Ziibiwing project moving forward

Scott Csernyik

4/8/2003 12:00:00 AM

It has taken about a decade for cultural preservation efforts first initiated by a grass roots organization to come full circle.

The Ziibiwing Cultural Society, which started as a concerned group of Saginaw Chippewa Tribal members in November of 1993, elected officers and passed bylaws two years later. Since that time, the ZCS has grown to having an administration, cultural resource management and development departments, as well as commercial enterprises-the Dawe-wi-gammigoonse ("little store"), the Naanooshke ("hummingbird") Gallery at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort and Jeemon-aince ("little canoe") in the Slot Palace.

Then there's the Ziibiwing Center.

"Our goal is to make the new Ziibiwing Center a special place for many people by combining the best of the past, the present and the future of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe," stated ZCS Director Bonnie Ekdahl. "We will be worthy guardians of our treasured heritage and accept the challenge of taking our beautiful culture into the future."

Ekdahl, who was a part of the initial cultural preservation efforts 10 years ago, said she is very excited about the project. A museum, as well as a historical cultural research center, were two of several issues identified by the group in an article published in the Tribal Observer during January of 1994.

"The dreams of all those people who planned for this will be finally realized," she stated. "The project is on schedule and we've been informed we will be able to move staff in by late summer or early fall. The permanent exhibit, which is the round part of the facility, is slated to open in spring of next year. We've been in the planning mode for so long, it's refreshing to get into the implementation phase. We are really, really grateful to be where we are today. We always strive to be fiscally responsible and are also thankful for all the support we have received from all the Tribal Councils."