St. Ignace's French, Indian History Is Important To Protect, Preserve

To the Editor:

After having researched the history of the native and European populations of the Straits of Mackinac for more than three decades, I published in 2004 the two-volume set entitled "Rendezvous at the Straits: Fur Trade and Military Activities at Fort de Buade and Fort Michilimackinac, 1669-1781." Due to my extensive research in both the archaeological and documentary records of the Straits, I am acutely aware of the great importance of the activities that took place in the St. Ignace area during the historic period. Various of my own French ancestors lived at St. Ignace from 1685 on.

For a variety of reasons, the significant history of the native and French populations of the Straits region, and particularly the events that took place at St. Ignace, have been very much underplayed at the historic sites and museums of the area, and in historical publications. Considerably greater emphasis has been placed on the activities of the British and American populations, and on the events that took place on the south side of the Straits and on Mackinac Island. Thus, it is very important that the city of St. Ignace have a museum that focuses specifically on the history of the native and French people in the St. Ignace area, a museum whose collections represent the mixture of these two cultures that developed and evolved over the course of several centuries.

I applaud the actions of the residents of St. Ignace and the St. Ignace City Council in supporting the continuation of the Fort de Buade Museum and the activities of the Michilimackinac Historical Society.

Timothy J. Kent

Ossineke