Chik-Wauk Museum celebrates new Ojibwe-Anishinaabe exhibit

A new exhibit at the Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, near the end of the Gunflint Trail, took center stage over the weekend as the museum hosted an open house celebrating those who helped bring it to life.

Titled ‘Zagaandagaa-Anishinaabeg, People of the Thick Coniferous Forest,’ the exhibit explores the history, culture, and experiences of the native people of Ojibwe-Anishinaabeg in the border lakes region.

“Gaa-zagaandagaag-zaaga’igan” is the Ojibwe word for the lake now known as “Saganaga”, the lake on which Chik-Wauk sits at the very end of the Gunflint Trail.

The exhibit is divided into nine areas and features a colorful mural by local artist Sam Zimmerman, illustrations and paintings by Carl Gawboy, an interactive Turtle Island sculpture, and artifacts from the prehistoric and Fur Trade periods. It also includes an animated telling of Chief Blackstone’s Last Walk by Jonathon Thunder. Local author Staci Drouillard also contributed to the project, writing the text that guides visitors through each exhibit area.

On Saturday, Aug. 22, more than 100 people attended the open house event at Chik-Wauk Museum to celebrate the new exhibit.

The event included members of the design team and artist Sam Zimmerman, who spoke and also read words prepared by Staci Drouillard.

“It was such a great event,” said Mark Hennessy, executive director at Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center. “It was an inspiring day for me.”

The exhibit is a permanent installment at the Chik-Wauk Museum. Several funding sources supported the exhibit, including the Blandin Foundation, Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation, Arrowhead Arts Council, private donations, and the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board, among others.

Kalli Hawkins August 23, 2026