The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-06-12
INVASION OF INDIANS.
Novel Display Proposed For
Chicago's Centennial.
SIX TRIBES TO BE REPRESENTED,

Hunters and Traders From Them
VIII Paddle to the Windy City In
Fleet of Canoes and Trade For
Supplies at Fort Dearborn rs They
Did Years Ago,
BY the early part Of September there
VIII be heading for Chicago a feet of
1ndlan canoes. says the Chicago Trib-
une They will coast down the west
shore of Lake Michigan and land near
the mouth Of the Chicago river, lust
as their ancestors did a hundred years
ago.
From half dozen different tribes
hunters and traders will come to Chi
cago and seek Fort Dearborn for sup
plies. The fort is to be reconstructed,
and the Indians are to be received as
their forefalhers were when the fort
was trading post.
The tribes represented will be the
Ojibways, Iroquois, Pottawattamies,
Algonquins, Ottawas and Menominees.
The plan 10 have this Indian display
was proposed to Chairman Plamondon
and Secretary NIacoon Of the execu-
tive committee for the celebra ton Of
the Chicago centennial this fall by L.
0. Armstrong Of the Canadian Pacific
railway.
He proposes to bring 400 Indians
whose ancestors traded at Fort Dear
born a hundred years ago back to the
site of the old fort and have them re-
enact the scenes Of the older days so
far as possible. 1t is planned to have
them encamped on the lake front if
possible and to give daily exlebtions
Upon their arrival in their bark ca
noes they will pitch camp and trade
for supplies with the post trader at
Fort Dearborn. They will cook their
meals at open camp fires and show
exactly how the trading Indians used
to live about the fort.
AS a part OF the formal entertain
mentS W.-..vii Y...i ~ l,.vA ii! t..:y
the Indians will show their various
dances on elevated platforms. There
will be canoe races, swimming races
and fitting matches. At the last game
the Indians are the worlds champions,
and the champion OF the Indians at
this pictur~ sGuc water tournament,
Shawanoe, will be among tile challen-
gers.
1t is expected that the f1otila Of
brightly colored canoes which viii aoat
down the lake will be one of the most
picturesque sights which Chicago has
had the opportunity to view. at night
the Indians will sing their canoe songs
from the lake. The Indians who do
not take part in the performance will
make all varieties Of articles usually
offered for sale by the tribes. These
will include mats, porcupine quill
work, beadWork on bark and skins,
canoes, baskets, etc. The many tribal
and religious customs Of the Indians
will be fully illustrated ut the village
Many of the Indians have been ap-
preached on tie subject Of making the
canoe trip to Chicago and have ex-
pressed themselves as anxious to have
part in the celebration. The story Of
the trading post and Of the fort is well
known to many Of the older Indians,
whose fathers were among the hunters
and trapperS VINO came to Fort Dear
born for their supplies.
A part of the original Fort Dearborn
will be used in the reconstruction. The
South park commissioners have in stor-
age large section Of the old block
house which, stood at Thirty-third and
State streets for many years. having
been taken there from it's original site.
Henry e. Weaver saved this part from
destruction and presented it to the cop-
missioners.