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Aanii. My name is Michael Lincicome and I am an enrolled member of the Mackinac Band of Chippewa & Ottawa Indians. My Great Grandmother was born on Mackinac Island, Michigan and my Grandfather was born in Max, Minnesota on Leech Lake Chippewa Indian Reservation. My Mother and I were both born in Itasca Memorial Hospital in Grand Rapids Minnesota. I make and sell many types of Native American crafts as can be seen here Singing Otter's Cedar Products.

Like those who have walked on before me, I keep alive many of the skills that my ancestors learned, and many still live by to this day. I have fleshed out deer for the skin in order to hand scrape it to make rawhide. From the rawhide I make drums. I have saved back a few this year to make braintanned leather with in the spring.

I collect materials from the forest to make other items out of, one example would be red osier dogwood which I use to make arrow shafts and drum beaters. I also scrape the bark off to make a smoking mixture for my pipe. I straighten the shafts daily until they are dry. I collect varius plants for cordage; stinging nettle, milkweed, basswood bark and dogbane. Dogbane eluded me this year, but a friend had plenty in his area and is sending me some. He didn't have nettles, but I did. Good trade. I also collect river willows to make willow backrests from. It is the native man's "Lazy Boy". Very comfortable.

Well, I make the arrow shafts, so I might as well learn to make the arrowheads. This year I learned to flintknapp with the help of a good friend. I had watched my Father flintknapp when I was a kid, and remembered what I needed. My friend gave me a few pointers and some flint and wow...three blisters and five arrow points, all in one day. I think there was some blood spilled too, I think the mahogany obsidian was to blame.

I do lots of beadwork, some quillwork, leatherwork and play on a family powwow drum every Wednesday evening. That is a good day. I am learning traditional songs from up north, and it is amazing how great it is to be able to sing a song while walking in the woods. I would like to learn more personal and medicine songs for my quiet times.

Another skill that takes up a lot of my time is making native american courting flutes, or cedar flutes. I make them for friends and family, as I feel they are to personal to sell commercially.

I also make and sell cedar feather boxes. Some are small and thin enough to hold a single feather, others are large enough to hold several fans and miscellaneous items.

In 2003 I made maple sugar from my trees ( I have four) for the first time. I collected about 20 gallons of sap and made 1 qt of sugar. I still have a couple of teaspoons left and a few months to go before I can make more. In 2004 I made almost 1 gallon of syrup.

One of my favorite fair weather activities (there are so many) is riding my motorcycle. There is an air of freedom associated with the ride that is difficult to explain unless you've experienced it. It is the closest you can come to flying with the Eagle.

Care and caution are a part of every ride. Unfortunately, just as the Eagle is taken for the wrong reasons, motorcyclists walk on because of inconsiderate and uncaring operators of automobiles. If you've not had an motorcycle accident within the first 6 months of riding one, then chances are high that the reason for any future accident usually involves an automobile, with the automobile driver at fault.

Please be considerate of motorcyclists. Do not follow to close, and please look in your mirrors when changing lanes. If a motorcyclist comes into your view, keep an eye on them until they've left your view. Most of us are careful & considerate riders. So just as we're looking out for you, look out for us.

Remember and honor those who have fought to secure the freedom we all enjoy in this country. There are survivors among us who are veterans of many wars. Some are peace-time veterans, others have seen action - and the horrors associated with it. Kind and considerate words, or just a nod are a welcome gesture to those who put their lives in danger to keep this great island free. Shake the hand of a veteran, let them know how you appreciate what they've done for you. We all know someone who has walked on, or a close friend who lost a friend in the ever increasing wars & conflicts they've been called to serve in. Keep them in our prayers, look to the Eagle to carry those same prayers aloft to the One who looks over us all. The One who heals the land, the heart, and gives us health.

Miigwech Gitchi Manido.

Miigwech miinawaa

Mii sa iiw

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