This photo from the Judge C.R. Magney collection shows the Grand Portage meadow, circa 1920. A public meeting will be held Monday, April 27 to consider the future of this historic site.
Grand Portage National Monument invites all to a public meeting at the Heritage Center on Monday, April 27 at 5:30 p.m., to hear current proposals for the future use and management of the park’s historic meadow area, east of Grand Portage Creek.
Superintendent Tim Cochrane explains that the “meadow area” has layers of history on it. It has been the site of residences, a store, schools, gardens, icehouses, powwow grounds and more.
Cochrane said for a few years after the 1854 Treaty, the Grand Portage Band would play lacrosse with the Bois Forte Band in this field while awaiting the Indian agent to sail into Grand Portage Bay for treaty payments.
Before that it was the site of the American Fur Company’s fishing operation. And before that it was a garden and hayfield for the North West Company. And before all of this it was an Ojibwe home place.
The staff of Grand Portage National Monument, in partnership with the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, is in the beginning stages of an environmental review process to create an Environmental Impact Statement.
Cochrane said there are questions of what to do—or not do—in the meadow area. He said the park and the band would like input on whether or not there should be more interpretation at the site. “Should we put together an interpretive trail that calls out places where some of this history happened? Should we provide camping here for folks coming down the Grand Portage with canoe(s) and gear? Or, should we be ‘very light’ on direct interpretation and continue to ‘naturalize’ the landscape and provide limited interpretive programming there?” said Cochrane.
National Monument Cultural Resource Chief William Clayton noted, “Public input is a critical and informative part of this process for us. Public participation is welcome, and we encourage everyone to come and share thoughts and ideas as to how you would like to see the meadow area utilized.”
The meeting will be informal. There will be maps to review detailing the features of the meadow area, including wetlands, two different roadbeds, building foundations, and “lost” community pathways and garden sites. Park staff will be on hand to talk with folks, share information, and accept comments, suggestions, and concerns from all who attend.
Written comments are also encouraged and can be mailed to: Grand Portage National Monument, Attn: William Clayton, 170 Mile Creek Rd., Grand Portage, MN 55605 or via email: William_clayton@nps.gov.
Once completed, this document will guide the band and the Park Service in future management of the meadow area for visitor and community use.
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