Miigwech bizaagigizha -
- THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
Mary Gissler — “Queen of the Wolves,” published in the West Virginia News, Dec. 21, 1907, described Mary Gissler, a Chippeway woman living alone in an isolated camp in Ontario, Canada, approximately halfway between International Falls, Minnesota, and Mine Centre, Ontario. St. Paul fur trader Daniel Rutledge, who knew of her, regarded her as fearless, while another man who encountered her camp expressed amazement at finding a woman living under such conditions in the northern wilderness. The location places her within the Rainy River–Seine River region, where the local population was Saulteaux (Chippeway). Gissler was therefore likely associated with the community now represented by Seine River First Nation, although the surviving newspaper account does not establish her band affiliation. Her story offers a rare contemporary glimpse of a native woman living independently on the Canadian frontier in 1907.
In 1900 the San Francisco Chronicle (CA) Jan. 23, on page 6 ran an article "RUNS A WOLF FARM" the Gissler's were "discovered" by a gold prospector, about twelve miles from Rainy Lake City.
Image: West Virginia University
Wigemar Wasung, Eastman Johnson 1857 Grand Portage band of Lake Superior Chippewa
© St. Louis County Historical Society
"The stories of our ancestors are the roots of our strength."
Elder's wisdom
Ojibwe woman, Eastman Johnson, 1857, Grand Portage band.
©St. Louis County Historical Society
"What we do now will echo in eternity; choose wisely."
Elder"s wisdom
Sha-win-ne-gun, Eastman Johnson, 1857, Grand Portage band
© St. Louis County Historical Society
The King Turtles or "Me-che-kans" relay messages from the spirit world to the living world through the "Gee-sah-ke-we--ni-ne" of the medicine clan
Louise LaChapelle, Leech Lake band, Carisle Indian School, 1892-98
A Chief's Daughter from Lake St. Clair, oil on paper, Paul Kane ca. 1845. Walpole Island First Nation
©The Stark Art Museum
A Chief's Daughter from Lake St. Clair, oil on paper, Paul Kane ca. 1845. Walpole Island First Nation
©The Stark Art Museum
Unidentified Ojibwa woman ca.1885 Fort Snelling, carte-de-visite
©Minnesota Historical Society
The Michigan Supreme Court concluded Chippewa law, "it must be recognized by Michigan’s courts". Charlotte Kawbawgam was declared Chief Marji-Gesick’s lawful heir, inheriting his ownership interest in the Jackson Iron Company setting legal precedent of tribal sovereignty. Sault Ste Marie band
"Susan Belo, a Half-Breed Girl", Sault Ste. Marie, oil on paper, Paul Kane, 1846.
©The Stark Art Museum
Turtle Mountain Indian Relay Race 2016 at Chippewa Downs.
©Diana Volk
Research Notes: One Portrait—Three Identities?
In researching the work of Cornelius Krieghoff, nearly identical portraits were found bearing three different identifications:
- Chief Tanaghte, Delegate to Lord Elgin at Montreal, 1848–49. ©Art Gallery of Ontario
https://www.allpainter.com/cornelius-krieghoff/chief-tanaghte-delegate-to-lord-elgin-at-montreal-handmade-oil-painting-reproduction-222103.html - Chief, Chippewa, the Eclipse or Wabumagoging. Musée McCord. The portrait differs from the Tanaghte image primarily in the addition of two headdress feathers and a second circular medal. (No record has yet been found identifying him for his band) https://www.pinterest.com/pin/29836416266082451/
- Tessouat, the One-Eyed Man of the Island. Radio-Canada article illustrated with the Musée McCord image.
Note: The historical Tessouat ("The One-Eyed Man of the Island") lived during the early seventeenth century and died nearly two centuries before Krieghoff painted these portraits. The Radio-Canada article therefore appears to use the McCord image illustratively rather than as a documented portrait of Tessouat.
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1001554/de-remarquables-oublies-tessouat-dit-le-borgne-de-lile
Additionally, the written historical record identifies The Eclipse as Nebenagoching, one of the Chippewa chiefs from Batchewana who traveled to Montreal to meet Lord Elgin in 1849.
https://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/ftp04/nq41579.pdf
Questions Raised
- Is this one man with three identities?
- Are these two different Chippewa chiefs painted from nearly the same composition?
- Is the Radio-Canada identification simply an editorial reuse of the Musée McCord image?
- Are Wabumagoging and Nebenagoching two spellings of the same Ojibwe name, or two different names for "The Eclipse"?
Lesson
The historical record should be traced back to the earliest verifiable museum accession, archival record, or contemporary document whenever possible.
Observation: The Krieghoff portraits attributed to Chief Tanaghte and Chief Wabumagoging were painted by the same artist, in the same city, during the same period, and employ nearly identical compositional elements while differing in the number of headdress feathers and medals worn by the sitters.
This website documents the historical acknowledgment and public integration of the Ojibwe (Otchipwe) family as preserved in the documentary record. It preserves the full diversity of the family's historical ethnonyms while tracing the remarkable public footprint that developed—particularly under the name Chippewa—throughout North American history.
Our goal has been to present this history in a manner that is inclusive, balanced, and neutral, allowing the documentary record to speak for itself.
We hope you found something of interest during your visit.
Respectfully,
Respectfully,
Brian and John
