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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
These Michigan places have Native American names. How they got them
This story has been updated with additional information. Across Michigan, you'll find places with names of Native American origin, reflecting the state's deep Indigenous heritage. Present-day Michigan is the ancestral homeland of Anishinaabe peoples, with the Indigenous presence pre-dating European settlements by more than 10,000 years. More than 240,000 Native Americans and Alaska Natives currently live in Michigan, according to a statement by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, placing it among 10 states with the highest Indigenous populations, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. "In the 1600s, the relationship the Anishinaabek had with their homelands drastically changed with the arrival of Europeans to the Great Lakes. Diseases, wars, and the efforts to remove the Anishinaabek from Michigan continued for centuries. Despite this, the Anishinaabek fought to remain," Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore's website says. Michigan cities, villages, rivers and other locations often take their names from Native American origins. The name of the state itself is attributed to the Algonquin word "Mishigamaw," meaning 'big lake' or 'great water,' deriving its name from the lake of the same name. It's also said to be from "Michi" meaning "great" and "Gama" meaning 'water," the Bureau of Indian Affairs says. Here are a few Michigan places with Indigenous names. Who are Michigan's Native Americans? Among the state's important Native American roots are the Anishinaabe peoples of the Council of Three Fires historic alliance, the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi nations, according to Waséyabek, a tribally-owned economic development entity of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi. Indigenous communities in Michigan include the following 12 federally recognized tribes: Bay Mills Indian Community Grand Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. Hannahville Indian Community Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan (Gun Lake). Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Indians. Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. How did Saginaw get its name? The name of the mid-Michigan city, county, river and bay comes from the Ojibwe language, with various interpretations of its original meaning. The name is believed to come from the Ojibwe words sag and ong, for place of the outlet, the Library of Michigan says. Another possible origin could be the Ojibwe phrase for where the Sauk were, referring to an Indigenous people who lived in the area before the Ojibwe people, Pure Michigan says. Munising features Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Located at the Upper Peninsula's northern edge, this town borders Lake Superior and faces Grand Island from South Bay. Visitors can enjoy outdoor recreation at sites like Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Grand Island National Recreation Area and Hiawatha National Forest, including hiking trails, Munising Falls, lakefront sandy beaches, boat and kayak tours and historic lighthouses. The city and township get their name from the Ojibwe word Minissing, meaning Place of the Great Island, Munising Township's website says. Mackinac Island is popular tourist attraction Nestled in the Straits of Mackinac between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas is 2025's No. 1 summer travel destination, according to USA TODAY's 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards. In addition to its roughly 500 year-round residents, Mackinac Island draws in over 1 million visitors each year with activities ranging from grabbing a picture at stunning Arch Rock to tasting Mackinac fudge to bicycling around the island or touring historic Fort Mackinac. The name of the county, island, bridge and straits comes from the longer Anishinaabek word Mitchimakinak, meaning place of the great turtle, or big turtle, according to the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau and Pure Michigan. French settlers later changed the spelling to Michilimackinac, adapting it to the French language, and the British eventually shortened the name to Mackinac. Saugatuck is popular west Michigan town This city along the Lake Michigan coast in southwest Michigan is a top summer tourist destination, with attractions including a quaint downtown, lakefront sandy beaches and an array of art galleries and installations. The town's name comes from the Potawatomi word shaug-a-duck, meaning mouth of the river, the Hotel Saugatuck's website says. The Kalamazoo River flows into Lake Michigan from Saugatuck. Ontonagon offers Lake Superior beaches, Porcupine Mountains Located in the Upper Peninsula's far northwest, this area features a variety of hiking trails, lakefront sandy beaches, waterfalls, ski areas, a historic lighthouse, and Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, also known as the Porkies. The county, village and river's name traces back to the Ojibwe language, with various interpretations. This includes the word Nondon-organ, meaning hunting river, according to Central Michigan University's Clarke Historical Library. Explore historic downtown in lakefront Manistee This area along the shores of Lake Michigan offers sandy lakefront beaches, the city of Manistee's historic downtown, Manistee National Forest, farms, trolley tours, skiing and snowmobiling, fisheries, boating, kayaking and canoeing and orchards. The city, lake, river and county's name derives from an Ojibwe word, possibly ministigweyaa, meaning river with islands at its mouth, or from an Ojibwe word meaning spirit of the woods, the city of Manistee's website says. Ocqueoc Falls are on the Ocqueoc River Ocqueoc Falls are on the Ocqueoc River in the northeastern Lower Peninsula. The area includes 6 miles of hiking, biking and cross-country skiing, and a state forest campground with a hardwood forest. The name of the waterfall, township and river is considered to be an English or French interpretation of the Ojibwe name for the river, meaning crooked river, Ocqueoc Township's website says. Ocqueoc also means sacred in Ainshinaabemowin, or the Ojibwe language, Discover Northeast Michigan says. Washtenaw home to bustling college town Southeast Michigan's Washtenaw County is known for the city of Ann Arbor, featuring the University of Michigan campus, museums, gardens and trails, Michigan Medicine, historic districts, theaters and a diverse array of dining options. The county also features parks with a chance to explore kayaking, hiking trails, canoeing, fishing and more in nature. The origin of Washtenaw has several interpretations. The Library of Michigan traces it to the Ojibwe word Washtenong, meaning Grand River, farther district or land beyond, according to Michigan State University. The county's website says the name could also be of Potawatomi or Algonquin origin, citing various sources. Muskegon features Lake Michigan state parks This west Michigan area along the Lake Michigan coastline boasts sandy lakefront beaches, an amusement park, trails, downtown Muskegon, state and county parks, historic lighthouses and more. The name of the city, lake, county and river comes from the Ottawa word Masquigon, meaning marshy river or swamp, according to Pure Michigan and Visit Muskegon. Keweenaw home to nation's best ski resorts At the northwestern tip of the Upper Peninsula, the Keweenaw Peninsula juts into Lake Superior, home to sandy beaches, some of the nation's best ski resorts, Michigan Technological University, local, state and national parks and a copper mining industry. The name's origin lies in an Ojibwe word meaning the crossing place, Visit Keweenaw's website says. Keweenaw can also be traced to the Ojibwe word Kee-wi-wai-non-ing, meaning portage or place where portage is made, according to Michigan State University. Osceola rich with outdoor recreation This area in the central western Lower Peninsula is primarily rural and includes 16 townships. Osceola County features parks with opportunities for activities like fishing, camping and swimming. The county is named after Osceola, a Seminole chief, the Library of Michigan says. Osceola, meaning black drink singer, refers to a liquid a Seminole warrior would drink during purification rites, the National Park Service's website says. Where can I find more information on Native American place names? Michigan State University offers a list of many place names associated with Native American origins. Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: A look at the Indigenous heritage behind Michigan place names Solve the daily Crossword
E&E News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- E&E News
Ousted BLM top cop must be reinstated within 60 days
The Bureau of Land Management's former top law enforcement official who was dismissed more than three years ago amid assertions he was being punished for complaints about a senior BLM official has now been cleared to return to his previous post with back pay. BLM did not appeal an administrative law judge's order last month that ruled Eric Kriley, the former director of BLM's Office of Law Enforcement and Security, must be reinstated to the post he was abruptly removed from in October 2021, according to Kriley's attorney and two people familiar with the case who were granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly. BLM had until Friday to ask the full Merit Systems Protection Board for a formal review of the May 9 order from Administrative Law Judge Evan Roth. Because it did not, the bureau now has 60 days, or until Aug. 12, to comply with Roth's order that directed the bureau to 'cancel' Kriley's removal and 'retroactively restore him as Director of the Office of Law Enforcement and Security.' Advertisement BLM also owes more than three years' worth of back pay to Kriley, who was formally demoted in 2021 by Mike Nedd, then a BLM deputy director and Kriley's immediate supervisor. Kriley was transferred to a law enforcement position with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, where he currently works.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
Lithuanian, Polish troops aid in 'search and recovery' for 4 missing US soldiers from Fort Stewart
The Polish military has established a group to assist the Lithuanian Army and U.S. Army in a recovery operation for four U.S. Army soldiers who disappeared early Tuesday during a training exercise near Pabradė, Lithuania. The soldiers, based in Fort Stewart in Georgia, were riding in an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle on a scheduled maintenance mission to recover another U.S. Army vehicle in the training area when they disappeared, U.S. Army Europe and Africa public affairs in Wiesbaden, Germany, confirmed. Hundreds of U.S. and Lithuanian soldiers and law enforcement, Lithuanian military helicopters and dive teams aided in the initial ground-based search through the thick forests and swampy terrain. However, the soldiers have yet to be located, and the M88 Hercules was found submerged in a body of water inside the training area, located over a highly pressurized gas pipeline near Pabradė, a town north of the capital Vilnius. Bureau Of Indian Affairs Missing And Murdered Unit Investigating Alleged Military Base Killing In an interview with Fox News Digital Thursday afternoon, Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė said from the moment the country learned of the incident, it had "given everything" it has, both from its armed forces and internal affairs ministry institutions, to find the soldiers. Read On The Fox News App "From helicopters with thermal vision to forces on the ground, we are continuing very intensely," Šakalienė said. U.S. Army Europe and Africa public affairs noted water, thick mud and soft ground around the site "have complicated recovery efforts," requiring specialized equipment to drain water from the side and stabilize the ground. Polish officials announced Thursday they were sending a group of troops with engineering equipment to assist. As of Thursday afternoon, officials said land dredging equipment was on the way, and a dam was being reinforced to isolate the mud pumping area. The pressurized gas has been removed, and it is now safe to work at the site, according to Šakalienė. The internal water waste agency will send out a water master dredger and more than 900 feet of bulk pipe on Friday morning, and they should reach the the location by midday. It will take several hours to install the pipeline and the dredgers. Then, they will begin making water influx with the excavator. "The dredger pump usually pumps 80% of water, while working with 20% of mud or sludge, and the goal is to start working with the pump until the evening, so that, finally, on Saturday morning, a diver and the hydrographic team can use a multi-beam echo founder to assess the position of the vehicle, because we don't know yet if it has overturned or what position it is in," Šakalienė said. A diver will attach cables, and workers will use pulleys to tow the vehicle to shore. "Then we will be able to check if the missing soldiers are inside," she said. Šakalienė said it is unknown if the soldiers could have escaped the vehicle before it sank but reiterated there was "no evidence" confirming the deaths of the missing soldiers as of Thursday afternoon. Foreign Nationals Flying Drones Over Us Military Sites Raises 'Espionage' Concern: Expert The area surrounding the site is a forested area with swamps and bogs, similar to an environment found in Alaska. Weather conditions are also similar, making it a challenging training area for Army personnel. "Maybe they were lost, confused, hurt or in hypothermic condition, and we haven't found them yet," Šakalienė said. "But we are not losing hope until the very last moment. These are strong soldiers, strong, grown men. All scenarios are possible." She added Lithuania, a member of NATO, considers American soldiers their own and will not leave them behind. "We are working with them. We are friends with them, and all of our society is heartbroken watching every single moment of this rescue operation," Šakalienė said. "I have a 24-year-old son. It's difficult for me even to imagine what they are going through. … Let me assure you, we will do everything in our power to find them and to find the answers as soon as possible." Search 'Ongoing' For 4 American Soldiers Missing From Training Area In Lithuania: Nato Deputy Prime Minister of Poland Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed on X a task force of several dozen Polish soldiers with heavy equipment and frogmen were "urgently" heading to Lithuania to help. "We are responding to a request from our allies #StrongerTogether," Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote in the post. The country, also a member of NATO, has reportedly feared talks between Russia and Ukraine could end in a settlement that would allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to threaten the region. Lithuanian officials said they are in touch with U.S. Ambassador Kara C. McDonald and U.S. Army personnel. "We are leveraging every available U.S. and Lithuanian asset to coordinate and provide the required resources for this effort," U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, the commanding general of 1st Armored Division, wrote in a statement. The rescue mission has now turned into "search and recovery efforts," according to a statement from U.S. Army Europe and Africa. "We are incredibly appreciative of the dedicated and professional efforts of our Lithuanian allies in ensuring the safety of U.S. personnel," Taylor added. "They have worked tirelessly alongside us over the last 48 hours, and we continue to be grateful for their support." The U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division is keeping the soliders' families updated on the search. "This tragic situation weighs heavily on all of us, and we're keeping the families, friends and teammates of our soldiers and recovery team in our thoughts and prayers," Taylor wrote. "We want everyone to know we will not stop until our soldiers are found." President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday he had not been briefed about the missing soldiers. The training site is less than 6 miles from Belarus, a Russian ally since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. Lithuania, a Catholic country, will be organizing a joint prayer Sunday at its main church, the capital cathedral, and will host a mass for the missing soldiers. Click To Get The Fox News App The White House and Fort Stewart did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. The Associated Press and Fox News Digital's Stephen Sorace contributed to this article source: Lithuanian, Polish troops aid in 'search and recovery' for 4 missing US soldiers from Fort Stewart
