The Grand Portage Community Center is always welcoming with its greeting, Gakina mamawi idimin, or “We gather here.” The community center truly comes to life each year on the second weekend of May when the community gathers for the “Honor Our Elders” Powwow. This year’s powwow was held Saturday, May 10 and included a wide variety of dancing, by young and old.
Jon Schei, Gunflint Lodge employee and fishing guide for the last 21 years sent in some interesting weather facts related to Gunflint Lake.
“The latest ice out for Gunflint Lake was June 3, 1936. I got that from Justine Kerfoot’s log. She walked across the lake on June 1,” Schei said, referring to the legendary late owner of Gunflint Lodge.
“The next latest ice out was May 26 in 1966. There was a three-way tie for third place on May 18 when the ice went out in 1972, 1979, and 1996.
“Last year the ice went out on Gunflint on May 17. It looks like it’s going to be around the 17th again this year,” said Schei, who despite the cold rainy weather on May 12 was getting ready to go fishing even though there wasn’t much open water to be found.
Above: The women’s jingle dresses are not just beautiful, they softly echo the sound of the drums. Right: Vivian Carlson of Grand Portage enters the arena to the sound of the Stonebridge Singers who offered an honor song during Grand Entry.
When will the ice go off the lakes? Some people found a little bit of open water on Sea Gull Lake and on a small portion of Gunflint Lake to put their boat in the water on May 10, 2014 Minnesota’s fishing opener, but most people found smaller lakes still completely frozen over and fished streams or stayed home or traveled to the middle of the state to find ice-free lakes to try their luck.
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