The Assassination of Hole in the Day
Treuer, professor of Ojibwa culture and language, became intrigued as a youngster with the stories surrounding the mysterious assassination by his own people of Ojibwa leader Bagone-giizhig (Hole in the Day). Relying on primary sources and extensive oral histories, Treuer explores the life and death of this brash young leader, and delves into tribal history and the intricate machinations of Ojibwa politics. After his father’s death in 1847, Hole in the Day the younger, at 19, inherited his father’s role as leader of the Gull Lake Ojibwa, boldly asserting his dominance over older, respected chiefs. He negotiated with white traders, both Catholic and Protestant missionaries, and the staff at the Indian agency, always knowing exactly when to forge friendships, lie, threaten, cajole, bully, and back down in his dealings with whites, the Dakota, and his own people. But his pride and bold ways led to his death in 1868, as he was leaving for Washington to renegotiate the unpopular Treaty of 1867. Treuer skillfully untangles some of the many threads leading to his untimely demise. --Deborah Donovan