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...