View as Webpage

February is here and Musings starts the month off with a series of

Gotta Love Livonia themes designating Livonia 75 as The Present is the Past.

Schoolcraft College Board of Trustees approve land acknowledgement

Schoolcraft College has approved a land acknowledgment recognizing that Indigenous peoples originally occupied the land the College currently sits on.

A resolution approved by the Board of Trustees at its Jan. 29 meeting, states the land the College occupies was the ancestral territory of several Native American tribes and recognizes them as the original owners. 

The land acknowledgment reads as follows:

“At Schoolcraft College, we stand together to honor the past, embrace the present and cultivate a brighter future. We acknowledge that the land in which the College occupies is the ancestral territory of the Potawatomi Tribes, Indian Nations, and all Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy, including Ojibwe and Odawa peoples. In particular, Schoolcraft College resides on the land that was ceded to the United States government in the Treaty of Detroit of 1807.”

The land acknowledgment serves as a formal statement to recognize the history of the land and the relationship it holds with Indigenous peoples. The statement will be listed on the Schoolcraft College website, as well as on a plaque that will be placed on campus later this year.

The decision to acknowledge the Native peoples that originally occupied the nearby lands follows traditions at other institutions of higher education to observe this region’s history.

“Part of being a respectful member of the community is recognizing where we come from and what was here before us,” said Dr. Glenn Cerny, President of Schoolcraft College. “This land acknowledgment shows our community we are working to better understand our history and the people that lived here before us.”

Schoolcraft acknowleges the Potawatomi Legacy in Livonia:

A Journey of Resilience, Heritage, and Community

The Potawatomi were one of the prominent Native American tribes in southern Michigan, including the area now known as Livonia. They were part of the Council of Three Fires, an alliance with the Ojibwe (Chippewa) and Odawa (Ottawa) tribes. The Potawatomi were known for their rich cultural heritage, including their traditions of agriculture, hunting, and craftsmanship.

In the early 19th century, the Potawatomi faced significant challenges due to European settlement and land cessions. The Treaty of Chicago in 1833 forced many Potawatomi to relocate west of the Mississippi River. However, a small group led by Chief Leopold Pokagon negotiated to stay in Michigan, provided they converted to Catholicism. This group became known as the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, who continued to live in the St. Joseph River Valley and maintain their cultural practices.

The history of the Potawatomi in Livonia is a testament to their resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity. Their legacy is preserved through various cultural practices, historical sites, and community efforts to honor their contributions to the region's history.

During Livonia 75 Musings recognizes that the Present is the Past

From 1260 to 1900 to 1950 to 2025 Livonia has a storied history

Medieval Livonia

1260

Livonian villages

1900

Livonians celebrate its heritage through traditional dress, ceremonies and music

Livonia 1835 to 1950: A Tale of Seven Villages

Marlene Katafias has pulled together a brief overview of how Livonia made the transition from a Township founded in 1835 to a city in 1950.

Musings over the next week will share this story of the Livonia Seven Villages as we move into the Love Livonia month celebrating our 75th year as a City.

As we enter the second month of celebrating our Livonia 75 Musings wants to share with our readers a part of our hometown history realizing that The Present is the Past.

Potawatomi Indians originally inhabited the area that is now Livonia. Rich soil and abundant harvests had first attracted pioneers from New England and New York to this area. They brought a new way of life and perhaps the very name "Livonia" - the name of a town in New York State, Pennsylvania State, and a region of the Baltic Sea comprising present-day Estonia and Latvia.

After the Indian Treaty of 1807, settlers came from New York to Michigan and settled in Detroit. Once the Erie Canal opened in 1825 more families came West to Michigan, eventually moving West of Detroit and bringing the name Livonia with them.

As these families and groups settled in Livonia, they created small settlements called villages. There were eventually enough settlers in Livonia to establish a township. In 1835, by the territorial legislature, Livonia officially became a township. By this time Livonia was a growing farm community with each village having its own school, post office, church, blacksmith, and general stores.

The Village of Newburg, established around 1819, was located at what is now Newburgh and Ann Arbor Trail. It was one of the largest villages situated completely within Livonia. Newburg grew rapidly as Ann Arbor Trail became a main route into the interior of the State. A hotel provided lodging and meals for stagecoach passengers traveling from Detroit to Ann Arbor. There were several stores, a school that was built in 1831, and even a cemetery. During its history, there was also a sawmill, a gristmill, and a cider mill.

The population of Newburg reached approximately 300 residents around the time of the Civil War but declined after that to about 150 by 1890. The D.L.& N Railroad put an end to the stagecoach on Ann Arbor Trail. Even with the declining population, Newburg remained an active community and saw a resurgence when Henry Ford built the Village Industries on the Rouge. With the building of the dam to make Newburg Lake, the Village of Newburg stayed active and prosperous until it disappeared with the incorporation of Livonia. 

Some of the historic buildings are now preserved at Greenmead Historical Park, displayed as an example of an old-time Livonia village.

(Part two on Wednesday will take a look at the Village of Clarenceville, Village of Livonia Center, and the Village of Schwartzburg) 

The LPS Education Foundation

enlarges the resources available

to the school district by reaching out and enhancing partnerships

Maria Dismondy sharing stories about books that encourages and inspires

Liz Jarvis, President LPS Education Foundation sharing Foundation success stories

David MacFarland having just introduced LPS Distinguished Alumni Andrea Oquist

For two hours, this typewriter had the pleasure of sharing an engaging dinner program with Livonia residents and businesses. Together, we recognized the necessity of continuously enhancing our educational offerings through creative partnerships that benefit faculty, staff, and students alike.

Our present educational programs cannot rely solely on past successes. Instead, we must build upon the foundations that transformed Livonia from a rural society into a hub of progressive technology and innovation.

With gratitude to AlphaUSA for inviting me to join their table for a lively discussion, I had the pleasure of participating in what I hope will continue to grow and become the social event of the year. This event, kicking off the new calendar every January, brings people together to celebrate the success of our educational system in Livonia.

Liz Jarvis shared the inspiring success story of the LPS Education Foundation, a narrative we've come to cherish. Maria Dismondy, an accomplished writer, publisher, and speaker, emphasized the importance of fostering a love for reading in homes with limited opportunities, helping children experience the joy of turning the pages of a book.

Newly elected School Trustee David MacFarland introduced an Outstanding Alumni—Andrea Oquist—who has called the Livonia Public Schools her home from elementary school through to administrative positions, eventually becoming Superintendent. This well-deserved honor celebrates her dedication to providing quality education for students who call LPS their home.

Mail Address

19514 Bainbridge 48152

E-mail address

rwilliamjoyner@gmail.com

Cell address

734-674-5871

Archive--Bill Joyner's FridayMusings