The Native American Garden is one of several that are part of a nature-filled sanctuary offering cultural, educational and social events in Michigan City.
That garden, which is along the same river banks and forested valleys where the Potawatomi hunted and fished hundreds of years ago, is the setting for the free Native American Heritage Day July 8 at Friendship Botanic Gardens.
“It’s the perfect setting that really demonstrates the kind of areas that Native Americans hunted, fished and lived in,” said Ronald Taylor, communications director for Friendship Botanic Gardens.
“The Native American Garden is right on the banks of Trail Creek and there’s really beautiful valleys and hills. The formal gardens are in the middle but the surrounding areas are really pristine natural habitats. It’s just really a nice demonstration of the kind of habitats that people lived in.”
The Native American Garden features native and heirloom plants while the prairie restoration garden is a re-creation of a small patch of the grassland habitats that once covered swaths of the Midwest.
Native American Heritage Day attendees have the opportunity to experience indigenous people’s traditional gardening, trapping, cooking and crafting techniques through presentations and demonstrations by local experts.
“Henry Boulley, Ojibwe elder fire keeper, talks about the traditions of Native Americans and the history. He’s going to do a traditional ceremony of lighting the fire,” said Taylor about the noon presentation including information about Boulley’s ancestors, foods and the current Native American world.
At 1 p.m. Friendship Botanic Gardens volunteer Jude Rakowski of Long Beach, does an open-fire cooking demonstration using wild foods.
“We have a council ring in the middle of the Native American Garden and she starts a fire in the middle there and usually cooks some type of meat that Native Americans would have hunted,” said Taylor of Michigan City.
Other presentations include Cindy Deardorff of Kouts displaying wild seeds and speaking about Native American gardening at 1 p.m.; Lorraine Sauder of Elkhart entertaining children and adults with stories at 2 p.m.; and Rebecca York of Michigan City making crafts with children.
“It’s just basically demonstrating different facets of Native American life and talking to people about the history and the ways that Native Americans lived,” said Taylor.
“It’s something that families in the area really enjoy. Our area’s not super rural and we’re also not a large city but I do think there’s a connection in nature that can be missing in the Michigan City area and Friendship Botanic Gardens are really a nice little oasis of nature and peace and tranquility.
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“The gardens connect people with nature in a way that can be missing in a lot of people’s lives and provide a valuable service. People are curious about the history about where they live and events like this really get people out and about and get kids and families active. It fulfills a lot of functions.”
Taylor said there is much to see at Friendship Botanic Gardens, which includes themed gardens representing several countries.
“It’s about 105 acres. It’s a botanic garden. About half of it is formal gardens and the other half is natural habitats and wilderness trails. It’s just a wonderful community resource. We’re in the midst of growing a lot and expanding our programming. We’ve got tons of new gardens,” he said.
“We’re a nonprofit so we depend on donations, memberships and volunteers. Native American Heritage Day is entirely volunteer-organized and -run.”
Native American Heritage Day
When: noon-4 p.m. July 8
Where: Friendship Botanic Gardens, 2055 E. U.S. 12, Michigan City
Admission: Free
Information: 219-878-9885; www.friendshipgardens.org