Young has been researching extensively to prepare for the exhibit, which will feature stories of those who came before us in Northeast Michigan.

“When I started with the museum on the Anishinaabe Committee … I started with nothing,” Young said, surrounded by many binders full of her research. “Then, I began doing extensive, extensive research.”

Her research covers many counties in the area.

“Since we’re the museum of Northeast Michigan, we’re not just doing Alpena,” Young said. “I’ve gone to every county, from Saganing up to Mackinaw.”

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Alpena’s Janet Young looks through binders full of research she has been working on for two years leading up to the opening of the new Native American history section to be included in Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan’s “Discover Northeast Michigan History” exhibit, set to open by the end of the year.

Throughout her research, Young has developed working relationships and friendships that will last a lifetime. One of those friendships is with Amy Alberts, who is the descendant of two Native American chiefs.

“We have developed a very close friendship,” Young said of Alberts. “It’s wonderful. She lives in Hale. She works at the Isabella Reservation. She goes back and forth.”

The pair traveled this spring to the Oscoda Indian Mission Church for service and a potluck, and they met up earlier this month to continue going over the research. Alberts is 100% Native American, Young said.

“When Amy was growing up, her grandfather had said, ‘You’ve got to remember the stories. You’ve got to remember them.’ … And, now, she is trying to learn the history,” Young said. “So, when we got in contact, and she saw everything here, she believes Providence has sent me to her to provide all the history that she didn’t have.”

Young is excited to be able to share the stories of the Native Americans who resided in Northeast Michigan with residents and visitors.

“History shouldn’t be hidden,” Young said. “It should be available to everybody.”

She explained that the Anishinaabe section is one of 11 exhibits within the “Discover Northeast Michigan History” exhibit at the museum.

Young’s research includes genealogy, many historic photos, and detailed stories about Native American men and women who lived in Northeast Michigan.

“I recheck everything, because there are often errors,” Young said of some of the historical documents she has reviewed. She utilizes death certificates, marriage licenses, Census records, and more, to round out her research. “I get a complete picture of what was happening then.”

The exhibit will feature detailed stories of the Anishinaabe people who lived in our area many years ago.

“When I started nine years ago, I had an interest, but I had no knowledge,” Young said of starting on the Anishinaabe Committee at Besser Museum. “When I was on the committee, Chris (Witulski, museum director) had invited elders from different tribes. I’m only doing the off-reservation people from Saganing to Mackinaw, and they all lived, really, in the back woods. They’re called ‘The Forgotten People.’ I didn’t realize that, but when I was at Ziibiwing and going over what I was doing and what I was looking for, they said, ‘Oh, you’re doing the Forgotten People. This story has to be told, and you have to tell it.’ So, I’ve been tasked with that by some tribal members.”

Ziibiwing Museum and Cultural Center is a Native American museum located in Mt. Pleasant.

Young said the previous Anishinaabe exhibit at the museum was in need of updates.

“Our Anishinaabe exhibit was 51 years old, and rather outdated,” Young said. “And we didn’t tell stories. We just had artifacts, so we were looking for stories.”

The new exhibit will tell stories of those who came before us, and provide in-depth information that residents and visitors of all ages will find intriguing.

One of those stories is that of Whitney Alberts, or Chief Blue Cloud, of Mikado.

“It was across the nation, this picture of Whitney Alberts, Chief Blue Cloud, of Mikado,” Young said. “He was a state champion as a log birler, log rolling.”

He was also grandfather to Amy Alberts.

“There’s a lot on him, of the lumber days,” she said. “This just opened up a whole world.”

She added that Whitney Alberts used to work at the Alcona Dam, when they built it in the early 1900s.

“Every detail adds to the picture,” she said. “It just gets better and better.”

When Young gets a bit of information, she digs in and continues researching as far as she can go with each person. She has crates full of binders dedicated to each topic or person she is researching. Young starts with newspapers.com to first see what she can find there, then continues with the genealogy bank.

“I’ve gone to every county, to their historical societies and their libraries,” she added. “I went through their archives, and I’ve gotten some really good stuff, too.”

She also collects Native American postcards.

“It’s more than fun,” she said. “It adds to the story.”

Young enjoys researching and getting to know our history. She is thrilled to be helping Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan tell the stories of the Anishinaabe people through the upcoming exhibit.

If you would like to make a donation to support Besser Museum’s “Discover Northeast Michigan History” exhibit, visit bessermuseum.org and click on the “BIG Things Are Coming” link. Donors who give $500 or more now through Sept. 15 will have their names included on a permanent donor wall within the exhibit.

Call the museum at 989-356-2202 for more information.

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