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Walking the Old Road

The St. Francis Xavier Church in Chippewa City, photo courtesy of the Cook County Historical Society.

Walking the Old Road: The Story of Chippewa City and the Grand Marais Chippewa is a monthly series told through the words and stories of the people who lived in Chippewa City.  By recording the history of Chippewa City, it's our intent to honor the people who came before by sharing the views, stories and life experiences of those most often marginalized within the context of American history.
 
The series is produced by Staci Lola Drouillard, a Grand Marais native of Grand Marais Chippewa descent. While attending college in 1987, Staci interviewed Ojibwe artist George Morrison at Grand Portage. It was at this time that Staci first began to unravel the story of Chippewa City and the Grand Marais Chippewa. Staci’s journey resulted in a Master’s thesis titled, “The Village of Chippewa City and the Grand Marais Chippewa: A Study in Place and Identity, 1850-1950.”   
Photos for this series are courtesy of the Cook County Historical Society and portions of some achieved interviews courtesy of the Grand Portage National Monument.

 
Arts, cultural and history features on WTIP are made possible in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Check out other programs and features funded in part with support from the Heritage Fund.
 
 
Featured On: 
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North Shore Morning
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Walking the Old Road: Going to Sugarbush

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Grand Portage band member Jim Wipson, shares the story of making the annual trek to Sugarbush with his grandmother Kate Frost, a tradition that has taken place each spring on the North Shore of Lake Superior for hundreds of years.

The series is produced by Staci Lola Drouillard, Grand Marais native of Grand Portage Ojibwe descent, and is intended to honor the people who came before by sharing the views, stories and life experiences of those most often marginalized within the context of American history.

 WTIP and Staci Lola Drouillard

Airdate: April 1, 2010

Program: 
Walking the Old Road

 
 

Walking the Old Road: Balancing Two Worlds

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The Ojibwe people living in the Grand Marais area practiced a unique balance of cultures, that of mainstream society and traditional Ojibwe society. Living between worlds created a shared local identity that was shaped by time and place.

 WTIP and Staci Lola Drouillard

Program: 
Walking the Old Road

 
Morrison family and other Sunday parishioners, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Chippewa City (Photo from CCHS)

Walking the Old Road: The Legacy of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church

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The Legacy of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church is the second segment in an ongoing series called Walking the Old Road: The Story of Chippewa City and the Grand Marais Chippewa. Built before the turn of the century, the St. Francis Xavier Church has played an important part in the lives of the Ojibwe people who once lived in Grand Marais and Chippewa City, including the family of modern artist George Morrison, whose grandfather was a caretaker of the church.

The St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church is maintained by the Cook County Historical Society. Learn more about the church on the CCHS website.

Photos for this series are provided by the Cook County Historical Society.

The series is produced by Staci Lola Drouillard, Grand Marais native of Grand Portage Ojibwe descent, and is intended to honor the people who came before by sharing the views, stories and life experiences of those most often marginalized within the context of American history.

 WTIP and Staci Lola Drouillard

Program: 
Walking the Old Road

 
 

Walking the Old Road: The Happy New Year Tradition

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The Happy New Year Tradition is the first segment in a new ongoing series called Walking the Old Road: The Story of Chippewa City and the Grand Marais Chippewa. The Happy New Year tradition is fondly remembered by the Ojibwe people who live along the North Shore of Lake Superior, a practice that is believed to have started on the first payment day as part of the Treaty of 1854. The accompanying photo was contributed by the Cook County Historical Society.

The series is produced by Staci Lola Drouillard, Grand Marais native of Grand Portage Ojibwe descent, and is intended to honor the people who came before by sharing the views, stories and life experiences of those most often marginalized within the context of American history.

 WTIP and Staci Lola Drouillard

Program: 
Walking the Old Road