The Place of the Prayer Tree: The Historic Importance of Cross Village
Cross Village is one of the nine bands that constitute the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa. This village has always had important historical and family ties to the Odawa community. This tour will focus on Cross Village in the 20th century and how events from this era have impacted the tribe to this very day. We will meet at the Cross Village Community Center/Old School House on Shomin/Stone Church Rd. The walk will be approximately 1.5 miles.
Eric Hemenway
Eric Hemenway is an Anishnaabe/Odawa from Cross Village, MI. His work centers on bringing Anishnaabe/Odawa history to the public and advancing Anishnaabek rights. For 20 years Eric worked for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Archives. While at LTBB, Eric worked on exhibits, signage, curriculum, public programs, litigation and extensive work under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. Eric’s partners include the National Park Service, State of Michigan, Harvard, Yale, Newberry Library and numerous local schools in Northern Michigan. Eric received his honorary doctorate from Oakland University and has received numerous awards for his work on integrating indigenous history into public spaces. Eric is currently the Humanities Manager for the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan. As the Humanities Manager, Eric looks to include more humanities into the environmental justice movement through sharing the history of Michigan’s first people, the Anishnaabek.
North Central Michigan College • 1515 Howard Street, Petoskey, MI 49770
