Ziibiwing Continues Work in Flint

6650 E. Broadway • Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
Phone: 989-775-4750 • Fax: 989-775-4770
Open Mon. thru Sat. 10am - 6pm • Closed Sundays

Flint Work Resumes In Spring 2010

An area originally planned for redeveloped residential housing in Flint’s Carriage Town district has been the focus of much local, state, and more recently – national attention. On Wednesday, October 7 during a congressional oversight committee hearing on the Native American Graves Protection & Repatriation Act, the Honorable Dale Kildee spoke very favorably about the Tribe's cooperation and responsiveness regarding the ancestral mitigation effort in Flint (Stone Street Ancestral Recovery & Reburial Project).

Official Statement from the Tribal Council of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan November 20, 2009

Since August 13, 2009 the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan has been working diligently to mitigate the inadvertent discovery of ancestral human remains from over 76,000 cubic feet of back dirt piles. The ancestral human remains were unearthed in January 2008 due to construction activity. This historic burial ground (Site #20GS136) has been classified as land that can no longer be developed by the State Historic Preservation Office

With the cooperation of the Genesee County Land Bank and the City of Flint, the Tribe has been given full access to the site to recover and separate the ancestral human remains from old housing debris, late 19th century refuse, and modern-day garbage.

Today we are pleased to report that the ancestral recovery from Stone Street Parcel A is complete. We are here to lovingly and reverentially rebury these relatives into clean and blessed earth.

Tomorrow we must suspend the project for the winter. Next spring the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways will be tasked with resuming the coordination and oversight of this effort. The Tribal Council is grateful to the staff of the Ziibiwing Center for their unwavering commitment and hard work throughout this very sensitive process.

We are equally as grateful to the countless volunteers and Tribal Labor Pool Employees who worked at the Stone Street site.

The Tribal Council wishes to extend our deep appreciation to Dr. Beverley Smith, Frank & Nicole Raslich, Dr. Misty Jackson, and Dr. Sonya Atalay for their professional contributions and dedication to the project.

We also wish to thank Dr. Mike Hambacher, Senior Archaeologist from the Commonwealth Cultural Resources Group, Inc., for the use of the screens and tripods.

We are very grateful for the generosity that came from many individuals and local restaurants who donated food, water, and supplies to the project.

In the spring of 2010, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan will inform the public with a start date when the project will resume. Miigwetch to all who were involved in this effort - your hard work, prayers, and commitment brought us to this day. Chi Miigwetch!

Resume in the Spring - call for more details in 2010

519 Stone Street Flint, Michigan 48503

For equipment, monetary, or food donations contact:

Dorothea Botimer Ph: 989-775-4750

For more information contact:

The Ziibiwing Center Ph: 989-775-4750