ST. IGNACE — The Heart of the Great Turtle Island/Gchi Mshiikenh Deh Minising project — a collaborative effort to add Native American context and perspectives to the Father Marquette National Memorial site in St. Ignace — will have its symbolic start Monday as project partners gather for the blessing and breaking of the ground.

Representatives from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Bay Mills Indian Community, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potawatomi Indians (Gun Lake Tribe), Moran Township, Mackinac Straits Health System and Lake Superior State University will be on hand.

Plans for the memorial site, located in Straits State Park, include the construction of educational structures, exhibits and art. The project timeline is undetermined at this point, as the project has yet to go out for bid.

“It is important to share the complete story of Michigan’s history. This project will help us do that,” said Sandra Clark, the director of the Michigan History Center.

The event starts at 1 p.m. Eastern time Monday at Straits State Park, N548 Boulevard Drive, St. Ignace, on the west side of I-75.