Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-10-13


cessful. Scrofula is very prevalent
but increasing cleanliness is improv
ing the conditions. About two-thirds
of the deaths result from lung
diseases. Deafness and blindness is
twice as common as it is among the
whites. Nearly all the Chippewas
are self-supporting, only 1873 out of
the S,20S reservation Indians in Min
nesota drawing rations from the gov
eminent
There is a marked distinction be-
tween the work of men and women.
In the older days the men did nothing
but make war and hunt. The last
pitched battle between the Chippewas
and the Sioux was fought near Shake
pee in 1858. Up to that time the
tribes usually fought from the time
the snow disappeared in the spring
until it reappeared in the fall. The
squaws were left to do all the ordi-
nary work Now the men built houses,
do blacksmith work, make hay and
cut lumber. The squaws make bas
network, maple sugar, supply the
food and do all the mental labor
All the Chippewa Indians during
their lifetime have at least two
names. The mother names her child
as soon as it is born. This event usual
ly occurs in the woods. If it happens
beneath pine tree she will name the
child Pine Tree" If bird happens
to be in the tree at the time she will
call the little one Sitting Bird or
Flying Bird" or Singing Bird" as
the case might be. These names are
temporary If the child should be
sick, some one is chosen to select a
name for it, and if it gets well it al
ways retains this name, although it
may take other names selected either
by itself or by other persons, which
latter is given from some popularity,
as Curley-Hair.
When the child arrives at the age
OF discretion, if boy the father, if
girl the mother, instead of placing
before ii a portion of food, as usual.
substitutes charcoal. The child knows
what this is for-he must fast. So he
goes into the woods and hides him
self where he stays until he falls
asleep and dreams of some animal,
and that animal not only gives him
name, but he is supposed to be UNI
der it's good influence for life. If a
child dreams of the red fox, it is sup
posed he will become possessed of all
the alertness, slyness, and trickery
of that animal. And all such quail
tiles are cheerfully conceded to him,
whether he has them or not, until the
tribe discovers his lack of them.
Then common usage will substitute
something derisiye in place of the
other name. After the fast and the
assuming of name, the Indian is
considered a full-hedged man or
woman. 1t is the custom, however,
for the son to obey his father as long
as he lives, and the daughter her mo-
Their. If the father dies the son
yields obedience to the mother This
parental sway is exercised with very
little coercion and the young are al
lowed to do about as they please. In
case of divorce the woman holds all
the children. The children are not
barred from the war dance, medicine
dance, or any other Indian perform
ances. The child can put on feathers
for the scalp taken by his ancestors,
and hence the modern Indian wears
feathers, though he may never have
taken a scalp.
Morality in its accepted sense is I'M
known among the Chippewas Mar
rtage usually takes place at about
If or Is, and the wife is Almost al
ways the older. This is because the
woman Is the real worker and the
man is anxious to get a good working
squaw. He reasons that the older
the woman is the shrewder and more
experienced, and therefore the more
desirable. Moreover an experiment
tai year is put in at the end of which.
II marriage has proved a failure
either party to the contract may
quit,
Even now the Chippewas find con-
siderable game, and many occupy
their entire time in hunting and trap
dependence. Besides these there are
wild goose, duck partridge, and bear.
The fox, wolf, otter, bear, mink,
muskrat, and skunk are trapped for
their fur. Many of the trappers make
large amounts of money every year.
Usually this is squandered The
squaws do a great deal of fishing from
canoes. Every Indian over 10 years
of age is an expert canoeist. The
birch bark canoe is still used.
The Pillager Indians live in wig
vans. These are built usually of
birch bark, although spruce, balsam.
tamarack. and other kinds are some
times used. Additional protection
from the weather Is sometimes given
by mats. The size Of the lodge or
wigwam varies, but it is usually about
Is feet square. The principal crop
raised by those who have taken TO
agriculture is corn. The next crop in
value is the potato. Beyond a few
beans, pumpkins, and squashes this
is about all the Indians raise