The Sanilac Petroglyphs event focused on traditional lodge building and Anishinaabe teachings in Michigan’s Thumb.

Cultural Teaching Event to Take Place in Michigan’s Thumb

CASS CITY, Mich. — Held by the Ziibiwing Center at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 20, 2025

A public event featuring traditional lodge dressing will take place Friday, June 20, 2025, at Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park, located at 8251 Germania Road near Cass City. The event is being hosted by the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinaabe Culture & Lifeways, in coordination with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The program, titled “Community Cultural Teaching: Lodge Dressing at ezhibiigaadek asin,” runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free and open to the public. A light lunch will be provided.

According to the event flyer, the gathering will “honor the teachings and spirit of the ancestors at this sacred place.” It describes the site as “a ceremonial place of natural beauty and wonder.”

Sanilac Petroglyphs Is Home to Michigan’s Only Native Rock Carvings

Located in Michigan’s Thumb region, Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park protects the only known Native American petroglyphs in the state. These carvings, etched into sandstone, are believed to date back 300 to 1,000 years and include depictions of human figures, animals, and symbols.

The site is known as ezhibiigaadek asin in Anishinaabemowin, which translates roughly to “written on stone.” It was first documented by settlers in the 1800s and later rediscovered following a forest fire in 1920. Today, the site is co-managed by the Michigan DNR and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.

Traditional Lodge Dressing Ceremony Revives Cultural Practices

The June 20 event will showcase the process of dressing a traditional Anishinaabe lodge, a ceremonial structure made from natural materials like bent saplings and bark. These lodges served as homes and spiritual spaces for Great Lakes tribes, including the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples.

According to cultural interpretations from the Ziibiwing Center, such teachings are part of an effort to preserve ancestral knowledge, encourage intergenerational learning, and strengthen ties to the land.

Sanilac Petroglyphs Event Open to the Public with Educational Focus

Unlike a private religious ceremony, this event is intended as a cultural teaching experience. Attendees will be able to observe how the lodge structure is constructed and dressed, ask questions, and learn about the meaning behind the materials and methods used.

The event highlights broader efforts in Michigan to protect and revitalize Indigenous culture, including through tribal-state partnerships and educational programming. Sanilac Petroglyphs is one of several Michigan state parks that now feature Indigenous interpretive materials and tribal co-management.

Honoring the Sacred With Public Participation

For communities in the Thumb region—such as Cass City, Bad Axe, and Sandusky—the lodge dressing offers a rare opportunity to engage with a living tradition rooted in Michigan’s history. Public awareness of tribal history remains limited despite centuries of Indigenous presence across the state.

This educational approach invites participants to witness a sacred space in use, rather than solely viewing it through interpretive signs or seasonal tours.

For more information, contact:
Marcella Hadden, MLHadden@sagchip.org or 989-775-4751

Sources

Source: Ziibiwing Center of Anishinaabe Culture & Lifeways. “Events.” Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan. https://www.sagchip.org/ziibiwing/

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park.” Michigan.gov. https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/historic-sites/sanilac-petroglyphs

Source: Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “Tribal Relations.” Michigan.gov. https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/tribal-relations

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