METIS AND OJIBWA

ON THE SHORES OF KITCHI - GAMI

The creation of the Metis Nation is built on the foundation of the Ojibwa Culture.
This mix of people quietly and without fanfare explored and mapped the interior of a continent.
Louis Garneau (1790-1863) homesteaded the Saint Mary's Falls Region of Michigan
and was an early homesteader in La Pointe, Wisconsin

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METIS and OJIBWA at KITCHI-GAMIPhoto is an Ojibwa MAP

This is a representation of an early Anishinaabeg (Ojibwa) pictograph map of Kitchi Gami (Lake Superior).


 


GRAND KITCHI-GAMIPhoto is Lake Superior

This is a satellite photo of Kitchi Gami (Lake Superior).


 

 

 

Moningwunakauning IslandPhoto is sign Madeline Island

Madeline Island is just offshore from La Pointe, Wisconsin.
The Island provided good protection for the Ojibwa from the Dakota as the latter didn't have the canoe.
The sign however makes no mention of the rich history of the Ojibwa and Metis who continuously occupied this site except when briefly driven off by the French.
 

 

 

 

 

Moningwunakauning GraveyardPhoto is of Indian graveyard
It is noteworthy that the Black Robes were banned from Lake Superior for over 200 years until about 1835 because of their evil ways. The cross became a symbol of this intrusion and therefore was not used prior to this time.


 


 

OJIBWA ROCK PAINTINGPhoto is an Objibwa rock painting

Ojibwa rock painting Mishipeshu Agawa,
 


 
 

1640-1710 Pierre Esprint Radisson Photo is Pierre Radisson

Pierre Esprint Radisson born France 1636, died London, England 1710, arrived in Trois Rivieres 1651.  This Coureurs de Bois is responsible for the creation of the Hudson Bay Company.  


 

1668-69 NONSUCH REPLICAPhoto is SHIP NONSUCH

This is a replica of the British ship Nonsuch that was sent out to prove Pierre Radisson's proposal that Hudson Bay can be used to develop a direct route to the interior of Canada for the fur trade. This would lead to the creation of the Hudson Bay Company in 1670.


 

1744 MAP OF AMERICAPhoto is of a partial map of America

A Partial Map of North America as described by Joseph La France a French Canadese Indian (Metis).


 


 
 
 
 

OJIBWA LODGEPhoto is of Ojibwa birch-bark lodge

An example of an Ojibwa birch-bark lodge (tipi & domed construction).  It is noteworth that frame construction would not be used until much later as a Canadian construction technique.


 

OJIBWA DRESSPhoto is of an Ojibwa dress

A sample of an Ojibwa dress


 

OJIBWA MOCCASINPhoto is of Ojibwa moccasins

A sample of Ojibwa moccasin


 

OJIBWA SNOWSHOESPhoto is Ojibwa Snowshoes

Example of Ojibwa and Algonquian snowshoes


 

OJIBWA CANOEPhoto is Ojibwa canoe

Example of an Ojibwa and Algonquian canoes


 

METIS, COUREUR DE BOIS Photo is of a Metis Coureur de Bois

A Metis, Coureur de Bois in early 1700 style of clothing.  This drawing appears to be a cross between a Canadian Coureur de Bois and an American Mountain man. 


 


 

1749 MICHILIMACKINACPhoto is of interior of Metis house

Michilimackinac was originally built in 1715 and was the main hub for the Metis trade and exploration into the interior.  


 

1776 AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE NEW BORDERS Photo is of MAP OF 1776
A map of the new borders as a result of the American declaration of independence of 1776.  It is noteworthy that the old North West is presently occupied by the Indians, Metis, Coueur de Bois, French and a few British.  The American presence is very minor at this time.


 

A 1780 TRADING POSTPhoto is of a trading post

A trading post from about 1780


 

EXPRESS CANOEPhoto is of an express canoe

A Express Canoe as used by the North West Company


 

1797 YORK BOAT Photo is a YORK BOAT

The York Boat was introduced into Hudson Bay as the British and Orkney were unable to master the canoe. This is a replica on the Red River of the north.


 

LOUIS GARNEAU (1790-1863)Photo is Metis of Sault Ste Marie
Title reads "Five of the earliest Indian inhabitants of St. Mary's Falls 1855".  St. Mary's Falls is Sault Ste. Marie and the people are Metis not Indian.
They however were adopted into the Ojibwa Nation and therefore could rightfully be called Indian but not the earliest inhabitants. Garneau married Cadotte's sister as did John Boucher.  


The tag on the photo reads: Left to right (1) Louis Cadotte, (2) John Bouche, (3) Obogan, (4) O'Shawan, (5) Louis Gurnoe aka Garneau.  The tag was obviously added after the fact.  Heather Cadotte Armstrong suggests the identification is incorrect, see larger photo.

1812 FORT WILLIAM Photo is of Fort William

Photo of Fort William of the North West Company that was built in 1803 to replace Grand Portage as their western trade center.  It was named after William McGillivray.


 

BATTLE OF 1816Photo is of battle of Seven Oaks

A drawing of the Battle of seven Oaks of 1816 in Red River


 

1817 SELKIRKPhoto is of Selkirk in 1817

A drawing of Selkirk in 1817


 

1817 RED RIVER Photo is of Red River
This drawing is a part of the Red River settlement.  In the early days the term Red River of the North covered a large geographic area from Pembina or more southerly locations to lake Winnipeg, then east and west for some undefined distance from the mouth of the Assiniboine.  Most settlers prefered river locations but not all. 


 

1820 BEAVER COINPhoto is Beaver Coin

A Beaver coin minted by the North West Company, valued at one beaver skin


 

1821 GRANDPORTAGEPhoto is of GRANDPORTAGE ROUTE

A drawing of voyagers on the Grand Portage route to the fur country.


 

1820's RED RIVER INDIANSPhoto is of an Indian family

A drawing of an Indian trapper family near Fort Gary, Red River


 

1836 SAULT STE MARIEPhoto is of Sualt Ste Marie from the Canadian side

Sault Ste Marie, Canada looking across the river to Fort Brady.


 

1840's SAULT STE MARIEPhoto is of Sualt Ste Marie from the Canadian side

Sault Ste Marie.


 

1850 METIS SKIN COATPhoto is of a Metis skin coat

Skin coat in the Metis and Dakota style as worn in Red River and the Upper Missouri regions.


 

1851 RED RIVER METIS CLOTHINGPhoto is of Sualt Ste Marie from the Canadian side Photo is of Sault Ste Marie from the Canadian side

 Red River Metis clothing of this period.


 

1857 PEMBINAPhoto is of Sault Ste Marie from the Canadian side

Pembina, Red River


 

1858 CUMBERLAND HOUSEPhoto is of Cumberland House

Cumberland House by John Fleming


 

1860 LOWER FORT GARYPhoto is of Lower Fort Gary

Lower Fort Gary


 

1860's METIS CARTSPhoto is of Metis RESTING

A simulation of Metis with their Red River carts near Red River.


 

PRAIRIE BUFFALOPhoto is of a buffalo

A typical prairie buffalo (bison)


 

METIS BUFFALO HUNTPhoto is of a Metis buffalo hunt

A Metis buffalo hunt


 

METIS RED RIVER CARTPhoto is of a Metis Red River Cart

A Metis Red River Cart


 


 

METIS BUFFALO HUNT 1800'SPhoto is of A METIS BUFFALO HUNT

A Metis buffalo hunt in the late 1800'S, a sketch by William Armstrong (1822-1914)


 

METIS BUFFALO HUNT CAMPPhoto is Metis hunting camp

A Metis camp on the buffalo hunt in late 1800's


 

INTERIOR OF RED RIVER HOUSEPhoto is of interior of Metis house

A sketch of the interior of a Metis house in Red River.


 

GOVERNOR GEORGE SIMPSONPhoto is of EXPRESS CANOE

This is an express canoe for Governor George Simpson on an inspection tour.  The elite canoe men were selected for the express canoes.


 

1828 FRAZER RIVER, YALE, B.C.Photo Simpson's CANOE

This painting by Sherriff Scott is one of two canoes on the Frazer River

 

 

 

 

 

1863 CANOT DE MAITREPhoto is of A MONTREAL CANOE

Montreal canoe used on the Ottawa River and Great Lakes, descending the Lachine Rapids
painting by Frances Anne Hobkins


 

1869 CANOES IN FOG Photo is a painting by FRANCES HOPKINS

Painting by Frances Anne Hopkins called canoes in fog, Lake Superior..


 

1870 FORT PELLYPhoto is of Fort Pelly

Fort Pelly on the Assiniboine River, in Saskatchewan.


 

1870 LOUIS RIEL AND COUNCILPhoto is Louis Riel and Council

Louis Riel and Metis Provisional Government Council in 1870


 

1870 FORT GARYPhoto is Fort Gary, RED RIVER

Fort Gary facing the Assiniboine River after the arrival of Wolseley sent to subjugate the Metis.


 

 

 

1872 FORT PEMBINAPhoto is Fort Gary, RED RIVER

The H.B.C. Fort Pembina painted August 1872  by Frank Lynn


 

1872 DAKOTA BOAT, FORT GARYPhoto is Fort Gary, RED RIVER

The Dakota Boat, Fort Garry, Red River at sunset by Frank Lynn


 

1885 METIS and INDIAN PRISONERS OF WARPhoto is Metis and Indian prisoners

Metis and Indian prisoners of the war of 1885.  The handcuffed prisoners in Regina were found guilty of treason and all were imprisoned.


 

1885 Louis David Riel (1844-1885)Photo is Louis Riel

This is the official drawing of Louis Riel after his execution by the Canadian Government for his part in the Metis and Indian Rebellion of 1885


 

 

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