Do People Live On Garden Island Mi

August 16^th – 19^th, 2012 (arrive at the mainland (Petoskey area) – evening of the 15^th

Video Presentation of the Expedition

Garden Island is an uninhabited 4,990 acre (20 km²) island located in the Beaver Island archipelago in northern Lake Michigan. It is almost wholly owned by the U.S. state of Michigan and is overseen by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) as part of the Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area. It is accessible by private boat. The Ojibwe name for the island is Minis Gitigaan, which has become Garden Island by direct translation.

Beach at Northcutt Bay - 2011

Currently, the island is not inhabited on a year-round basis; historically, this island was the home of many Anishinaabe. Some of these native Islanders lived on the island year-round, and others lived there during the warmer months. An increasing number of Anishinaabe from the mainland and Beaver Island owned farms on the Garden Island after the treaties of 1836 and 1847, planting corn and squash. Other Anishinaabe worked as fishermen. This Native settlement shrank during the early 1900s as most of its members moved away. Much of the land reverted to the state of Michigan as a result of the nonpayment of property taxes. The state never properly explained property tax law to the islanders. Other patches of land were abandoned. The last Garden Island resident, Peter Monatou, died in the 1940s.

Indian Harbor and Little Island

Most of the old-growth timber on Garden Island was cut and sawn by a short-lived sawmill that operated on the island in 1912-1913. A small town, now a true ghost town, was built near the mill and named Success, Michigan.
In 1978, Garden Island was the location for the climax of a Girl Scout Wider Opportunity called Scouts on Survival '78. 48 Senior Girl Scouts ages 15 -18 were brought to Michigan State University to study survival techniques. After two weeks of classes, the girls spent a week at Rose Lake Park practicing their new skills, and then a week on Garden Island. On Garden Island, they were placed in groups of 8. Each girl had only a knife, flint and steel, and a space blanket. The girls survived by building lean-tos, setting snares, fishing with handmade fishing hooks and twine, and foraging for wild plants.

Although the island is currently uninhabited year-round, a Native cemetery on the island continues in active use and contains more than 3,500 burials, most of them unmarked. The cemetery is notable for a number of "spirit houses" marking burial sites. The cemetery land is owned by a nonprofit group that keeps the site protected and open to all native peoples.

Anishinaabeg Spirit House on Beach

This year, we plan to return to the island with an extra day in the schedule. We will go armed with a list of things to do to help the island, like clearing trails and removing trash.

We will have two groups. Both groups will travel to Beaver Island by ferry. One group will bring kayaks and the other group will plan on hiking and taking a charter boat.

The Expedition will be a relaxing weekend. We will set base camp, explore the island and its features. We will post our activities to social media, track the expedition through satellite tracking technology, and attempt radio communications using VHF Amateur radio. Participants will be provided round trip transportation to Beaver Island through the Emerald Isle Ferry and Garden Island by chartered fishing boat or by kayak.

In addition to exploring the island, we will also perform a few hours of community service to help improve the island and its habitat.

Participants should be experience expeditioners with strong navigation skills, camp craft skills, have equipment and be capable of water travel (including on-loading and off-loading from a boat in rough seas without the assistance of a wharf or dock) and be capable of interpersonal communication and familiar with the concepts of team work. Expeditioners must provide for their own welfare with camping equipment and skills, trekking equipment, food and water.

Kayakers should be experienced with open water travel as seas on the big lake can quickly become rough.

The expedition will be guided by an experienced expedition leader. Staff will include trained search and rescue personnel, a certified SARTECH II and Wilderness First Responder. Participants with special needs or a medical condition should consult with the staff before applying for the trip. Medical assistance and emergency services can take up to 6 hours to reach the island.

If you have questions or if you are interested in joining us, you can contact the Expedition Resources staff by email.

Team Off Loading at Northcutt Bay, Garden Island

Weather can be a factor on Lake Michigan. Expeditioners should be aware that risks exist for trip cancellation the day of the event (although an alternative contingent expedition is planned) and a delay could cause an extra day (or days) on the island to await calmer seas and charter boat pick up. Employers, family and other important parties should be aware of the possibilities of delays due to weather.

Expedition Fee is $130, include transportation from Charlevoix, Michigan to Beaver Island

If you have questions or are interested in joining the expedition, contact the Expedition Resources staff.