New look for 46-year-old Marcellus Mural honors Pokagon Band

MARCELLUS, Mich. - A 46-year-old mural in the town of Marcellus is hoping to correct a mistake of the past, while looking forward to the future.  

The mural holds a new meaning that honors the Pokagon Band and hopes to enlighten all who come through the town.  
 
A dedication ceremony was held Thursday morning on the Jones Family property, the family was open to make changes needed to properly respect the Pokagon Tribe’s culture.  
 
"So often you drive past a mural and think oh that’s pretty, but you don’t really understand what it's there for. If you don’t get the history of it doesn’t mean that much so I hope the history gets out to people,” said Cordell Jones whose family has owned the G.W Jones Bank in the Village since its inception. He says the mural dates back to before it was painted in 1977.  
 
The mural previously featured a historically inaccurate folklore of the town and depicted a 14-foot painting of an indigenous chief. 

Following a dedication ceremony on the Jones Family Property Thursday morning, it holds new meaning, that reflects the Pokagon Tribes Culture.  

"A pastoral scene from before white settlers' came to this area. It's also a vision for the future,” is how mural artist, Ruth Andrews from Cassopolis described the scene. 

She along with Pokagon citizens, artists and historians spent countless hours and brush strokes this summer to make sure the piece would be historically accurate this time around, highlighting the tribes 5 main clans. 
 
"So having this mural here, that’s going to be here for many years to come with the correct story, it just means a lot,” said the Rebecca Richards, Chairwoman of the Pokagon Band Tribal Council.  

Richards used the day to educate the community on the tribe's true history and the significance of the mural for generations to come.