The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-02-20

lated Tie; we dn-irs-gdnn, IN Wnicn4 the
hoiier riios OF their religion were prac-
Used. The5h building, though probably
sade n structure and perishablc in ma
tcrisls, was yet The temple of power
ful tribe, and; in their religious phrase
ology, the island is still known by the
name oe y,is-da-sve-gauw.
The O.ibwas were for time 50 ha-
raised by the Sioux and Foxes that they
were not even safe from attack upon the
island Of La Pointc, though situate some
miles from the main shore of the lake
Twice their enemies found opportunity
to land among them in the night and car
~ of prisoners and scalps.. 1t was not
until the earlier French traders had sup
pied them in measure with fire arms
that they became formidable To their en-
em!es. From this era, now about two
centuries ago, can be dated the departure
at the Chippewas from their island home,
and the expansion Of their bands along
the shore OF the lake, and over the coun-
Try in the interior. In q severe engage
ment on Point Siog-ah -,raum- kong,
they killed over one hundred Sioux war
riors; and, in i lake fight nearthe mouth
of Montreal river, they killed and drown
ed upwards of three hundred Foxes, who
had intrudcd upon their island in the
night and taken prisoners. In a concen-
tra.ed effort, they destroyed, with one
war party, six villages Of Foxes, scat
tered along the Chippewa river. About
eighty years ago, the Foxes made their
last stand against them at the Falls of
ST. Croix. The ChiPpewos, led by their
war chief Wcu5-o.jeeg, were victorious,
and from that time the Foxes finally re-
tired from the country. Gaining poss-
ession of the hcad-waters Of the Missis-
sippi, il became an easy matter for the
/ Chippewas to descend in their enemies
country. Wii:in two centuries they
have occupied by conques; 4 tract OF
country extending from Lake Superior
to the Mississippi, and south from Red
river of the North and SelAirk's settle
ment to Lake Michigan. Diverted by
the tempting resources and lured by the
varied scduc:iUns of so extended Il region
they have become separated into several
divisions, of which brief sketch will
here be given.
Late Superior Cbippc,r0s This body
number about thirteen hundred, and are
known as the Kc-che- gumme-'rin-in-e-ruc
or Great lake men. The principal vii
lagos arc Ancc, Ketrena,o, Ontonagcn,
La Poin:c, Fond du Lac, and Grand
Portage, on the lake shore. They sub
sist mainly on thc. excellent fish with
which the lake abounds. Since 1912
they have received the services Of four
blacksmiths, three farmers, ard two car
! penters--em5racing with the exception
OF one blacksmith and one farmer, al! the
| laborers allowed the entire quota of
bands who were parties to the treaties
Of 1887 and ISi2. In consequence Of
this help, among this division, Gathering
progress has been made
/ The Ance band, numbering three hum
drod, have become comparatively civiIi-
Fzed. They dwell in houses, assume the
costume oi.thc whites, and are essential
/ ~ agr;cu,tGraliSts. Their chief and some
of the principal men have been admitted
to the rights Of citizenship in the State
OF .1lcalgan.
| The La Pcinte band number about
four hundred. Among them arc many
wh> are partially civilized, and, beside
dwelling III hoascs and owning cattle, are
dcvout members either Of Catholic or
Protestant churches. Among the elder
chiefs and head-mon, however, are 9TH
ers still attached to primitive customs
The religion Of their fathers IS engraved
upon the hearts of these, and guides
their daily habits of life. The improve
ment of this band Cor tic past ten years
has been gradual and sure They own
a large farm on Bad river, from which
they raise corn and potatoes sufficient
for their own consumption, and not I'M
frequently Il surplus for sale. They al
50 manufacture large quantities Of ma
pie sugar, which they sell to their ira
ders, and catch and salt fish, for which
they find ready market
The Fond dI Lac band, who reside
upon uncoded lands in Minnesota, mum
Der abou, four hundred. They are much
less advanced in the arts Of civilization
than the two bands last mentioned, and
depend for subsistence upon the scanty
and procarious supplies furnished by the
chase. One cause cf this isthc absence
of good soil in the vicinity Of their pres
ent location.
The Ontonagon and Grand Portage
bands number a little over one hundred
each
These lake-shore Chippewas have an
inexhaustible resource in the fish which
/ plentifully abound in the waters of the
lake. They are naturally well disposed
towards the whites, docile, and harmless
Owing to their distance from the Sioux,
they have not, for the past half century,
Joined the war parties Of their more west
ern brethren.
Wisconsin, and Chippewa rirer dirisioa.
This fragment of the tribe number
about eighteen hundred, and are known
as the Bs-fon-auk-an-ud-yig, or CHOSE
that live along the woods" Their priii-
cipaI villages are at Lac du Flambeau,
VIeux Desert, Pelican lake, Lac Cen
I te rafyillp D,k wuc Cb,t,r opI