The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-12-26

Fond du Lac, in lo47. They ceded the
best portion of their blood earned coun-
try to the Uuited Stctes.
Leagues with the different tribcs
around them, have frequently occurred
in former times.
They say the Ojibway family consists
ofscven fires. The Oaa,ras, tMinominecs,
Poitascatamees. Odish gno gtmees, Knisfei
nos, and the Sauks. Tie language Of
these different tribes, is nearly similar;
the difference mostly lies in the pronun-
citation. They have never been at wal:
with one another And from time to
time, tobacco and wappum have been
sent from tribe to tribe, to strengthen
their relationship.
The Ojibways talk but one language.
The bands north of lake Superior, call
ed Bots Forts and .Nuskegoes, have diff
ferent -ffopunciation. Il requires how
ever, but. one Interpreter to speak the
language of this tribe.
The Ojibways have never built cny
earth works or mounds in former times;
those mounds that are 10 be seen ahpr;
the Wisconsin and Chippeway rivers,
are said by them, to have been the wig
vans of the Foxes, before they drovs
them from the country. The mounds
about the St. Croix and upper Missis-
sippi, are said to be the work Of the ca.
ciens Omaumees. A few mounds are to
be seen at the entry CT the Savannah
river into the st Louis, which were once
the homes Of the Gros Venfyes or Mime
tarees. Wa-,ron-je-guon, the present Red
Lake chief, lately visited the remnant Of
this tribe, towards the head of the Mis-
souri,, and the above fact was related 10
him by the old men, who described the
site of the ancient village so infinitely,
that 1t is no difficult matter for the curious
to see and recognize the spot; though
the vestiges are at the present day, but
faint.
Ke-che-,rashkeenh, who is better known
by the whites, by the name of Buffalo,
is at present, the Oldest chief in the tribe.
The fact of his being descended in
direct line from the Oldest family, and
being resident chief of the Lapointe
band, gives him the main influence over
the majority of the different bands of the
Ojibways; who call him grandfather,
and sometimes ancestor.
The old man has been an excellent
orator in his time; and in his younger
days followed the war path against the
Sioux. He is much more fitted however,
for peace than war. He has been pres
ent at all the talks and treaties the Ojib-
ways have held for the past sixty years.
with the English or Americans.
In the days of the prophet, he was
true and fierce Show-aa-o; of this Incl
dent in his life, he seldom speaks. He
has ever been a leading chief in his
tribe, and has been a firm friend to the
whites. 1t is his boast that the sky above
his village has ever been clear, and the
soil from which sprung the nation. has
never been sullied with drop of blood
Iawlessly shed during his lifetime. With
! in few years, the cid chieftain has lost
three favorife sons BY death Henry
Martin was the name Of his youngest,
and he was partly educated; he would
have been an ornament to his tribe had
he lived The Croac, another Of his
sons, was the head warrior of the ban0.
The untimely loss of these sons, has en-
tirely broken the spirit he once possessed,
His once deep and powerful voice is
broken and feeble. Trembling as he
expresses himself in council, the tear
often comes unbidden to his eye, as rem
iniscences of the past crowd into his
mind He has stiii one son living, So
che-go-caunh, known by the whites as the
Lille Chief He is a good catholic,
dresses like white, living in house,
and in every respect, following the Gus
toms Of the whites.
To be Continued.