Ogimawkwe Mitigwaki (Queen of the Woods)

Chapter 1

· 99 · CHAPTER 1 On my return home fromTwinsburg,O.[Ohio],where I had attended the white man’s school for several years, I had an innate desire to retire into the wild woods, far from the haunts of civilization, and there enjoy myself with bow and arrow, hook and line, as I had done before going to school. Judging from my returning love of the chase, and from various conversations with educated people of the white race, I have come to the conclusion that there is a charm about hunting and fishing,planted deep in the human heart by Nature’s own hand, that requires but little cultivation to lead the best educated of even the most civilized races to engage heartily in the sport. Hence I have been forced to the conclusion that when our children are educated, and return from school to live among their own people, unless places can be secured for them away from the influences that cluster about them, the result of their education must necessarily in some cases prove disappointing to those who have labored so ardently in their behalf. In fact I have personal knowledge of a few cases where educated children of our race, instead of influencing their own people to a higher standard of civilization, have themselves fallen back into the ancient customs of their own people. This, however, should in nowise discourage our educators, or be regarded by them as an impeachment of the possibilities of our children; for I believe with all my heart that if · 100 · Simon Pokagon white children were placed under like conditions and circumstances, the result would be similar. I knew no other language but my mother tongue until past twelve years of age. In those days I took great pleasure in hunting, fishing, and trapping with an old man by the name of Bertrand.There are many white men yet living who were personally acquainted with that remarkable man. He was a person well calculated to please and instruct a boy in his knowledge of the habits of animals, and of places and things with which he was personally acquainted. He was of medium height, uncommonly broad shouldered,and well developed in body and limb.When laughing,or excited in talking, he opened his mouth so wide that his great double teeth could be plainly seen. He always appeared in the best of spirits, having the most hearty laugh of any man I ever knew. As old as I now am, I would walk twenty miles to hear such a laugh. His skin was dark for an Indian, notwithstanding he claimed to be one-quarter French.When speaking of himself, he always talked as if he was a white man. On public occasions among our people, owing to his strength and courage, he was regarded as a sort of police force. I recollect one day during a feast some “auqua” (women) came running to him in great excitement, telling him some half-breeds had brought “awshkontaynebesh” (firewater) with them, and were giving some to little boys. He started for them on the double-quick, and before they realized what he was doing, he seized all their bottles and broke them against a rock. There were three in the party, and they all rushed for him with sticks and clubs. He knocked each one down in turn with a single blow of his fist. As they lay on the ground, a white man present said, “Bertrand, you struck those Indians awful blows.” The old man straightened himself up, saying, “Ae (Yes); me tells you me did. Aunishnawbeog (Indians) hab no idea how hard a white man can strike.” For that timely reproof he was given a place at the head of the feast. He prided himself in speaking English, which he always tried to do if any were present who he thought understood the language. Among his white neighbors, he was always referred to as “the ‘Injun’ who murders the English language.” A short time after my return from school I called on the old man. I told him that I had just returned from three years’ hard study, and would like to have him take mother and me to some wild retreat where I might spend my vacation in hunting and fishing. He seemed highly pleased with the idea, and told me that he knew Queen of the Woods· 101 · of a place up big “Sebe” that could be reached by boat in less...