5. _Political and Social._--The frontispiece is a copy of a petition
sent by a group of Indian tribes to the United States Congress for
fishing rights in certain small lakes near Lake Superior. The leading
clan is represented by Oshcabawis, whose totem is 1, the crane; then
follow 2, Waimitligzhig; 3, Ogemagee; and 4, a third, all of the marten
totem; 5, Little Elk, of the bear totem; 6, belongs to the manfish
totem; 7, to the catfish totem.
From the eye and heart of each of the animals runs a line connecting
them with the eye and heart of the crane to show that they are all of
one mind, and the eye of the crane has also a line connecting it with
the lakes on which the tribes want to fish, while another line runs
towards Congress.
Fig. 30 is a copy of a letter found above St. Anthony's Falls in 1820.
"It consisted of white birch bark, and the figures had been carefully
drawn. 1, Denotes the flag of the Union; 2, the cantonment then
recently established at Cold Spring, on the western side of the cliffs;
4 is the symbol of Colonel Leavenworth, the commanding officer, under
whose authority a mission of peace had been sent into the Chippewa
country; 11 is the symbol of Chakope, the leading Sioux chief, under
whose orders the party moved; 8 is the second chief, named Wabedatunka,
or, 10, the Black Dog, who has fourteen lodges, 7 is a chief also
subordinate to Chakope, with thirteen lodges, and 9 is a bale of goods
devoted by the Government to the objects of the peace. The name of 6,
whose wigwam is 5, with thirteen subordinate lodges, was not given."
The letter was written to make known the fact that Chakope and his
followers, accompanied or supported by the American officer, had come
to the spot to make peace with the Chippewa hunters. "The Chippewa
chief, Babesacundabee, who found the letter, read off its meaning
without doubt or hesitation." (Schoolcraft, vol. i. p. 352.)
[Illustration: Fig. 30.--Letter offering Treaty of Peace]
Fig. 31 represents the census roll of an Indian band at Mille Lac, in
the territory of Minnesota, sent in to the United States agent by
Nagonabe, a Chippewa Indian, during the annuity payments in 1849.
[Illustration: Fig. 31.--Census Roll of an Indian Band]
As the Indians were all of the same totem, Nagonabe "designated each
family by a sign denoting the common name of the chief. Thus 5 denotes
a catfish, and the six strokes indicate that the Catfish's family
consisted of six individuals; 8 is a beaver skin; 9, a sun; 13, an
eagle; 14, a snake; 22, a buffalo; 34, an axe; 35, the medicine-man,
and so on." (Lubbock, _Origin of Civilisation_, p. 47.)
[Illustration: Fig. 32.--Record of Departure (Innuit)]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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