First Nation People settled what is now known as St. Ignace, Michigan, located in the Upper Peninsula across the Mighty Mackinac Bridge. Long before Europeans approached the water and lands, the Anishnabek (or Ojibway) dwelled in harmony with the land. Contrary to the popular belief that they were simple hunters and gatherers, they had a fairly well developed agricultural system, including gardens. They cultivated many agricultural resources.
 

The Anishnabek grew Corn (Mdaaminag in the Ojibway language) for centuries.  This corn is different than the commercial corn or maize we see today. It grew on short stalks and the ears were small.  It is recorded that Mdaaminag had a good, sweet taste (or Wiishkban).  It was often ground, and was also mixed with other dried foods such as nuts and berries The mixture was called Sagamite (Zaawmin).

The map to the left highlights known agricultural sites, overlaid on a modern map of St. Ignace, Michigan. One garden of Mdaaminag (corn) the Anishnabek cultivated was on the flat land where the Mackinac County Courthouse sits today, on the corner of Marley Street and Portage Street. Another garden was located east of the Moran Bay on the flat land between Marquette Street and Reagon Street, parallel to State Street in St. Ignace.  Now the Ojibwe Museum and Father Marquette Park rests on the land, as well as the PowWow grounds.  Further down the street are many businesses and residential houses.  This flat land provided a substantial yield that fed the Anishnabek Community, as well as the French Settlements.  It is not known whether the corn was traded or shared with the French.

Many historians believe the Northern Aniahnabek were gatherers, fisherman and hunters, but did little farming.  A new perspective is that the Northern Anishnabek were agricultural and planted and cultivated many of the crops such as berries, squash, nut bearing and root vegetables that were said to have only been gathered.  Today there are large berry picking sites that prove that the berries were deliberately planted and maintained.

Other foods the Ojibwe and Ottawa's harvest was Wild Rice,  Vegetables,  Herbs,  Berries, Nuts, and Roots.  This complimented their feasts of Fish and Wild game.
 

Harvesting Wild Rice

The Anishnabek always gave a prayer to thank the Creator for their food. They respected the animals who gave their lives and the fruit, grains and vegetables that offered their existence for their nourishment.

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