While passing through Bay Mills in the Upper Peninsula I noticed a sign on the big pine tree in the Native American cemetery. It reads:
“THE LEGEND OF THIS PINE TREE – Among the Indians who moved from Nayohmekong to what is now the Indian mission at Bay Mills was a little girl of fifteen named Eliza (Waishkey) Labranch. (B Jan 4 1847 – D Nov 16 1917) It was Eliza who selected the tree, then only a twig, and planted it at the head of her grandfather Waishkey (Lawbawclic) grave. ( B 1778 – D 1847)
He was born of the Caribou Clan and Chief of the Waishkey Band of Chippewa Indians. The tree, a White Pine, was planted about the year 1848
I never noticed the sign before, but it reminds people that that a big tree has been standing a long time and it connects generations of people.
Note: I did not go into the cemetery and took a pic from the fence along the road.
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