03 - Signers of the Treaties
During the 1800s Ojibwe people met many times over the summer in treaty session. It was at these treaty meetings that the chiefs had to represent their bands in the government negotiations. Some of the chiefs had to come from far into the interior for the meetings. It would take weeks for the journey.
The traditional chiefs from each band were usually accompanied by lesser chiefs and the two top warriors from their band. These warriors were often called headmen.
Consequently, those who are recorded as having signed Ojibwe treaties are traditional chiefs, headmen and warriors. They represented the many bands in the treaty makings. They also had to report back to their bands and discuss the details and ramifications of the treaty issues.
photo courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society
1913 - Leech Lake
Signing of the Declaration of Allegiance to the U.S. Government
As these Ojibwe leaders signed treaties, their Indian names were written down, and their band. Their particular bands that signed the treaties were evidence that significant villages were present.
Many of those villages do not yet remain Indian land. A classic example is the village of Gull Lake. Bug-o-nay-ge-shig, or Hole-in-the-day, as he was known, led his people for many years residing on the shores of Gull Lake. The surrounding area also was the home of many Ojibwe people.
Madeline Island, which is mentioned many times in the Midewiwin speeches of our tribe, was once the site of the longest Ojibwe villages of all time. It, along with Sandy Lake, was the center point of Ojibwe people.
These, then, are the chiefs, headmen and warriors who have been recorded as signing the Ojibwe treaties. When they were recorded, the government stenographers made countless mistakes in the spelling of their names. We have corrected them where possible.
LAKE SUPERIOR BANDS
Grand Portage
Shaw-ga-nah-sheence
Kitchi-inini
Maw-da-gaw-me
Way-mi-tee-go-she
Bay-me-ge-wung
Ah-deek-once
May-mahsh-ko-wash
We-wigi-wam
Wisconsin and some Michigan bands are included here because they were a part of the 1854 Lake Superior treaty. It is important to note that in those times Ojibwe people were not divided by state boundaries. Also, a great kinship was felt by all Ojibwe Indians as they migrated eastward. Many Ojibwe in Minnesota and Ontario can trace their people's ancestry to Madeline Island.
Lac Du Flambeau
Me-zha-kwad
Ah-mous
Ke-nish-ti-no-ah
Mee-giz-ee
Kay-kay-go-nay-ah-shee
Oh-chi-chag
Nay-she-kay-gwaw-nay-be
O-shkaw-bay-wis
Kwi-wi-zaince
Nee-gig
Nay-wadj-ee-gee-zhick
Kway-kway-kee-gah
Wa-ba-nim-ikee
Wa-bish-kah-kah-gay
Oh-ge-ma-gah Bah-se-quam-jis
Ojibwe historians tell of "the time when we lived by the great salt water..." This map shows the path of the Ojibwe from the original homeland to the lands occupied today - primarily in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and bordering provinces of Canada.
LAKE SUPERIOR BANDS
She-gawg Ontonagon
O-cun-de-cun
Wa-say-geeshick
Keesh-ke-taw-wug
Oh-gaw-bay-ah-naw-kwad
Wa-bish-kee-bee-nays
Bay-bahm-ah-sing
Keesh-kee-mun
LeVieux Desert, L'anse, Bad River
David King
John Southwind
Pete Marksman
Naw-taw-me-geeshick
Aw-se-neence
May-dway-aush
Bash-kway-geen
Lac Courte Oreilles
Ah-kee-wain-zee
Key-no-zhaince
Kitchi-bi-nay-see
Kitchi-wah-bi-shay-she
Wah-bi-shay-sheence
Kway-kway-cub
Shaw-waw-go-me-tay
Nay-naw-ong-gay-be
O-saw-wehsh-ko-geeshick
Ay-yaw-baynce
LAKE SUPERIOR BANDS
Fond du Lac
Shin-goob
Mang-oh-zid
An-ni-mah-sung
Na-ga-nab
Naw-bun-way-geeshick
Manito-geeshick
Oh-saw-gee
May-kwaw-me-we-geeshick
Kay-tah-waw-be-day
Kitchi-aki-wainze
Keesh-kwak
Wenji-ma-dub
Photos courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society
Chief Buffalo
Age 96 - Died 1856
La Pointe
Head Chief of the large Lake Superior Band. Every chief was given a large land allotment by the U.S. Government. In 1854, Chief Buffalo chose his allotment on the present day site of Duluth.
Bee-zhi-kee
Ta-kwaw-gah-nah
Cha-ching-gway-oh
Shee-we-tah-gin
Ki-mi-wun
Ma-ka-dey-bi-nay-see
O-shkin-ah-wey
Ah-da-we-geeshick
Bay-bah-me-say
Na-wa-ge-wah-nos
MISSISSIPPI, PILLAGER, WINNIBIGOSHISH BANDS
Mille Lacs
Me-gee-see
Nay-kwan-ay-bee
Bah-kay-naw-gay
Wah-jushk-ko-kone
Wenji-gee-shee-guck
Adawe-gee-shick
Ka-ka-gwap
MISSISSIPPI, PILLAGER, WINNIBIGOSHISH BANDS
St. Croix, Snake, & Chippewa River
Be-zhe-ke Ka-be-ma-be
Ba-gah-wey-we-wedung
Ay-ya-banse
Kish-kee-ta-wag
Na-tam-ee-ga-bow
Sah-ga-tah-gun
No-din
Sha-go-bay
Sho-nee-yah
Wee-mi-ti-go-sheens
Sandy Lake, Rice Lake (Pokegama)
Ah-aw-be-dway-we-dung
Miskwa-dace
Mah-no-min-i-kay-shee
Bee-dud-ence
Ma-ya-je-way-we-dung
Naw-gawn-nee-gah-bow
Mah-ya-ge-way-dung
Kitchi-wee-mi-ti-goshe
Leech Lake & Winnibigoshish
Aish-ke-bug-e-koshe
Bi-shee-kee
Nah-bi-nay-aush
O-gee-mah-wah-che-waib
Ki-mi-wan-aush
Mis-ko-bee-nay-say
Manido-gee-shig
O-gee-tub
Kaw-be-mah-bee
Kitchi-sai-yay
Mah-ji-gah-bow
Photos courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society
Indians at Grand Portage at foot of Rose Hill about 1885. Chiefs and men stopped game of la crosse to meet with government officials. Chief May-maush-ko-waush stands in from holding tomahawk and wearing a chiefs medal, 6th from left in back row is Mike Flatt.
MISSISSIPPI, PILLAGER, WINNIBIGOSHISH BANDS
Mississippi Band
Ga-nawn-da-maw-win-so
Ay-yah-baince
O-taw-waw
By-ah-jig
Ih-yah-shaw-wey-ge-zhick
Mah-ko-dey
Ke-wey-cah-me-gee-shkung
Gah-besh-ko-da-way
Wah-dee-na
Photos courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society
Chief Wabanaquot or White Cloud of White Earth
Gull Lake and Crow Wing
Bug-oh-nay-gee-shig
Wah-bo-jeeg
Wah-ba-na-kwad
Manido-wab
Sho-baush-kung
Kwi-wi-zaince
Wa-de-kaw
Way-nah-me
Song-ah-cumig
Photos courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society
Delegation of Leech Lake Ojibwe Leaders in Washington D.C. 1889.
Rabbit Lake
Me-jaw-ke-ki-zhick
Ah-ah-jaw-way-ge-shick
Day-dah-com-mo-say
Moz-oh-mah-nay
Way-saw-wah-no-nayb
Mino-gee-shick
MISSISSIPPI, PILLAGER, WINNIBIGOSHISH BANDS
Nett Lake, Vermillion, Pelican, Basswood Lake
Ga-besh-co-daway
Ba-baw-madjew-esh-cang
Way-zaw-we-je-zhick-way-sking
O-saw-way-bi-nay-see
Shay-way-be-nay-see
Bah-pee-oh
Ah-da-wawnequa-bee-nays
Sa-gwa-da-came-gish-cang
Ne-oning
Wa-ba-gam-agwa
Gan-ah-wah-bam-ina
Gaw-nanda-ma-winzo
Ah-be-tang