On December 14, 2000, a historic first took place. The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) celebrated the establishment of a partnership for joint management of the Grand Portage State Park, an unprecedented partnership over ten years in the making. Last week, on Saturday, September 25, 2010 the partners came together again to celebrate the grand opening of the Grand Portage State Park Visitor Center. With them were new partners and hundreds of community members who enjoyed a dedication ceremony under crisp blue skies.
Joining the Grand Portage Band and DNR in bringing the new center to life was the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) and Explore Minnesota Tourism. Thanks to the efforts of the governmental agencies, the stunning 5,800 square foot building is a new highway rest area, a state travel information center, and park visitor center.
Thanks to all the dedicated people involved, it is also a warm and welcoming place. Speaking to the crowd gathered in front of the visitor center at noon, Park Interpretive Naturalist Anna Deschampe was first to give thanks—Miigwech—
to the many people involved in the journey to this day. She introduced the young girls that are the Hummingbird Dancers— Samantha Scalise, Rhonnie Poyirier, Ariana Poyirier, Sara Smith, and Shaelynn Novitsky—who danced as the Grand Portage Traditional Drum sang on the lawn of the new building.
The Grand Portage Traditional Drum offered songs of celebration at the grand opening. Clockwise from left : Billy Blackwell, Wally Deschampe, Al Aubid with his son Biidaash, Patrick LeGarde and John Morrin.
Billy Blackwell gave a welcome—aaniin, bindigen—
as well as an invocation in Ojibwe, first explaining in English that he was giving thanks for the beautiful day. “It is nice, with all that is not nice in our country and our world, to see the people of Grand Portage coming together and working so hard on this state park. Thestate park is now alive and it is a wonderful thing,” said Blackwell.
Courtland Nelson, DNR Parks & Trails director, then spoke, adding his thanks to all the individuals who lent their support to the development of the park. He said he was excited that DNR would have a place to offer year-round interpretive activities. “We’re working to get kids connected with the outdoors,” he said, noting that this gateway to the High Falls is a great place for that to happen.
Grand Portage Tribal Elder Billy Blackwell gave an offering of tobacco to say thanks for the beautiful day and the beautiful new state park.
Nelson expressed thanks to Mn/DOT for its help with the lighting and parking area and Mike Robinson, Mn/DOT’s district engineer, returned the thanks when it was his turn to speak. He noted that the visitor center was truly a “symbol of interagency cooperation.” Robinson said Mn/DOT’s role was to provide a place for people to stop and rest during their travels, but he added, “We are very proud to have been involved in this project.”
Thanks to Mn/DOT’s participation in the center, the rest area section of the building will be open 24 hours a day—and there will be no state park fees for Grand Portage State Park.
Tribal Chairman Norman Deschampe was the final speaker before the ceremonial ribbon cutting and he spoke a little of the work leading up to the agreement in 2000 and the progress since then. “It’s been a long process, but looking at what we have accomplished, it has been worth it,” said Deschampe. “A friend of mine used to say ‘you done good’ when you accomplished something significant. Well, there is no one person to thank here, it was a community effort. So, to all of you—you done good!”
The Hummingbird dancers, Grand Portage Brave Jaden Aubid, and the governmental representatives then gathered before the impressive new visitor center and cut a silky ribbon to officially declare the center open.
A final drum song and more dancing by the lovely Hummingbird Dancers followed and the dedication was over—but the crowd took its time dispersing.
Visitors stayed on the grounds, enjoying food prepared by the Grand Portage American Legion, dining in the new 30-foot gathering shelter. The Legion cooks were surprised that they ran out of fry bread—they had prepared enough for 150 people. They were happy, though, that so many community members came out for the grand opening.
Other visitors watched a wild rice demonstration offered by Al and Victor Aubid or a moose calling demonstration by Tony Swader. Swader called from the sturdy new observation deck overlooking the Pigeon River. Many enjoyed the scenic stroll on the handicap-accessible trail to High Falls. And many visitors checked out the wares at the gift shop and enjoyed the murals and work-in-progress displays in the state park information center.
No one was in a hurry to leave the place that says welcome—aaniin, bindigen.
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