We had a few goals for this trip:
1. Visit the Bad River rez, see the cemetary there, drop off some books for the head start program and of course spend time with Paul's cousin Stephanie.
Of this...we did all but see the cemetary.
Beautiful Chequamegon Bay
Margaret, Stephanie and Anna
2. Visit the Ashland County Land office
Paul and I wanted to find out how Martha Woods land allottment that she applied for actually changed hands in ownership. We found out that the land was actually allotted to another person after the BIA stated there was no land left to allot. Very interesting....
This very nice man helped us research the very old land records.
3. Visit Madeline Island
We did do this. We took the ferry over to the island and viewed the museum, the beaches and also an Indian burial ground where Chief Buffalo is burried.
Beautiful scenery driving to Bayfield to take the ferry.
Madeline Island Ferry
At the Madeline Island Museum - wigwam
4. Drive to Baraga MI to visit the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community...
We didn't quite make it there...but our detour turned out to be quite special. We ended up visiting Stephanie at the Bad River tribal offices and had the opportunity to meet an elder of the tribe. We offered him tobacco and asked if he could give Paul, Margaret and Anna Ojibwa names. The elder kindly named all of us (even me!) and told us the importance of the names and how the Ojibwa culture takes a naming ceremony very serioiusly and with the name comes great responsibility to live up to that name.
Paul was named Wabijiishey (White Fisher and also after his ancestor Chief Waubojeeg)
Margaret was named Mijawkweniigiijigokwe (medicine, sky woman)
Anna was named Miskwaniigiijigokwe (red sky or clear sky woman)
I was named Jingkwak (spruce tree - sturdy, strength)
Tradition says that we choose 4 Weh'ays (sponsors) and have a feast for the naming. We plan to do this the weekend of the Bad River Manomin Powwow.
Paul at the Bad River Historical Preservation Office
5. Spend the 4th of July at the town of Barnes
We drove to Barnes early that morning to meet Paul's cousins Fred (Fritz) and Jeanne Barnes. We started the morning out with a delicius pancake breakfast. Then we headed to the Barnes cemetary to see some of the Barnes family plots. The town threw a great parade with candy and water fights (which was great with temps almost at 100 degrees). We then went back to Fred and Jeanne's home to swim in the lake and have a very enjoyable visit talking about family history.
It was very foggy the morning we drove to Barnes, but very beautiful.
Barnes Parade
6. Ashland Fireworks
This is always cool to see over the Chequamegon Bay. They start out with the town fire trucks blaring sirens (known as the "Fire Run")
Look at that one!
Heading home the next morning was bitter-sweet. It is always nice to come home but always hard to leave the beautiful Northwoods and Chequamegon Bay. We will be back in August!
