*Photo Credit Michigan Department of Natural Resources*
- April 08, 2026
Project Title: MDNR Heart of the Great Turtle Island
Location: St. Ignace, Michigan
Description of Work: Construction Materials Testing, Laboratory Testing
Value: $3.6 M
Managing Office: Upper Peninsula
The Gchi Mshiikenh Deh Minising (Heart of the Great Turtle Island) project is a redevelopment of the Father Marquette National Memorial in St. Ignace. Led by the Michigan DNR in collaboration with Anishinaabe Tribal Nations, this initiative recenters the site’s history on Indigenous culture and heritage. The memorial is currently closed for construction, with a grand reopening anticipated in summer 2026.
Key project features include:
-
Learning Commons: A year-round facility for exhibitions, workshops, and community education.
-
Permanent Powwow Grounds: Dedicated structures to support large-scale cultural gatherings and ceremonies.
-
Community Kitchen Pavilion: A new building designed for food service and educational programming.
-
Interpretive Enhancements: Updated trail systems featuring new signage and commissioned tribal art installations.
-
Improved Connectivity: Future infrastructure to safely link the site across I-75 to the rest of Straits State Park.
- Construction Material Testing
- Laboratory Testing