Encampment, Powwow Begins August 23

A family event that celebrates the history of the St. Ignace area, the Rendezvous at the Straits French Voyageur Encampment and Powwow is set for Saturday, August 23, and Sunday, August 24.

Open to the public, the voyageur encampment begins at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Father Marquette Memorial Park in St. Ignace. The Powwow runs from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for elders and students. There will be no charge for children younger than 12.

Native American and French-style encampments and historical reenactors will celebrate the cultural traditions of the Straits area, to the period of 1690. Visitors will see demonstrations of native and French cooking and sewing, and French woodworking. Early transportation will be featured and include birch bark and dugout canoes, snowshoes, and toboggans. A display of historic and traditionalbuilt Mackinaw boats will be offered, and feature native youth sail training.

Other representations will show how to sew cattail mats with cordage of inner basswood bark, birch bark container making, the process of brain-tanning a deer hide, and making wampum shell beads.

Handmade items will be available for purchase on a trade blanket.

Timothy Kent, an independent scholar and lecturer, will present the French Voyageur history, accompanied by his wife, Doree, and their sons, Kevin and Ben. Mr. Kent has written a comprehensive overview of the Michilimackinac area. Twice he has received the State History Award from the Historical Society of Michigan.

Native American interpreter Keith Knecht will share a living history presentation dressed in typical Odawa clothing of the 1770s. Mr. Knecht will weave the story of Michigan's earliest residents and the native way of life. As the story is told, participants will meet an early Jesuit priest, portrayed by Brother Jim Boynton. He will speak about early church history and Father Marquette, and he will play the fiddle.

The host drum for the powwow rendezvous will be the Bahweting Singers and Drum. Drum keeper Bud Biron is coordinating the powwow portion of the celebration. Butch Elliot will be master of ceremonies, Paul Yarnell will be the head veteran, Richard Lewis will be the head male dancer, Rita Boulley will be the lead female dancer, and Nathan Wright is the arena director.

The Youth Education Activities groups from the Eastern Upper Peninsula and Cheboygan will be attending and all youth dancers are encouraged to attend and participate.

Food vendors will be on site.

The event is being sponsored by the St. Ignace Special Events Committee, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce, the Michilimackinac Historical Society, and the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau.

For more information, contact Darryl Brown at (906) 635-6050.