FUNDRAISING COMPLETE!
Enji-minozhiiyaamigak
"The Place of Peacefulness"
As of December 8, 2023, the Conservancy officially protected what was the largest remaining unprotected and undeveloped shoreline from Charlevoix to the Mackinac Bridge: 56 acres and ¼ mile of shoreline on Little Traverse Bay. This land is now known as Enji-minozhiiyaamigak, The Place of Peacefulness. From the shore, you can see all of Little Traverse Bay and the land that surrounds it: Bay Harbor, Petoskey, Harbor Springs, and northward. This is LTC’s biggest investment in land to date and one that was only made possible because of the great vision and dedication of LTC members.
Jennifer Adderley, LTC member and a known lover of the Lake, was invited to admire the unparalleled beauty of the land before it would likely be sold to another buyer. She spent months thinking about the rocky shoreline and all the sunsets that could be enjoyed there. Jennifer believed in the project and called the Conservancy to pledge the first major gift from the Terence and Jennifer Adderley Foundation, hoping that the rest would come.
Thankfully, the Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor Foundation, Inc. shared Jennifer’s belief that this land deserved to be protected. Joining together with an anonymous lead donor, a vision was made to create Enji-minozhiiyaamigak, the Anishinaabemowin word for “The Place of Peacefulness.”
A very important addition to protecting this land is creating LTC’s first owned and cared-for universally accessible trail. This added another layer of challenge and inspiration to the Conservancy’s plan. The Place of Peacefulness could not be open to all without a trail that can be used by all – including walkers, strollers, and wheelchairs.
Brynne and Bob Coletti of Harbor Springs and Naples, FL believed in this vision and made the first-ever quadruple match challenge in LTC’s history to ensure that the accessibility component was included. Thanks to the added support of the Frey Foundation, Soter Kay Foundation, Teddy and Molly Schiff, Gordon and Sharon Hassing, and 142 donors, the land has now been purchased and LTC can begin work on the UA trail with the goal of a grand opening celebration later next year.
The Conservancy would like to share our heartfelt thanks to all who invested in making The Place of Peacefulness a reality.
All gifts will go directly towards the long-term care and stewardship of this land and the trails.
THE NAME
Enji-minozhiiyaamigak is an Anishinaabemowin word for “The Place of Peacefulness”. This is an inclusive term, a place of serenity and calmness for all living things: people, animals, trees, plants, and everything there and passing through.
Recognizing that US-31 is a well-traveled route for all who visit northern Michigan, the anonymous lead donor wanted this to be a place for all. They also wanted to honor the history of the land and the Bay Shore Band of Odawa who had lived there. All signs will be in Anishinaabemowin first and English following.
