Wayside: Following the Seasons

"Following the Seasons" wayside sign on South Manitou Island

Quick Facts

Location:

45° 0' 38.38" N, 86° 6' 49.84" W

Amenities

1 listed

Audio Description

Main Exhibit Text

The Anishinaabek adapted their lives to fit the environment. They did not alter the world around them to accommodate their existence. Maintaining this balance meant moving with the seasons throughout the Great Lakes, in order to let the earth replenish. Bands of Anishinaabek moved to southern areas such as the Grand and Kalamazoo rivers for winter, the most difficult season. It was so demanding, years were measured in winters.

In the spring, the people returned to their villages in the north, to fish and make maple sugar. Summer was a time to grow crops, travel, trade, and carry out other business. The fall time was for preparing food, trading goods, and hunting for winter. During all these seasons, ceremonies were held, sacred areas visited, and ancestors honored. Time was told through the various moons, or months, that reflected the different areas. For example, June was Strawberry Moon in Northern Michigan.

Image Descriptions

Background Image

The background of this exhibit is a sepia-colored historic photograph of Anishinaabek men, women, and children on a lakeshore. Six canoes are pulled up onto the shore and there are two in the water. There are twelve people visible in the image, all looking toward the camera. The people on shore are standing or sitting with their canoes. Floating nearest the shore is a canoe with three adults and one child. In the background, behind this canoe, is another canoe with a single man aboard, holding two oars.

Caption

Anishinaabek families and their canoes, 1908

Modern Photographs (left)

On the left side of the exhibit are two modern photographs.

The top image shows a brown and white animal hide stretched out on a rectangular drying rack constructed of wood and twine. The rack is standing in grass near the edge of a wooded area.

Below this image is a man sitting in a marshy area, holding a fishing net with a long pole. He is wearing camouflage overalls and a knit hat.

Caption (top image)

Animal hide is stretched and dried.

Caption (bottom image)

Today, area tribes protect and restore area fish populations.

Anishinaabek Objects (left)

Shown along with the modern photographs are three Anishinaabek objects, which include a birchbark basket with a dark brown leaf pattern, a wooden frog lure, and a ball of nettle twine. The wooden lure is in the shape of a frog with its legs stretched behind. It has a piece of string tied around the middle, loosely extending behind the frog.

Image of Moon (top right)

In the top right corner, there is an image of the moon. The moon is colored in shades of yellow, orange and pink.

Caption

Look at the moon tonight. Which one is shining now?

Spring Moons: Sugar Moon, Sucker Moon, Flower Moon
Summer Moons: Strawberry Moon, Raspberry Moon, Blackberry Moon
Fall Moons: Corn Moon, Falling Leaves Moon, Freezing Moon
Winter Moons: Little Spirit Moon, Blue Moon, Spirit Moon, Bear Moon