Sister cities interlace spirituality for a unique sunrise ceremony

Observer Staff

11/29/2005 12:00:00 AM

Sharing cultural values and creating new opportunities for business outreach, 11 Mt. Pleasant area residents recently traveled to the sister city of Okaya, Japan.

Saginaw Chippewa Tribal member Joseph Sowmick conducted a sunrise ceremony that combined Native American and Japanese spirituality.

"It was an honor to be asked by Mayor Hayashi to return to our sister city and offer sunrise ceremony for the residents of Okaya," said Sowmick. "It was a very special event and is another example of how the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe continues to be visible on local, state, federal and international levels. Through the Tribe's generosity, their cultural museum now features 24 Ziibiwing Cultural Society panels and the �Creation Story" production-all translated in Japanese."

The program began 40 years ago when President Eisenhower launched the Sister Cities International program to foster local-level diplomacy and sharing between global communities. At that time, local residents Larry (then city manager) and Donna Collins and city management began a relationship, which has brought about an intra-city exchange between Mt. Pleasant and Okaya of some 300 community leaders and residents, including students, during the last four decades.

This year's participants were Mayor Adam Miller, Vice Mayor Cynthia Brundle, City Manager Paul Preston and his wife Kathy, Joe, Susan and Lindy Sowmick, Bruce Kilmer, John Casburge, Larry Collins and Helen Hagens.

For additional information about the International Relations Committee, call (989) 772-2858. To know more about the Central Michigan University International Program and the Friendship Families Program, call (989) 774-4308.