Anishinaabe speakers share stories, culture at Marquette Regional History Center

MARQUETTE — Storytelling is a very important element to Anishinaabe culture, and earlier tonight, some members of the community were treated to authentic native stories.

Held at the Marquette Regional History Center, several indigenous storytellers gave attendees a glimpse into Anishinaabe culture.

Many of the stories take place in winter, and for good reason.

“We don’t really celebrate Christmas because that’s a post-colonial thing in this region,” said Leora Lancaster, instructor at the Center of Native American Studies at NMU. “So instead, in Anishinaabe culture, we have storytelling sessions. Storytelling is a very sacred thing to Anishinaabe people. Tonight we had more of the original stories of the people that are okay to tell in a public setting. These are different stories that have already either been published or that you hear out in public.”

Also featured was a spread of indigenous–based foods, also called decolonized, as an appreciation of traditional Anishinaabe diet.

Attendees picked up recipes for these foods, along with packs of tobacco to be used in the traditional way.