The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-03-19

gruueO ana WfctcneU cOnultIOn III
which the use of this drink has in
volved the Chippewa people. "
The miserable condition OF the
Chippewa people during the third
decade of this century is further
described by Colonel McKenney in
his subsequent letters. The colonel
writes: "Under the eastern bluff at
Montreal river was an Indian lodge
in which were one man and several
women and children in wretched
D ate of poverty and starvation! The
poor Indian had some powder, with
which he saluted us, but no shot; he
had no Irvine to make net, nothing
out of which to make spear, and
no canoe When we fed them, it
was like feeding hungry mastiff.
Scarcely time was taken for masti-
cation. The wrinkled grandam
wore leather skirt and IA leather
jacket; both garments were black
and greasy from age. They had
been living on roots for week. We
promised to send them food.
Colonel McKenney describes the
assemblage and formalities of a
Chippewa council in detail, the
signing of "A treaty, and the wind.up
when presents were distributed to
the Indians in attendance, as fol-
lows "At the signal of the dis
charge OF three cannon shots the
multitude aSsembled-men, women
and children. This was the first
time we had had before us the en-
tire collection Of Indians. AS the
chiefs of the respective tribes from
Sault dc Ste. Marie, along the litoral
of Lake Superior TO the headwaters
of this lake; and from the islands
and rivers above and below, were
only entitled to seats in this coun-
ell! These chiefs and their families
present, NAV be taken for our pur-
pose-as representatives OF their
respective communities. Never
before, writes the colonel, had |
witnessed such display. nor such
an exhibition of nakedness and
Indebtedness, nor such varieties of
both, From the infant tied to the
cradle, and to the back of its mother;
from the little fellow clad in dress
made of raccoon skins to one of the
Sandy Lake chiefs dressed like King
Saul. "
Richard Elliot gives us descrip-
tion of an Indian lodge: A Chip
pewa lodge was about Is feet long.
II wide and II feet high. It's frame
work was of saplings long enough
to be firmly fastened in the ground,
and to reach the centre of the roof
from each side, where they were
fastened. The ridge-pole rested in
the crotch of three young trees, on
which the framework of the roof
rested. Similar trees supported the
poles of the caves. The roof was
oval and the whole exterior covered
with uniform lengths of bark over
Tapped so as Ito shed rain and defy
the winds. The interior was lined
with smooth-faced bark and tloored
with the same material, on which
were generally mats. On each side
were rows of lockers, serving as re-
ceptacles for household articles, and
on which were spread mats and furs
for beds. a circle at one end was
left for fire, over which hole in
the roof was made for the escape OF
smoke, and for ventilation and hight.
Around this hole were poles from
which hung articles Of food, fresh or
cured fish, and meats. An aperture
in the front of the lodge served as
door, which was closed either by "a
curtain of bark, or of tanned buck
skin, or by II bearskin retaining its
fur The arms and equipment of
the Indian, the belongings of the
cuisine. except the kettle, hung from
the walls. One or two families
might occupy such lodge. But
where only one or two persons lived
by themselves, a circular lodge II
feet in diameter was occupied. Mol
nails or iron of any kind was used in !
the construction Of these lodges.
But, as has been stated, the high |
born. caste Chippewa, as rule. was
improvident. During the long win
ter months. after the slender st )re |
of dried fish, meat and roots had |
boon exhausted, the supply of food
for the Chippewa household became
limited, and barely sutficed to sus-
tain life. But this was not the !
worst. In these lodges were found
men, women and children subsisting
on scanty supply of food some in
deed starving; while naked children
were grouped around the fire SILVER
ing with cold, for the average tenn
ecraturc was several degrees below
zero.
Can it be imagined, that the men
and women Father Baraga found
in these lodges could look upon him
with Indifference, when he, poor as
themselves, came to console and
teach them the truths of Christian
ity, and when they could compre
bend what this meant, when they
were made fully acquainted with
the sublime mission of the Saviour
of mankind, and laid at the feet of
the Blessed Mother of the Redecmer
their own sufferings?
Elected from the field Of his mis-
sionary work among the Ottawas in
the Grand river valley by the United
States Indian agent, Father Baraga
,,,.t ,,,,,1 % n,tpAit ~ 1921 Intnr- |