library, the Leelanau Summinars are now in their 14th year of engaging the community through intellectually stimulating programming. Next up, on Tuesday, July 8, at 4 pm, Molly Michelmore will speak on the evolution of the income tax and democracy.

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Marking Anishinaabe trails

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The Leelanau County and Grand Traverse communities, led by members of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, gathered on May 15 at Clinch Park in Traverse City to celebrate the Anishinaabe Cultural Marker Project. Seven markers celebrating spots along “Old Indian Trails” have already been installed in Suttons Bay near the library, in Leland near the museum, at Northport’s Peterson Park, at Omena beach park, at Hannah Park and Clinch Park in Traverse City, and at the Brown Bridge canoe launch in Grand Traverse County. Two more, in Northport’s marina park and West End Beach in Traverse City, will soon receive their installations, bringing the total to nine.

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“This land needs to hear its language”

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Emily Modrall drew an audience of 150 to Suttons Bay High School on Nov. 29 where she summarized the Kchi Wiikwedong Anishinaabe History Project and its work to give more space and visibility to the Anishinaabe past and present through signage and art on public land. A fascination with history led Modrall, who grew up in Suttons Bay, to a Ph.D. in Art & Archeology from the University of Pennsylvania and 15 years of field work in Italy. But upon returning home, this region’s own history seemed far away. Two years ago, Modrall ran across a marker at West End Beach etched “OLD INDIAN TRAIL” which she learned led south to Cadillac and was used by the Anishinaabek more than a century ago. Most of these trails are now lost to history—or paved over. Modrall describes herself in that moment unmoored, as she felt the history of her home and birthplace shifting beneath her feet. “What was this old trail?” She remembers wondering, “Who put up this marker? And what more can we do to preserve the past?”

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Leland Library hosts JoAnne Cook, Anishinaabek history

On Thursday, October 24 at 2 p.m., JoAnne Cook will present a program titled “The Way of Life of the Anishinaabek: History, Culture and Traditions” in the Munnecke Room at Leland Township Library.

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Arts Center features history of Anishinaabek people

JoAnne Cook, a practicing attorney and past vice president of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa/Chippewa Indians, teaches the history of her people, and specializes in making this history relevant for non-native audiences. Cook comes to the Glen Arbor Arts Center with insights into the Anishinaabek people past and present on July 11 at 10 am.

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