Burt Lake Historian Shares Tragic Tale of the Burnout of 1900

by | Mar 28, 2024 | Burt Lake Burn-Out, News | 0 comments

We’re absolutely thrilled to see the incredible success of our book, “A Cloud Over the Land,” as sales continue to soar! But the excitement doesn’t stop there – we’re delighted to share that Deborah Richmond, historian of the Burt Lake Band, will be giving upcoming presentations around northern Michigan. Here are the dates and locations on the calendar so far:

  • May 21: Otsego County Library in Gaylord at 6:00 p.m.
  • May 23: Harbor Springs Museum at 5:30 p.m.
  • August 8: McLean and Eakin Bookstore at 7:00 p.m.

As the tribal historian of the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Deborah Richmond brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to preserving the rich cultural heritage of her community.  With author Rick Wiles, the Burt Lake Band recently published “A Cloud Over the Land,” delving into a historic and tragic event – the Burt Lake Burnout of 1900.

During these presentations, Richmond will lead us through the poignant tale of how the Native American village at Burt Lake in Brutus, Michigan, was tragically reduced to ashes, leaving families homeless and robbed of their ancestral lands by a wealthy land developer and the local sheriff.

Stay tuned for more presentation dates to be added to the schedule! For further details and to stay updated, keep an eye on our website.  If you would like to schedule a presentation from Deborah for your organization or group, please contact her at deborahburtlake@gmail.com.