Haylie Robinson: So maple vinegar.

OK, here we go.

Drink Vendor: It's a flavor.

You've never had.

Haylie Robinson: Yeah.

I'm Haylie Robinson, and I'm a former fair queen full of wanderlust.

I explore art, culture, community, heritage, history, and more.

One festival at a time.

I invite you to join me in finding festivals Finding festivals is brought to you in part by Find some Lake Erie Love?

It's a SHORE thing!

Learn how at SHORESandISLANDS.com and start an adventure today.

Toledo.

More than you ever imagined.

Learn more at visittoledo.org.

learning about other cultures and celebrating heritage.

Among the many reasons I love annual events.

To experience a history, spirituality and community and Native Americans.

I had an hour north of Lansing, Michigan, to the city Mt.

Pleasant.

It is home to the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe and has over 1000 acres of park land with 18 nature preserves from traveling on the cheap, wild river to traversing the many walking paths visitors can get in tuned with nature while visiting Mount Pleasant.

I wanted to explore one of the local parks.

We're here at Chipper Waters Park, and as you can see, the Chippewa River runs through the entire location.

There's vibrant greenery, beautiful flowers, and plenty of spaces where you can either look at the river or just sit by it.

It truly is a great way to start your morning off.

Chipper Waters Park covers more than 30 acres and is located on a state conservation area.

The Access Adventure Trail is 1.8 miles long and connects four other parks.

It could be because it's still morning time, but the water is so calm and it's actually really popular among canoeists kayakers and tubers.

It looks really refreshing.

So the next time we're in Mount Pleasant, I'm definitely going to grab a tube and enjoy the river Do you hear that?

The beautiful sound of nature is to learn more about the conservation efforts in Isabella County.

I connected with Mike from the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy at Bundy Hill, located about 20 minutes west of Mount Pleasant.

Mike LeValley: So the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy is a 51 C3 nonprofit.

We protect and restore land within the Chippewa River watershed.

And the watershed itself is in five counties here in central Michigan.

And our goal is to protect land for wildlife, habitat for recreational use, and to preserve water quality, among other uses as well.

But we work through owning lands.

We actually own 24 properties that are nature preserves that are open to the public.

A little over 640 acres and then we have conservation easements which are on private land, that we have a legal agreement with the landowner that assigns some of the long term rights over to us permanently.

Haylie Robinson: We've come all the way to Bundy Hill.

And could you tell me what the elevation is here?

Mike LeValley: Sure.

Bundy Hill is 1000, 270 feet above sea level.

It's 500 feet higher than the city of Mount Pleasant, which is the closest population center from the parking lot to the top of the hills.

174 climb Bonny Hills, actually, the highest point in Isabela County.

So that's part of the reason why this property is protected.

Haylie Robinson: What is the mileage from the parking lot all the way to the top of the hill?

Mike LeValley: So there's two trails that go to the top of the hill.

One of the trails is about point six miles.

One is 0.8 miles.

So Loop is around a mile and a half total if you do the looper on the outside of the preserve.

Haylie Robinson: And then you've recently done some work here where those those trails are just recently added.

Mike Levalley: So within the last five years, we acquired the.

Property.

In 2016.

The trails were mostly constructed in 2018, although we continue to do work maintaining the trails over time.

So there's a series of interpretive signs here on the history trail.

This trail is the shortest section of trail.

It's a little over point two miles, and there's about ten interpretive signs talking about the history of this region from the Ice Age up through the present day.

So it talks about the Chippewa River watershed.

It talks about the Saginaw Chippewa Indian tribe.

It talks about freed blacks that settled in the area.

So it's pretty diverse bit of history in this area of Michigan.

Haylie Robinson: So what is your favorite part of your job?

Mike LeValley: The best part is when I get to be outside going out and leading hikes, we do a lot of nature hikes over the course of the year.

So I'm still doing some education.

And, you know, that might be sunrise hikes, it might be moonlight hikes, it might be a wildflower hike.

It varies across the year.

So we're introducing people to new things in the outdoors and that really gets me excited, you know, just the outdoors in general.

But, you know, getting more people excited about the outdoors is the best part of my job.

Haylie Robinson: I can even feel like your passion, your energy.

And, you know, it's so refreshing to hear people like you say, yeah, I care about outdoors and and you should join me in doing that.

I think that's incredible.

Nature plays a part in indigenous culture, especially the federally recognized signature by tribe who are known as a woodland tribe.

The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe has made the Isabela Indian reservation their home since 1864.

In circumstances were far from ideal for the tribe's ancestors.

And it wasn't until 1934 when the Indian Reorganization Act was passed that improvement on conditions were made.

Today, the signature Baw tribe invites all people to experience their culture during the annual powwow celebrated throughout the nation.

Powwows are a welcoming event for all people to celebrate Indigenous culture, though many of the performances are a modern rendition of traditional songs and dances, there are some parts that are sacred and expected to be met with the utmost respect.

Erik Rodriguez gave me a crash course on how the events of the powwow unfold.

Erik Rodriguez: So I'm a member of the Signature Pony Tribe.

I've been working in my community now for almost 20 years, but in the public relations role for about ten years now, and I truly love working for my tribe and giving back to my tribe.

I think for us the big thing to mention is that we really, truly are an all inclusive and inviting community.

People used to have these stereotypes and these ideas of silos and you know, who are the Native American people of the region and what did they do for us?

To be able to share that and bring them into our community for a small piece of that culture helps them ask questions or curious about it, and that really helps us have those discussions to further educate them about not only traditions we still have and carry on today, but some of the lost traditions that we're trying to revitalize.

When you look at our tribe, our language, the Ojibway, Anishinaabe more and language different than what you'd hear from the Navajo or the Apache, you would see some of the designs on the wooden floor.

You'll see that in our regalia later today.

We have more traditional woodlands, buried designs, mine designs a lot of traditional feathers.

You'll see the geometric patterns of like the Southwest and some of the other tribes that are further out west, the Great Plains with large headdresses.

We have roaches so you see a lot of these unique and very special things that are culturally appreciated that make our tribe unique.

But that's hope that helps you know, make sure that you can distinguish the differences between our tribes and others.

Haylie Robinson: What helps you identify each one, right?

I mean, we all kind of use, especially with clothing, even today's society, we use clothing to identify ourselves.

So it just kind of infuses on how that works.

Erik Rodriguiez: It is.

And you'll see that when we have our grant entry coming in today and some of the dance specials when these dancers have the regalia, it's not a costume, it's a piece of regalia outfit that each piece on that regalia has a meaning.

How they obtain that is generally by earning that or being gifted to that.

We're doing something great to be able to be honored and given a piece of your regalia today.

So when you look at what these dancers come out and wearing from head to toe, every piece on their body has a significance.

And it's unique in nature because of how they they earn that or what it means to them.

Haylie Robinson: And, you know, like on average in the past few years, like how many tribes tend to show up each year?

Erik Rodriguiez: You know, it varies each year.

But you mean you're looking at hundreds of different tribes that are actually going to be in attendance today.

So you have members of tribes that, like I said before, our local and this is one of their favorite stops throughout the United States.

So it's there's not really a set number, but it's quite a few that come on each and every year.

Haylie Robinson: So I know that there are powwow gatherings all throughout the nation, but what makes the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe National Powwow different than the rest?

Erik Rodriguiez: Yeah I think for us, it's it's having the ability, as we talked about those social gatherings we want to make it our own to make our members feel welcome, but to make everyone feel welcome, we're woodlands tribe hunter gatherers.

So we use our traditions and our customs to make people feel that sense of place here.

So what we do and how we model our themes for our powwows, how will you see the artwork and the design that we have?

We want to make sure that people experience that it's different than what they see in other powwows.

And there's hundreds of powwows throughout the United States.

And as much as they're unique, there's very similar.

I think people can grow accustomed to be able to see the same styles of dance, but different competitions, well, specials that are based in our community there's one that's going to happen today a murdered and miss missing indigenous women and children, a big movement that we've seen for Native American peoples throughout the United States.

There's a special that a family promoted today that we'll see that later this evening.

But a lot of those great things that really you're trying to connect to the people and to the community, and that's what makes us really unique and special.

Haylie Robinson: I love that.

You know, from starting the whole celebration kind of at the beginning of the week and to the end, it really not only infuses the tribes, but also the community of Mount Pleasant and brings everyone together.

I think that's a beautiful it does.

I'm captivated by the vibrant colors and strategic stitching of the regalia now, knowing that each piece of the ensemble has a meaning, I'm eager to learn more.

I spoke with Joseph, who is a tribal elder and traditional dancer.

Joseph Sowmick: My spirit name is Jamaica Neck, which is a big turtle, and that's why I got my elk made turtle shield here, and it has my spirit name on it.

It also has some Ojibwe floral patterns for myself.

I graduated from Michigan State University, so it does have the green and white colors of a Spartan connected to it being Beaver Clan It also has Brother Otter on the Shield, and the White is from Brother Irma, so we try to use natural furs in our regalia.

Haylie Robinson: So how does a spirit name come about?

What kind of goes into choosing that or being named that.

Joseph Sowmick: Well, in this case, you approach a traditional elder with a gift of tobacco, and you mention to the elder that you're a traditional person or would like to walk that red road of traditional teaching.

And that way you can go ahead and to make that offering, and they take that offering, offer it to the sacred fire, or they offer it to the sacred fight.

And the creator comes up with that name that you're bestowed, being able to ask that question.

That's an honor for us to go ahead and share those teachings.

Haylie Robinson: Well, I'm I'm enjoying your story, so I'm assuming each color is means something.

You don't just put colors because they're pretty there's significance.

Is there certain colors that stand out.

Joseph Sowmick: Actually, that's a wonderful question because even in my ego feather, I was gifted these sacred colors from a grandmother that smoked her sacred pipe and they include the colors of the medicine.

Well, yellow, red, black and white they also include blue for father sky and green for Mother Earth.

My dancing stack has the colors of the Beaver Clan, the orange and the brown.

And I have rabbit fear and deer antler on that and I also included my eagle feathers that I've been gifted from Creator on different occasions.

And my regalia that I have on the front.

It depicts the woodland floral patterns.

And even in my beadwork that has a turtle along with the Beaver clan and has some strawberries on it.

That's all traditional but tell us your story.

Haylie Robinson: Now, I notice that you have feather representation on the back.

Can you can you explain a little bit about how you acquired that into your regalia?

Joseph Sowmick: So a lot of times our traditional dancers will go ahead and have what's called the bustle and even some of our fancy dancers.

They'll go ahead and to have a double bustle as they do their dancing and the acquiring of the regalia people wear, I think a lot of times, you know, those are stories that kind of bring depth and scope to the powwow.

Haylie Robinson: What are some specific steps that kind of make your dance special?

Joseph Sowmick:Well, I think a lot of times, you know, for our men's traditional, it's more of a two step process.

And with the bells that we have on our fingers, you know, you tend to get a rhythm with the drum and and as you get the rhythm with the drum, it tends to move you.

And I think that's, you know, common in a lot of indigenous music.

And and a lot of times, you know, when we hear that heartbeat, that bass sound, it'll resonate all across the arena.

And that's why I think a lot of younger people, when they hear that bass sound, it kind of makes them want to move, too.

And and sometimes when you hear the bells, when you hear the drums going, it just makes you want to dance.

Haylie Robinson: It sure does.

It gets my heart pumping of like, right, let's get moving right.

Native American Dancers: Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, oh.

Haylie Robinson: The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe annual powwow is more than a weekend of indigenous dance performances.

But a competition, though, I participated in competitive dance in my past.

I was curious how the judges of the powwow scored the contestants.

Elizabeth shared her experience as a dancer, and the judging process of the competition.

What goes into planning this event?

I mean, it's massive.

Elizabeth Chivis: Yes, we have dancers.

Some participants drummers and singers from all over the country.

And our committee of 12, we work all year.

We meet monthly.

And basically, when it gets to two months before power, we start meeting once a week because there's a lot of work that goes into having a successful celebration when it comes to the dances and the singing and the drumming.

I mean, that's actually people come to compete, too, is that right?

Yes, it's a competition powwow, a little different than our traditional polo.

And forgetting that we also organize and with the contest powwow with the prize money it is help.

But most of our competitors are dancers and our drums.

They're coming out to celebrate with us.

And most of the time it's really it's a competition against yourself.

Haylie Robinson: What is the competition kind of look like when I know you said they kind of compete with themselves, but how much of it is technique and accuracy and how much of it is just performative nature and spirit?

Elizabeth Chivis: There's a lot that goes into judging.

We have their regalia, you have moccasins, how their moccasins look, their application work on their regalia, besides just the actual dancing.

So there's a lot of things that the judges are looking for.

So Elizabeth, do you also participate in the dances?

Maybe not compete in them being you know, you're kind of an insider of the judging.

Right.

But do you also participate in the dances?

Yes.

It's something else when you get out there and it's like I said, it's not necessarily you're trying to win the money, but when you're out there with the best dancers across the country, they bring the best out of you, too.

feel that positive energy in that circle and that dance circle.

And it makes it to me personally.

It makes me perform that much better because I'm with such graceful beauty all around me.

It just pulls me in.

Haylie Robinson: the energy of the dancers can be felt all through the crowds to set the tone of events as the grand entry led by the head veteran flag carriers and head dancers, the grand entry marks the beginning of each powwow session throughout the weekend.

Following the grand entry is the Flag Song, which is equivalent to a national anthem and not permitted to be recorded.

One part of the power that moved me most was the Victory Song.

So in that sense, we're experiencing the best and that we're.

All very come out and I can't.

I can't honor them and it really is more of a welcome home than really moving.

Think as a drum beat urges me to move.

I ask Elizabeth to join me for the Intertribal Dance, a dance that invites people of different nations, native and non-native, to bond over music and steps taken in unison.

When all that dancing has worked up an appetite.

I tried Indian Tacos, which uses fried bread as a base, and it was really good I also got to try fried bread with a candy bar in the center, and it was delicious.

But it got me wondering Where did this come from?

I connected with Craig to learn that Native American culinary secrets yes.

Craig Graveratte: Yep.

The fry bread recipe is handed down from like my grandmother's recipe.

And actually between my sister and me, they run this Dan and my other sister.

We compete on who's going to have the best fried bread.

So we're anxiously awaiting right now the announcement of who wins the Freebird contest at this hour this year.

Haylie Robinson: Wow.

So while everyone is competing with with dance and performance, you're out here competing as well with food.

Craig Graveratte: Yeah.

Yeah.

That's one thing.

With this pause, they give the vendors and community an opportunity to participate if they don't dance or they don't strum or sing.

So it's a great opportunity.

Haylie Robinson: That's so cool, though, like everyone really gets to compete and be part of the overall celebration, I think.

Craig Gravette: Right, right, right.

And that's unique because not all powwows do that.

Haylie Robinson: So when it comes to the fried bread you said it was your grandmother's recipe.

So what all goes into it?

Craig Graveratte: That's a Native American Secret.

No, I'm just joking.

We always like to joke around like that.

You know, that's that's what coming together is about, that powwows and things.

You see family.

But with the with the fry bread, it's just flour, baking powder.

We use nondairy creamer because so many people are lactose intolerant these days.

So we want to make sure that everybody is able to enjoy our fried rice.

We haven't found a gluten free option yet.

It just doesn't turn out too good.

But most people do come in.

They tolerate the bread that we do make.

So once we get it made, we let it rise for about 3 hours.

We use baking powder so it helps it rise.

We don't use premade bread, though, so everything that we do at our stand is made fresh every day.

We change our oil every day.

Bread is made fresh every day.

So you know it.

It shows and the lines that people stand in to wait for our bread, you can tell.

Haylie Robinson: I mean, we got the pleasure of tasting some of the cuisine.

And it was I mean, I'm not mad about it is very good.

I did like the rye bread with the American candy and then I also really enjoyed the fact that.

Craig Graveratte: Yeah, that was actually my sister's addition to the stand here.

I don't know what she did at one point, but somebody asked her to use a candy bar inside of our fried rice.

So we started to go and the one candy bar was the best and everybody seems to love it.

It's like people come and they order four or five at a time and they come back all the time for.

Haylie Robinson: A slam dunk.

In my opinion.

It was good.

That was good.

They mentioned that the recipe was passed on to your family, so how long has it been part of the native French.

Craig Graveratte: Fried bread came about with?

Because the Native Americans were placed on reservations and the federal government used to talk about commodities.

So they had to make do with what was given to them because they couldn't they didn't have fertile land and and items like that to to sustain themselves.

So they looked at the commodities that the government gave them was like flour, lard, sugar, things like that.

So that's where everything come about is they're making this bread and things.

And then they put other things on top of it to help sustain their lifestyle.

Haylie Robinson: And this is my first powwow and I've just been emotional the whole time, just seeing all of the beauty and the cultural and the community aspect.

So my question to you is, what is the powwow mean to you?

Craig Graveratte: What does it mean to me if it means it's a celebration for the community and more or less when when a POW happens, they're there to celebrate something or to make sure that other people are coming to see their joy and their happiness and bringing people together.

And that's basically what we'd like to see is we always want to bring people together, whether you're Native American or not.

We want you we open up our arms and we open up everything to come and try and experience what we live.

Haylie Robinson:T he powwow is a place for those with Native American heritage and who want to learn more.

The city manager shared Mount Pleasant relationship with the tribe and annual powwow.

Aaron Desentz:It's my first powwow I just came on board very recently here.

So I'm experiencing this as you are as a first timer, but very exciting.

A lot of energy in the air here.

Really interesting seeing the community come together and not just this broader community, but this event brings people from multiple areas of the state of Michigan as well as from out of state.

Haylie Robinson: What is the relationship between Mt.

Pleasant and the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe?

Aaron Desentz: It's the city of Mount Pleasant, and the tribe have had a very healthy relationship for more than a few decades now.

At this point, the tribe is very important member of the community.

They have a grant program in which they donate millions of dollars and back into the general area here in Isabella County and in Mount Pleasant in general as well.

The tribe also comes into our after school program.

We have a program called the Peak Program for after School for Kids come to.

They come in.

They do a lot of cultural teachings.

They are the seven grandfather teaching.

So they're a part of that as well.

Haylie Robinson: We had a couple of years without annual event.

What does it look like now to you to see the events come back?

Aaron Desentz:Yeah, really turn the world upside down.

Obviously, people not being able to get together, events not being able to go forward and people having to stay home.

I think that was very upsetting to people.

I think what you're seeing in this event and other events around the state of Michigan and around the United States in general is that people are coming to them.

They're happy to be able to meet in person again, to experience these kind of things.

HAylie Robibnson: From the dances and regalia to the food and individuals.

There are plenty of opportunities to engage in conversation and learn more about Native American heritage.

The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe annual powwow has left me with a deeper understanding and emotion.

Only the drums and dancing could awaken.

I look forward to even more conversations at the next festival.

We find you can visit finding festivals dot com to learn more about the series, get updates through the digital newsletter and connect with me on social media where you can access more content on festival fun.

Tonight was a warm day and here's a mountain of drinking water Leon Oh, now you're gone.

Ah, I'm.

Erik Rodriguez: Just.

I was just the 11 liner.

I guess I'll.

Haylie Robinson: Take care of that.

I fun fact Finding festivals is brought to you in part by Find some Lake Erie Love?

It's a SHORE thing!

Learn how at SHORESandISLANDS.com and start an adventure today.

Toledo.

More than you ever imagined.

Learn more at visittoledo.org.