History of the Anishinabek

The history of our region gets its roots from the Anishinabek who settled here many thousands of years before Traverse City, Suttons Bay, Northport, or other towns were established. But what do we know of these people and their influences on the region? Join JoAnne Cook, Tribal Court Judge and former Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Tribal Council member, as she shares the history of the Anishinabek people from the Grand Traverse Region. The Odawa is one of the 3 Fires Confederacy (Odawa, Ojibwe, and Bodawatomi) in Michigan. JoAnne believes tradition and culture are vital to the Anishinabek way of life and highlights her learning of the Odawa people. Learn about the native culture with teaching, philosophy and stories, and discover cultural changes that have evolved over time.