Notes |
- "In the summer of 1827, Okunzhewug, an old woman, the wife of Kishkemun, the
principal chief of Torch Lake (Lac du Flambeau), a man superannuated and blind,
attended the treaty of Butte des Morts, bearing her husband's medal. She was
treated with the respect due to the character she represented, and ample
presents were direected to be given to her; among other things a handsome hat.
The latter article had been requested of her by a young Menomonie, and refused.
It is thought a general feeling of jealousy was excited by her good reception.
A number of the Menomonies went on her return route as far as the Clover
Portage, where she was last seen. Having never returned to her village, the
Chippewas attributed her death to the Menomonies. Her husband died soon
after; but she had numerous and influential relatives to avenge her real of
supposed murder. This is the account delivered by the Chippewas, and it is
corroborated by reports from the traders of that section of the country. Her
singular disappearance and secret death at the Clover Portage, is undisputed;
and whether caused or not by any agency of the Menomonies, the belief of such
agency, and that of the most direct kind, is fixed in the minds of the
Chippewas, and has furnished the basis of their subsequent acts in relation to
the Menominie hunting-parties who have visited the lower part of Chippewa
River. Two women belonging to one of these parties were killed be a Chippewa
war-party traversing that part of the country the ensuing year. The act was
disclaimed by them as not being intentional, and it was declared they supposed
the women to be Sioux. On a close inquiry, however, I found the persons who
committed this act were relatives of Okunzewug, which renders it probable that
the murder was intentionally perpetrated..."
!Source #2: (for location) Treaty with the Chippewa, etc., 1827. ...Concluded
at the Butte des Morts, on Fox river, in the Territory of Michigan,...
|