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162:. It was made of logs, and was located about 100 feet south of the current graveyard. The graveyard was consecrated the following year as the official burial place of the Catholic mission. However, earlier burials probably already existed at this location, as later archaeological studies have revealed several earlier ancient graves in the vicinity.
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Madeline Island has been inhabited for centuries by Native
Americans. And as one might expect, there are other places on the island that have been used as burial grounds, throughout the centuries. While lacking any kind of grave markers, unknown by the general public, and totally lacking any type of
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By the 1950s, shoreline erosion was threatening the piece of lakeside land that the cemetery sits on. To help stabilize the historic site, a plan was set in motion by a local congressman to have a breakwater built. Thus, at the time, the Roman
Catholic Church transferred ownership of the cemetery to
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Although not strictly a Native
American cemetery, Native spirituality is given a nod, in certain aspects of the cemetery. In honoring an Ojibwe custom, many graves of Ojibwe people are covered with a "Spirit House". Such a grave covering is designed to protect the deceased buried there. Relatives
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Due to past problems with vandalism, visitors are no longer granted admission inside of the cemetery gates. While visitors are still welcome and encouraged to see the site, visitors are asked to observe the cemetery from outside the metal gate, where there is a historical marker displaying the
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For many decades, the cemetery has been a major attraction for summer visitors interested in learning about the island's history. But the site hasn't been without controversy. In the 1960s, many visitors and island residents were concerned about what many thought was neglect for the cemetery's
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condition. Being overgrown with grass and brush, and suffering from litter dropped by some tourists, the cemetery was described by some as being in deplorable condition. Some disappointed visitors went so far as to contact the
201:, which it used to be called, up until the middle of the twentieth century. In the 1950s, Madeline Island tourist literature described the cemetery as "the old Indian burial grounds", in an attempt to market the place as a
197:. There is much ethnic diversity among those laid to rest at the cemetery, which includes all those who were associated with the Catholic mission. In reality, the more correct name for the cemetery is
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In 1977, the cemetery became listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. Maintenance and landscaping has vastly improved in recent decades.
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marker to identify the locations, many ancient burial grounds on
Madeline Island are mostly known by a few in the local Native community.
193:. Although many Native American people are buried in the cemetery, it is actually also the burial place for many of the island's original
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The history and significance of the cemetery is discussed in the book, “Badger
Boneyards”, by author Dennis McCann, on pages 135-139. (
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205:. And while not actually being an only-Native American cemetery, the name "Indian Cemetery" stuck, despite being somewhat misleading.
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history of the site. The only exception to this rule is that of family descendants who may need access to a relative's plot.
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the federal government, so federal funds could be spent on preserving the historically important site.
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The cemetery continues to be a sacred site for descendants and relatives of those interred within.
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would place food and other items inside the small shelter, to aid the soul of the dead on their
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and insist that they seek some solution to help improve the historical site.
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The cemetery traces its origins to a
Catholic mission, started in 1835 by a
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There are several notable historical people buried in the cemetery.
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Cemeteries on the
National Register of Historic Places in Wisconsin
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National
Register of Historic Places in Ashland County, Wisconsin
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The mission was dedicated on August 9, 1835, under the name
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History of other Native
American burials on Madeline Island
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in 1977. It is a frequently visited historical site.
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338:. Wisconsin Historical Society Press. pp.
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858:1836 establishments in Wisconsin Territory
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853:Cemeteries established in the 1830s
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789:Madeline Island Historical Museum
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629:Ashland Harbor Breakwater Light
373:"Madeline Island Ferry website"
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377:Madeline Island Ferry Website
236:Wisconsin Historical Society
56:at La Pointe Indian Cemetery
16:United States historic place
307:"La Pointe Indian Cemetery"
199:St. Joseph Mission Cemetery
109:St. Joseph Mission Cemetery
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838:Native American cemeteries
107:is the common name of the
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401:La Pointe Indian Cemetery
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82:NRHP reference
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27:La Pointe Indian Cemetery
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211:journey to the afterlife
843:Cemeteries in Wisconsin
624:Chequamegon Point Light
332:Ross, Hamilton Nelson.
203:historical tourist site
799:Protected designations
594:Raspberry Island Light
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167:Lake Superior Chippewa
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119:. It was added to the
589:Michigan Island Light
309:. Landmark Hunter.com
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764:Hadland Fishing Camp
117:La Pointe, Wisconsin
68:La Pointe, Wisconsin
609:Devils Island Light
160:St. Joseph's Chapel
141:Catholic missionary
52:The gravestone for
812:Big Bay State Park
599:Outer Island Light
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217:The cemetery today
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127:History and origin
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604:Sand Island Light
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557:South Twin Island
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171:Kechewaishke
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737:Ira H. Owen
581:Lighthouses
542:York Island
532:Long Island
497:Bear Island
487:Sand Island
467:Gull Island
382:25 December
827:Categories
639:Shipwrecks
512:Cat Island
482:Oak Island
349:0870203215
313:2012-01-22
272:References
744:T.H. Camp
695:Moonlight
688:Marquette
667:D.R. Owen
185:The name
754:Related
716:Pretoria
702:Noquebay
681:Manistee
648:Antelope
191:misnomer
89:77001665
62:Location
674:Lucerne
449:Islands
730:Sevona
709:Ottawa
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169:Chief
149:Europe
143:named
340:88–90
189:is a
74:Built
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344:ISBN
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181:Name
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
