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Imagine having a time machine and you have the opportunity to travel back in history. You are
invited to witness a part of history not so long ago. You travel back to 1690 through 1750 or even
1800 through 1850, the machine stops and you step out and look around. You have selected the
Rendezvous at the Straits French Voyager reenactment and Powwow being presented at the New
France Discovery Center in St. Ignace on August 23 and 24th.

This years event is going to be a very special celebration that brings together the history of the
Straits early years of gathering and trading. This celebration is really two events in one with a
French voyager encampment demonstrating among other things, native and French cooking; French
woodworking; native and French sewing, including native sinew production; native and French
transportation, by birch bark and dugout canoes, snowshoes, and toboggan along with the display of
a historic and traditional built mackinac boat with an emphasis on native youth sail training.
Other representations will show how to sew cattail matts with cordage of inner basswood bark,
along with birch bark containers, brain-tanning a deer hide and making wampum shell beads. Many
home made items will be available for sale on the trade blanket.

Timothy Kent, an independent scholar and lecturer will be presenting the French Voyager
history, he will be accompanied by his wife Doree and their sons Kevin and Ben. Kent has written
the only comprehensive overview of the area known as Michilimackinac, focusing equally on both
sides of the Straits. Tim has twice received the prestigious State History Award from the Historical
Society of Michigan. In addition to Mr. Kent, a native american interpreter, Keith Knecht, will
share a living history presentation as he presents himself in the typical Odawa clothing of the
1770s. You will be able to enjoy Keith weave the story in a dynamic portrayal of Michigan’s
earliest residents and the native way of life. Along the way you meet a early Jesuit, Father Jim
Boynton who will speak about the early church history, Father Marquette and play the fiddle.
Host Drum for the Powwow rendezvous will be the Bahweting Singers and Drum. Bahweting
Drum has been a big part of the Sault community and have appeared at graduation ceremonies,
naming ceremonies, local schools, funerals, weddings and memorials. Drum keeper Bud Biron is
coordinating the Powwow portion of the celebration. The Youth Education Activites (YEA) from
the eastern U.P. and Cheboygan will bee attending and all youth dancers are encouraged to attend
and participate.

The rendezvous powwow will also feature native arts and crafts for sale. There will be food
vendors, some storytelling and native flute playing.

The Rendezvous portion of the celebration starts at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and will be followed
by the Grand Entry at 1:00. The Powwow will go to about 8:00 p.m. into the evening. Sunday’s
schedule is about the same and the event will start winding down around 5:00 p.m.
The Rendezvous is open to the public, there is a $3.00 admission fee for adults. $2.00 for elders
and students, children under the age of 12 are free. This is a family event and is alcohol and drug
free. The Rendezvous is being sponsored by the St. Ignace Special Events Committee, the Sault
Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the St. Ignace Chamber Of Commerce, the Michilimackinac Historical
Society and the Visitor’s Bureau. For more information contact Darryl Brown at (906)635-6050