This is just a little summary of my walk through Duck Island.

First our little group of hikers met at the Ojibwe Culture Camp on Sugar Island. Tribal member Bud Biron talked to us about our outing to Duck Island. He told us about the sites we would see, and how the land was used by native Americans.

When Bud finished talking with us, we loaded into the vans, which took us to the beginning of our hike around Duck Island.

We arrive at the beginning of the trail and Bud started us off through Duck Island. We first stopped at an old log cabin which was former Michigan Governor Chase Osborne’s home for many years. It was located on Sugar Island, before we reached Duck Island. It was above the shore of the St. Mary River. Bud gave us some history on that area. He told us about how the freighters, before the Saulte locks were built, used to cross through this part of the river to bypass the rapids on the other side of the island.

We left the first site and headed down the trail towards Duck Island. Before crossing the little bridge to Duck Island Bud stopped along the trail to show us this some mint plants that were used for teas and medicines.

We crossed the bridge and were on Duck Island. Bud took us to another on of Governor Osborne’s houses. All that was left was an old stone chimney. An then He showed us the Governors personal library. We didn't get a chance to go inside but we got to walk around and see it from the outside.
 

This is the chimney to Governor Osborne’s house

This is the Governor’s library

Bud shared some information about this site. Then he led us to Duck Lake were he said his father, brother, and him would spear fish for sturgeon. He told us that they had one fish in site that they tried to spear but is was so strong that the spear could not make it through the fishes skin. He said they left because the fish was bigger than the boat.

We left the beach and walked back to our vans and went back to the Culture Camp to talk about our outing. I had a real good time and enjoyed what Bud Biron had to say. I'm hoping to do more outings like this in the future.

Return to the Sugar Island web page

Back to CHPI 1999 Michigan U.P. Presented by School of Information, University of Michigan. Funded by a gift from the Microsoft Corporation with continuing support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Contact Kari Smith at 734-615-0482 or karismit@umich.edu if you are interested in learning more about CHPI. Last updated on June 23, 1999 This page is: http://www.si.umich.edu/CHPI/mich99/land/duckis1.htm