Yaksokanen - Preserving Our Stories

Cultural Archives and Collections

Yaksokanen is our word for stories.  The stories of our community over time make up our collective history.   The Gun Lake Tribe has a rich history here in West Michigan.  Our stories extend back from over thousands of years and across the countless generations in which our ancestors have called this place their home.    Our culture, way of life, identity, values and sovereignty as a tribal nation continue to remain strong today, despite the many changes to our homeland over time. 

The Jijak Foundation is dedicated to helping to collect and preserve the history and stories, past and present, of our tribal community.   The Foundation maintains and is ever expanding our extensive archival collections which document the lives, stories and experiences of our ancestors.   We believe that this is an important investment in helping to understand, preserve and share our past. 

Foundation Archives and Collections include:

• Audio and Visual Recordings
• Oral History
• Historical Photographs
• Genealogical Materials
• Tribal History Documents and Records
• Digital and Physical Media
• Culturally and Historically Significant Objects and Artwork 

If you would like to donate items related to the history of our community to our permanent collections, please contact us.

Access the Jijak Foundation's Online Collections