Minong- "The Good Place": Isle Royale Series Part 1

The Ojibwe knew a good thing when they saw it. Isle Royale (pronounced without the e sound on the end, as in "Royal Family") is part of the Ojibwe, the Anishinaabe peoples' ancestral lands. Named Minong or "The Good Place," it offered early peoples prime fishing, trapping, maple syrup, and copper resources. Isle Royale is an archipelago consisting of over 450 islands located in Lake Superior. The island's remote location presents logistical challenges for visitors. Still, its historical and ecological significance, unique geology, extensive network of hiking trails, and uninterrupted opportunities for solitude make it a must-see destination for adventure seekers and those wishing to step back in time a few hundred years. In this two-part series, readers will learn about the history of Minong. Make sure to "subscribe" for future blog updates!

The Isle Royale island system is located in the largest of the Great Lakes. It is part of the State of Michigan, even though the island is actually closer to Minnesota and Ontario, Canada. Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, was called Gitche-Gami by the Anishinaabe. The Anishinaabe, known by the French exonym Ojibwe or the English Chippewa, and native American ancestors have been visiting Isle Royale for centuries - millennia actually! There is historical evidence of copper mining dating back as early as 2500 BCE (National Park Service, 2024). Today, besides fishing and the use of Minong for medicinal traditions and plant gathering, the island is visited for its spiritual significance (National Park Service, c., 2024).

Anishinaabe tradition holds that a Great Manitou (a fundamental life force or spirit) dwells off the shores of the island. Mishepeshu, an underwater lynx, is said to rule the depths of the Great Gitche-Gami. Although the spelling and pronunciation of the name vary, this Manitou is sometimes likened to a lynx, a panther, or a lion that ensures respect for its watery domain, punishing those driven by greed, and guarding both the water and the area's copper deposits. Legend has it that those who disrespect the natural world will be held subject to Mishepeshu's wrath, culminating in squalls, whirlpools, swamped boats, and drownings (Mii Dash Geget, 2025). Those living in Michigan well know the tales of the Great Lake through poetry and songs, such as Gordon Lightfoot's "The Ballad of the Edmund Fitzgerald." Native people would have had to cross the 13-mile stretch from Minnesota to Minong by birchbark canoe. For this reason, the island was primarily used during the summer months. The name of Mishepeshu wasn't uttered during the summer months for fear of incurring the Manitou's wrath. Nowadays, the island is accessible by boat from harbors in Minnesota or Michigan, or by seaplane.

The forty-five by nine square mile island is comprised of volcanic bedrock, chlorastrolite, also known as Isle Royale Greenstone, which is Michigan's state gem. The geology is marred by over a thousand ancient mining pits, some reaching depths of up to 65 feet. Remnants of pits dug by early indigenous people alerted 19th-century people to the presence of copper, spurring a mining boom in the mid-1800s that fizzled quickly due to harsh conditions, isolation, spotty yields, and fluctuating markets. In all, 500,000 pounds of copper were ferried from the island (National Park Service, 2024b. You may like to take home a copper souvenir available in the gift shop at the Rock Harbor park store.

Besides copper, the island was exploited for other resources. Isle Royale was also heavily logged, resulting in deforestation. Since the National Park Service purchased the island in 1940 and designated it the 24th National Park, much of the forest has regenerated. The landscape is now comprised of balsam fir, white spruce, and black spruce, due to the presence of horizontal root structures in those species.

Fishing has been the most prosperous and enduring enterprise on the island. Common species include lake trout, perch, steelhead, brook trout, whitefish, and northern pike. Visitors can see the remains of fishing shanties near every inlet throughout the island. All commercial fisheries were purchased by the government in 1941. (National Park Service, 2022).

Of the many things Isle Royale is famous for, one of the most notable is the longest, continuously running predator-prey study conducted by Rolf Peterson and other scientists at Michigan Technological University, which began in 1958. Due to the isolated ecosystem on the island, researchers could examine the balance of the wolf and moose populations without the influence of human impact. The island can only be accessed by tourists from April to October, thereby minimizing human interference. Additionally, there are no cars on the island, and as it is designated a federal wilderness area, hunting is prohibited. As of 2024, approximately 30 wolves were estimated to inhabit the island. Although seeing a wolf is rarer than seeing a moose due to wolves' elusive nature, it is still possible; hearing vocalizations is more likely. Read more about the Wolf-Moose Project here.

It is safe to say, Isle Royale has not changed much since the 1900s. If anything, it has recaptured much of the wilderness that was lost during the mining and logging eras. The 36 island campgrounds are only accessible by foot or kayak. Backcountry permits are required for all camping. There will be no road noise to contend with when visiting here. It is so quiet you could hear the stars sing if not for the cry of the wolf and the lapping of the Great Gitchee-Gami on the rocky shores in rhythmic pulses, thrumming a reminder, "You have entered the heart of Mishapeshu's domain, Walk gently, paddle bravely and with honorable purpose, and be blessed with the good medicine of Minong."

Follow for Part 2, Logistical Considerations for your Visit to Isle Royale National Park

Sources:

Mii Dash Deget, 2025. Great Lynx, the Thunder and the Mortals, https://miidashgeget.wordpress.com/2019/02/24/great-lynx-the-thunder-and-the-mortals/#:~:text=Mishibizhiw%20is%20incredibly%20dangerous%2C%20responsible,them%20subdued%20on%20our%20behalf.

National Park Service a. , May 2024. Archaeological History of Isle Royale and Ancient Copper Mining https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/archaeological-history-ancient-copper-mining.htm#:~:text=Cultural%20stages%20are%20divided%20into,Woodland%20components%20at%20archaeological%20sites.

National Park Service b, May 2024. Industrial Mining, https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/industrial-mining.htm

National Park Service c., May 2024. Minong: A Cultural Property, https://www.nps.gov/isro/learn/historyculture/american-indian.htm

National Park Service 2022. The Most Lasting Commercial Endeavor. https://www.nps.gov/isro/learn/historyculture/fisheries.htm