Group wants local Native American center
Pilot News Staff Report
PLYMOUTH � A not-for-profit corporation was established on April 27 with one goal in mind � to develop a Native American Cultural Center in Marshall County.
Corporation Chairman Greg Ballew said the group will be known as the Wizawzibek Native American Cultural Center, Inc. and the facility and campus will be called The Wizawzibek Center.
"This Center is being developed to honor, preserve and pass on the art, history and tradition of Great Lakes Native American People," Ballew said. "We are not a political advocacy organization for American Indians and we will not become involved in tribal or personal politics. Wizawzibek is an organization of Native American and Non-Native people and we will not seek endorsement of the Great Lakes Tribal Governments. Wizawzibek will seek funding from public and private grants and donations, membership fees and will earn income from Center admissions and educational programs.
"It is our aim to develop a campus and facility where we will be able to provide formal and informal opportunities to learn about the 10,000 or more years Native People have lived in Indiana and the Great Lakes area. The Wizawzibek Center will provide a place where Native Elders and Tradition Bearers will be able to come and share their knowledge with both Native and Non-Native People from throughout the Great Lakes and across the country,� Ballew added.
�The Center will host Native American outdoor events such as Art Shows and Traditional Pow Wows. We also want to have a sales gallery for Great Lakes Native American arts and crafts to help support Native artists. In addition to welcoming Native Americans from throughout the Great Lakes, it is our hope that the Center will also attract thousands of annual visitors to Marshall County."
Ballew said the group chose Marshall County because of its important Native American heritage.
Marshall County is sacred ground to Great Lakes Native People because it is where Potawatomi Chief Menominee took a courageous stand, refusing to sign treaties and give up the precious homeland of his people. Trickery and force were used to finally remove Menominee and his villagers in 1838.
That removal has become known as The Trail of Death because more than forty Potawatomi perished during the three-month, six hundred mile walk from Indiana to Kansas.
"The blood and bones of our Native ancestors are here in Marshall County and we feel that is a good reason to establish our Center here. We're coming home," said Ballew.
The group chose its name for several significant reasons. Wizawzibek means "Place at the Yellow River" in the Potawatomi language. "We wanted to use the Potawatomi language because they were the last historic Native group to live in this area. We chose not to use Chief Menominee's name because we want people of all tribes and cultures to feel welcome at the place on the Yellow River. We will certainly honor the legacy of he and his people in some way on our campus. People need to know about the Trail of Death so that it might never happen again, but we can't change that tragedy.�
Through the Wizawzibek Center's educational programs, we will be able to have a positive influence on the lives of Native and Non-Native visitors and that is what is uppermost in our vision," Ballew said. "We are rooted in the past but we are focused on the future."
For more Information contact Ballew at (574) 233-6518 or Theresa Anderson, Treasurer at (574) 936-9370.
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