The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-02
INDIANS ARE RICH
Canadian Chippewas Have an
Island of Much Value.

TORONTO, Ont, Nov. IAN unu-
sually well-to-do tribe of Chippewa
Indians has just been located near
Lake Nipissing, in Northern Ontario
Although each of the small families in
the tribe is worth at least $4,000, all
OF them live in a hand-to-m mouth fash
ion. The heads of some of the families
have successfully acted as guides for
numerous camping parties during the
summer. A few are farmers. In the
winter most of the men work for the
lumber companies. Some of them exc
out an existence for themselves and
their families solely by hunting and
trapping.
This tribe, which is composed of
about fifty families, lives on a big
Island In the French river, which con-
meets Lake Nipissing with Georgian
bay. The island, which is twenty
one by nineteen miles, is covered with
dense virgin growth of fine pine
trees. Not more than 200 white popu-
lation a year ever get near the island.
and most Of them are American
sportsmen. The tribe owns the island.
There is standing offer of $780,
900 for permission to cut the timber
refuse to sell at that price. For years
the big lumber companies have cast
enVlouS eyes on this gigantic forest of
pine. 1t is splendidly situated with a
view to easy transportation a point
which the lumbermen appreciate. The
logs could be f1oated down the French
river to Georgian bay and then be
| sawed and put on board ships.
Health Commissioner w. d. Greene
/ is we'll known thaSn
another of their friends is the Rev.
Byron H. Stauffer, who recently pi-
loted party through that district.
Those Indians are getting richer
every year, not only because the tim
Der on their island becomes more vail
liable as time goes on, but because
many of the Indians are dying Off"
SAID Mr.. Stauffer, in speaking about
their affairs. Twenty years ago the
tribe numbered seventy families, To-
day 1t has barely fifty families. The
old chief who rules the tribe holds the
key to the situation. His name is Paul
Commando, and he is ninety-slx years
old
Some Of the Indians are anxious to
sell the timber on the island, and the
tribe takes a vote on the question once
year. Each time, thus far, the chief
has managed to beat those who desire
Il
election there was a majority of six
or seven against selling the timber,
out of total vote of forty. The island
has been the property of the tribe for
hundreds of years, and the old chief
doesn't want to see 1t despoiled by the
white man. 1t looks as if he would
have things his way as long as he
lives.
THE tribe has been on the island
Ginpn tha time nf Cha Mo In "a
least, and probably for long time be-
fore. The forefathers of the present
owners Of the property are said to
have been the guides of Champlain
on his journey from Montreal up the
Ottawa river and across to Lake Nip
issing, and then down the French river
to Lake Huron. The Jesuit fathers
who accompanied Champlain baptized
the Indians on this island and the
tribe has remained true to the Roman
Catholic religion ever since. There is
a rude church on the island, with a
Catholic altar inside. Here the tribe
holds service every Sunday morning.
-Four times year a Franciscan monk
visits the little settlement where the
Indians live.
Some of the members of the tribe
see very little Of the island. They
go on long hunting and trapping trips
of the Indians told me that in one
week in the district to the north of
North bay he killed twelve moose. But
they would rather kill wolves. The
government offers a bounty Of SIS on
every wolf pelt. l am afraid some Of
the Indians go far beyond the proper
territory to get the wolves. All the
Indian has to produce to get $l5 IS
the dead VOLTS ears, connected with
the piece of pelt that lies between
them. These little pieces of pelt are
as good as cash among the Indians.
Consumption is thinning out this
little tribe. 1t is said that the cow
has much to do with the diminishing
numbers of the Indian in Canada.
Somehow or other, the Indian seems to
be peculiarly susceptible to tuberculo-
sis when he has a cow A number OF
the Indians on this island, while they
do not go farming to any extent, have
COWS, and the animals seem to be get
ting in their deadly work 1 suppose
in a few years the lumber companies
will have their way and the Indians
will dispose of their inheritance. In
return the little group of Indians will
receive a large amount of the white
y,oan'c money"