News Release
NPS / Andrew Dean
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Contact: Heather Boyd, Superintendent, (218) 475-0123
GRAND PORTAGE, Minn.-Grand Portage National Monument received the Charles S. Marshall Unit Award in March 2026 from Eastern National, a not-for-profit cooperating association that promotes the public’s support of America’s national parks and other public trust partners. The award recognizes Grand Portage National Monument’s excellence in partnership, education, and interpretation across the National Park Service.
The 2025 award places the Northern Minnesota site among the top performing park partners nationwide, highlighting its efforts to strengthen cultural interpretation and collaboration, particularly with the Ojibwe people.
Park officials said the recognition reflects a year of expanded initiatives aimed at connecting visitors with indigenous culture and history.
Among those efforts, the monument increased the presence of Ojibwemowin throughout its store and facilities, broadened the availability of locally made Indigenous goods and strengthened partnerships with Ojibwe artists and community members.
The monument also worked closely with Eastern National staff to enhance interpretive programming, with a focus on deepening visitor understanding of the region’s cultural roots tied to Gichi Onigaming, or the Great Carrying Place.
“These efforts help ensure visitors engage not only with the history of this place, but with the living culture that continues to shape it,” Superintendent Heather Boyd said in a statement, thanking staff for their work in advancing the monument’s mission.
Artist Sam Zimmerman, a descendant of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, said having his work featured at the monument is meaningful both personally and for the broader community. “Knowing that my artwork is featured in the Grand Portage National Monument is an incredible honor,” Zimmerman said. “It is a great way to honor our community to share and celebrate the different bird, animal, fish and plant relatives that are featured in my paintings.”
The award underscores the monument’s ongoing commitment to building respectful relationships with tribal partners while preserving and interpreting the site’s history. Through its continued work, Grand Portage National Monument aims to strengthen community connections, elevate native artistry and ensure the stories of the region are preserved for future generations.
The Charles S. Marshall Unit Award is named for Eastern National’s second Chairman of the Board of Directors and former NPS Associate Regional Director of the Southeast Region. The Charles S. Marshall Unit Award is a joint award for both agency and Eastern National staff as one unit. The award recognizes the most outstanding agency that has achieved noteworthy teamwork in promoting and aiding the historical, scientific, educational, interpretive and operational activities of our partners through Eastern National operations.
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About the National Park Service. Established in 1916, the National Park Service preserves America’s most treasured natural and cultural places for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of current and future generations. Learn more at nps.gov.
Last updated: April 27, 2026