Love, respect, honesty, bravery, truth, humility and wisdom.
The values that the spirit beings of the past brought to Indigenous people are now set in stone at the city of Marquette’s waterfront. This circle of sculptures was unveiled recently to hundreds who showed up to get the first look at the new pieces.
The
Seven Grandfather Teaching images, sculpted from locally sourced rock by contemporary Anishinaabe artist Jason Quigno, will serve as the centerpiece of the new seven-mile City Shoreline Cultural Trail honoring Marquette’s diverse cultural heritage.
Quigno, a tribal citizen of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, says each of the seven massive stones represents a different teaching.
What’s happening: The Sept 6. unveiling ceremonies at the entrance of Marquette’s recent
Spear Dock renovation celebrated the first physical installation of site enhancements of the trail project; seven more "story markers" are planned for 2025 that will complete phase one of the Cultural Trail. The art was
commissioned by the City of Marquette Public Art Commission,
The back story: The multi-use City Shoreline Cultural Trail honors Marquette’s diverse cultural heritage and runs from the Carp River to Presque Isle. The route is planned to incorporate portions of Mattson Park, Lighthouse Park, and Presque Isle, as well as potential new locations. Phase one of the trail is in development and will include Gichi-namebini-ziibiing – mouth of the Carp River; Nagomikong, Nayamekang– Gaines Rock and Whetstone Creek; and the Seven Grandfather Teaching sculpture.
Future sites are being considered and a
Trailhead and Cultural Center will be established late 2025, opening to the public in 2026. All seven miles of the
Cultural Trail are accessible to the public. Trail improvements will include signage, public art, and landscape improvements to selected sites.
What’s next: The city has a landscape design plan to enhance the site surrounding the Seven Grandfathers stones and create a 'natural room,’ its entrance framed by native plantings, and a grove of birch trees encircling the space. Additional information, interpretation and engagement opportunities are being planned with the Seven Grandfather Teachings and local Anishinaabe culture.
Looking forward to 2026, Marquette Public Art Commission intends to continue working with Quigno to create an Ishkode (fire) to be placed in the center of the Grandfathers. The flames would be created from three different types of stone entwined to represent the Anishinaabek (Council of Three Fires).
How is this project funded: The sculpture and Cultural Trail story markers are funded through an NEA grant, which eventually leveraged the state's MEDC and DNR
funding for the Cultural Trailhead. The funding for the Seven Grandfather Teachings sculpture was a portion of the National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Grant and was matched by Marquette's Public Art Fund. Superior Watershed Partnership has been a close partner in securing these grants for the Cultural Trail and Trailhead.
“This is an exciting moment for the entire community and a first step in bringing forward stories that have long been hidden,” says Amelia Pruiett, communications and marketing coordinator for the city of Marquette Community Services Office of Arts and Culture. ‘While the Cultural Trail aims to tell everyone's stories, we’ve begun by highlighting Anishinaabe connections to the spaces we all inhabit and cherish. We are thrilled to offer this opportunity for our community to connect, contemplate, and celebrate.”
Rosemary Parker has worked as a writer and editor for more than 40 years. She is a regular contributor to Rural Innovation Exchange, UPword, and other Issue Media Group publications.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.