Ozhahguscodaywayquay (Woman of the Green Glade

Upon further research of Chief Waubojeeg's family, I came across many books and references made regarding his daughter Ozhahguscodaywayquay (see photo). She married the fur trader John Johnston in 1792 (who gave her the name Susan) only after an agreement was made by her father (Chief Waubojeeg). Ozahahguscodaywayquay was not happy with the arranged marriage and wanted nothing to do with Johnston. She ran back home only to be beaten with a stick by her father and sent back to her husband.

Fortunately, their marriage did end up a happy one and blessed with many children, one being Bamewawagezihkaquay (The Sound the Stars Make Rushing Through the Sky) or otherwise known as Jane Johnston who married Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. Schoolcraft is known for his historical writings of the Native Americans in the Great Lakes areas. Some of the many books regearding the Johnston family are:

• Woman of the Green Glade (Soetebier)


• The Sound the Stars Make Rushing Through the Sky (Parker)


• The Invasion (Lewis)


• Harps Upon the Willows (Brazer)

Even more interetsting is that Henry Schoolcraft's writings and Jane's writings were used as the basis for Longfellow's famous poem Hiawatha.

Ozahahguscodawwayquay would be my husband's 6th generation Aunt and her daughter Jane a cousin....truly amazing.

The French Connection

Waubojeeg's daughter, whose name is not known, married a French fur trader Francios DesCarreaux about 1800. They had 4 children: Susan Ogeememaqua (The Chief Woman) who married Ambrose Davenport Jr.; Marguerite who married a Mr LaPointe of Odanah, WI; Mary who married Edward St. Arnaud (St. Arnold) of Canada and Henry who took the name Blatchford after his sponsor by that name after being enrolled in a mission school on Mackinac Island.

Francios DesCarreaux, after serving in the French Army, came to MN to become a fur trader and settled in the Leech Lake, Red Lake and Sandy Lake areas of MN. It is probable that he was born around 1750 and came to MN in the 1790s. Two of DesCarreaux's daughters maintained a French connection by marrying French men (see above).

Mary was the only one of the 4 children who did not receive a formal education. It is told that before her father died he expressed his wish of having the children educated at a mission school in Mackinac Island. However, after the death of Mary's mother, her maternal grandmother wanting to bring her up in the ways of her people had secreted her away in a canoe up the Bad River.

After marrying Edward St Arnold, they had 10 children (5 girls and 5 boys). After her father's death in 1818, Marguerite, Susan and Henry were sent to the Presbyterian Mission school as their father had wished. Henry was 13 at the time and reported as being a good student. He was called upon by the board and the president Rev. Henry Blatchford adopted him and was given the name Blatchford. He retained this name for the rest of his life. Later, Henry went to a mission at Bad River. He later died there at the age of 93 after nearly a century of service.

Let's start at the beginning...

When the Ojibwa first came to Chequamegon Bay, Lake Superior and established a village at Lapointe, Wisconsin they were considered intruders by the Sauk, Fox and Mdwekatan Souix. Tribal wars were common until peace was negotiated around 1700. At this time Wabasha (a Dakota Souix) took an Ojibwa woman for a wife. They had two sons Omigaundib and Wabasha. It was inevitable that peace would not last so they thought it best that the children stay with their father.

Years later upon returning to her people(his wife) in Chequamagon (LaPointe), she became the wife of of a man named Noka or Nokay. They had a son named Big Foot "Loons Foot" Mamongazida around the year 1727. It seems that the two cheifs (Noka and Wabasha) maintained a friendly relationship but their young warriors did not. The 2 young sons did manage to visit their mother in LaPointe periodically and were able to form a bond with their half brother Big Foot.

Mamongazida was a boy (abt 9) when the Souix Massacre at Fort Charles (Lake of the Woods) occured. After this massacre the Ojibwa formed an alliance with the Cree, Assiniboine, and attacked Dakota villages at Lake Pepin. The French traders tried to halt the fighting at LaPointe but the Ojibwa and Dakota would not listen. The northern MN Ojibwa and Souix wars continued for 40 years! And so it was that Mamongazida learned to be a warrior in his formative years.

We know that about 1747 Mamongazida married an Ojibwa woman Wenona because a son, Waubojeeg (White Fisher) - was born about that time.

In 1768 Big Foot, who wasn't fond of the British, was asked to go to Sir William Johnston in NY to ask that a trader reside amongst them. Reluctantly he went and to his surprise, was received well (Johnston, no doubt, had Lake Superior copper on his mind). He was even presented with a Waumpum belt of peace.

"The warfare that Big Foot engaged in early initiated his young son,
Waubojeeg, in the arts and ceremonies of war. With eager interest he
listened to his elder's war stories and songs and longed for a time when he would be old enough to participate. He learned early the arts of hunting, abstinence, suffering, danger, endurance and fatigue. He grew up to be an impressive young man, tall (6'6"), erect in carriage and slender in make. A commanding person with full, black, piercing eyes and the usual features of his countrymen. To these attractions he united an early reputation for bravery and skill at the chase, and at age 23 was already a war leader with the Chequamegon band."
(taken from Schoolcraft's book)

It was in the late 1770s that the Dakota, Souix and Fox were defeated by the Ojibwa under the leadership of Waubojeeg. Also around this time, John Sawyer, a 26 year old free trader came into the picture. He later married Mamongazida's daughter, Obemau Unoqua. Mamongazida died around 1790 and Waubojeeg took over as hereditary chief.

Waubojeeg has also married (2xs) his second wife being Misquobonoquay. They had 6 children:

• Oshawgusdoquaywayqua (Susan aka Woman of the Green Glade)


• Iahbewadic


• Child III (name unknown)


• Auwawbawadick (Male Reindeer)


• NaQuod Waubojeeg


• Child VI (name unknown)

Waubojeeg's daugher (name unknown) married a French Fur trader names Francios DesCarreaux and this is where my husbands family really starts to come in...

A letter to Uncle Boots...

Shortly after Christmas, my husband's Uncle Gary wrote a letter to his Uncle Boots (photo). I am guessing this letter was written in the mid 1950s. Boots was only 6 years old. Enjoy....

Dear Boots,

Hope you are fine, I'm six years old. Moma is fine. We have a new dog. His name is Skippy. He is black and white. He is house broken. He sleeps with me some times. Jimmy sleeps with me too, but he takes all the covers at night so I like to sleep with Skippy better. For Christmas I got a electric train, a sled, guns and holsters, trucks and cars, a hot rod and I didn't break anything yet, so I'll get more next year.

I like school. My teacher's name is Miss Bomber. I like to sing and hear stories but mostly I like to play on the monkey bars. Nancy looks like a monkey and Jimmy smells like one (his siblings). Moms says Jimmy takes after you. He got a bow and arrow for Xmas and he shoots holes in everything.

Grandpa and Grandma like beer. Daddy says that you take after them. I like candy the best and then money and I have enough to send this letter. Jimmy has two girls. One is Patty Jo and one is Mary. I don't know what to say so ....Love, Gary.

A gift in a box from the basement

This evening we visited my husband's uncle who has been finding little treasures in his basement over the last 6 months about family history. These treasures are bits and pieces from Great Grandma Martha's trunk that his Uncle Boots sent to him periodically. After thumbing through its contents we found college diplomas, newspaper clippings about Martha's children and a very old photo of Martha's Grandfather, John Leonard Wood.

The yellowed scrapbook pages and tissue paper-like letters and correspondence thrill me. The stories they reveal are simple but intriguing and some are even humorous. I wonder what it was like for their family back in the 1920s and 1930s.

Martha was known for her public speaking abilities and the box contains several letters of invitation for her to speak at various events. Her children George and Martin (Boots) were also quite active in forensics and dramamtics as the box holds many articles about competitions and plays they were in. They even excelled in the culinary arts during their teen years winning several awards and ribbons (beating out most college age girls) for their famous cream puffs and strawberry shortcakes!

If only the trunk itself could be located. I can't imagine how much history it holds. I fear it is lost forever. Tonight was a pleasant surprise though.

What I am thankful for

• my husband, children and family
• health
• gainful employment
• a warm home
• a sense of humor
• my neighbors
• my friends
• freedom to choose my faith and speech
• our Creator's beauty
• peanut butter (can't forget peanut butter)

Are our history books correct?

(Exerpts taken from John Two-Hawks)

Unfortunately the history books don't have Thanksgiving quite right.

Thanksgiving did not begin as a great loving relationship between the pilgrims and the Wampanoag, Pequott and Naragonsett. In fact, in October of 1621 when the pilgrim "survivors" of their first winter on Turtle Island sat down for the first "unofficial" Thanksgiving meal, the Indians who were there were not even invited! There was no squash, cranberries, pumpkin pie or turkey. A few days before this feast took place, a group of pilgrims led by Miles Standish actively sought the head of a local Indian leader and an 11 ft high wall was built around the pilgrims to keep the Indians out.

Officially the holiday we know as Thanksgiving actually came into existence in the year 1637. Governor Winthrop of the Massachusettes Bay Colony proclaimed this first official day of Thanksgiving and feasting to celebrate the return of the colny's men who has survived the slaughtering of 700 Pequot men, women and children in Connecticut. Mr. Winthrop decided to dedicate a day of thanksgiving and feasting to give "thanks" to their victory.

As hard as it is to conceive of, this is the actual origin of our Thanksgiving Day holiday. Many American Indian people do not observe this holiday. I do not see anything wrong in gathering with family to give thanks to our creator for all of his blessings and sharing a meal. I do however, hope that Americans as a whole will reflect on the pain, loss and agony of our indigenous people who suffered at the hands of the pilgrims.

I know my family will.

The Big Dog

It was told by my husband's uncle that when Great Grandma Martha was a little girl on the Bad River Reservation she was walking down a path (probably on her way to school). She noticed a big dog following her as she walked. She heard his paws trotting on the path behind her and she stopped. The big dog also stopped and stared at her. Martha turned around and began to walk and once again, heard the big dog trotting behind her. She stopped, and heard nothing...silence. She turned around and the dog was there staring at her just as before.

One of the neighbors happened to be driving down the same road Martha was traveling. He pulled over and asked Martha if she needed a ride. She accepted and climbed into the neighbor's pickup truck. Martha then asked, "Hey, did you see that big dog that was following me?"

The neighbor replied, "You mean the wolf that was stalking you! It was a good thing I picked you up!"

This land is your land... this land is my land...We stole it from the Indians....

Well I didn't get the best news today. Paul and I had written to the individual who owns the land that G Grandma Martha had applied for (allotment) to see if he might be willing to sell a few acres. The letter was very non threatening...we even acknowledged him as the legal owner of the property...

I got a voice mail today from him. He basically stated that the land was allotted to someone different who lived in South Dakota?? I found this rather odd seeing as he is listed as the owner and not the tribe. He told us to go to Bad River and get our own land (allotment) from the tribe. Little does he know that the allotment treaty ended YEARS ago. He also stated that this would be his last contact with us... To say the least he was very defensive and even called us from a pay phone.

So now my next question is...if this was truly alloted to someone different...why did the BIA tell Martha the allotments were exhausted? Sounds like a government BIA scam to me...chances are very high that the government kept the land for the timber and sold it to a private party...hence the checkerboard effect you see on so many reservations.

So much for that plan...

Nice try but no cigar...

Well today I am excitied because it has been confirmed that an intertribal drum group and 3 dancers will be performing at my daughter's school on Nov 29th. I am very excited about this and want to thank Lisa in American Indian Services at work for all the help in coordinating this.

I am also in search of pictures of Paul's Great Great Grandma Nancy Bachand-Wood-Murray. I posted a comment on the Anishinabe News website to see if there might be any Bad River members out there with some old picts of the hotel they ran (Hotel Murray) in Odanah WI in the early 1900s. No one in the family has a picture of her.

I also received some interesting info from the Indian Land Tenure Foundation. They have a publication that educates about restoring Indian lands back to tribes and how the allotment act of 1887 really screwed everything up. It just so happens that Paul's Great Gma Martha (photo) applied for an alottment, got a receipt for her application from the government farmer at the time and then got a letter from the BIA stating "Gee, we're sorry we can't award you you're rightful allotment...all the tribal land has been exhausted but hey...we may have some swamp land for you if the government ever decides they don't want it anymore..."

Our dream, mine and Paul's, is to somehow obtain that alltoment and dedicate it back to the tribe in memory of Martha. Even though Martha hid her native ancestry, I think deep down she had some pride and love of her heritage.

Here I am

Well, here I am....it's been about 10 months since I've started researching my husband's Ojibwa hertiage and it has been fascinating, frustrating, exciting and maddening all at the same time.
What do I have so far?...just enough to be dangerous I think. It doesn't help that my husband Paul's (photo) Great Grandmother was ashamed of her native heritage and kept it as much a secret as possible. They all knew they had Indian blood....they never knew how much. Martha (G Grandma) always told them, "It's only a drop (of Indian blood) it is inconsequential." Come to find out, Martha was 1/2 blooded and her mother full blooded. I cannot believe that NOT ONE PERSON in his family had taken the initiative to research this. Paul did say his mother always told him, "You're Chippewa and don't you forget it."
So far I've been able to locate his Great Grandmother's info and link it to a huge family originating in the LaPointe WI area, later moving to LeAnse MI and then back to Odanah, WI (Ashland). I've also found some interesting stories about Paul's G, G, G, G, G, G Grandfather (yes...that's 6 Greats) Chief Waubojeeg. What's more interesting is that Paul's uncle had a ton of family information in his basement, hiding which assisted in the info found so far. Unfortunately
the mysterious missing trunk owned by Great Grandma Martha containing family history, pictures and stories of her childhood was supposedly taken ruthlessly by Martha's son's exwife....absolutely NO idea what has become of it...and what a shame that is.