The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, along with various partners, built a new ferry terminal and permanent exhibit for Isle Royale National Park. Each season, visitors begin their journey to Isle Royale at Hat Point Marina near Grand Portage, Minnesota. From there, a 3-hour ferry ride takes them to one of two harbors on the island. The new site will permanently display cultural and traditional stories through immersive multimedia.
In a WTIP article, “The project received support in September 2019 when the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded a $3.2 million grant to the Grand Portage Reservation Tribal Council to redevelop the Hat Point Marina and Ferry Terminal, with an additional $2 million in local investment.” However, due to the pandemic, developers paused the project until last year.
Sharing untold cultural stories
With initial capital from the National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation (NPLSF), the new building features an interpretive exhibit sharing the story of the ancient connection between the Gichi Onigaming (Grand Portage Anishinaabeg) and Minong (Isle Royale). The exhibits will display the many untold traditions and culture of the Anishinaabe through a variety of multimedia. According to the NPLSF, the exhibit will highlight “Anishinaabemowin place names and the stories behind them, along with information on Minong’s national designation as a Traditional Cultural Place.” The foundation hopes to raise awareness and inspire others to contribute funding for the project.
The region holds deep meaning for those long connected to the land. April McCormick, Secretary-Treasurer of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, stated, “Our name for Isle Royale, meaning ‘The Good Place,’ conveys how we think of Isle Royale.” She added, “Few non-Indigenous people know much about that historic and contemporary relationship. Our building of the new Ferry Terminal Building, from which one-third of Isle Royale visitors depart for Minong, is a perfect venue for an exhibit explaining our connections to the Good Place.”
Now that the project is complete, the site includes a terminal building with space for up to 200 people. The facility also offers a ticketing area, offices, restrooms, and a concession area.
A natural and cultural legacy
Isle Royale National Park is a remote island wilderness located about 300 miles from Minnesota’s shore, The main island along with 400 satellite islands sit deep in Lake Superior. Visitors can access it only by ferry, seaplane, or private watercraft. The 45-mile-long island spans nearly 600,000 acres, making it the fourth-largest lake island in the world. The park was established in 1940 and designated a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve in the 1980s. More recently, the park was added as the Minong Traditional Cultural Property.
Prehistoric evidence suggests that native people from Minnesota and Ontario used Minong for fishing and copper mining. As Europeans moved into the area, native people became involved in commercial trapping, fishing, and maple sugaring. In 1971, the Band opened the Grand Portage Marina at Hat Point.
Today, visitors enjoy hiking, backpacking, fishing, and boating on and around the island. To maintain a wilderness experience, vehicles are prohibited. Roughly 165 miles of foot trails and backcountry campsites traverse the island. Nearly 22,000 people visited the island in the last year.
The Grand Portage Band led the project in partnership with the National Park Service, the NPLSF, the Grand Portage National Monument, and Isle Royale National Park. The NPLSF provided initial funding, and AMI Consulting Engineers developed the site.
More info:
- Sharing an Untold Story at the New Hat Point Marina – National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation
- Grand Portage hosts groundbreaking ceremony for long-awaited Hat Point Ferry Terminal project – WTIP
- The Hat Point Ferry Terminal in Grand Portage, Minnesota, is now complete! – AMI Consulting Engineers