The History of West Michigan Indian Tribes
Running head: West Michigan Indians
West Michigan Indians
Brent Vaalburg
SOSC 201
Prof. Drury
6/25/2012
Abstract
This writing will compare and contrast research and knowledge that I had about Ottawa, Chippewa, and Potawatomi Indians of West Michigan before and after I visited the Anishinabek exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
Ottawa, Chippewa, and Potawatomi Indians of West Michigan
“Indian,” what exactly does that mean. If you ask a random person on the street they would probably tell you a lot of things that can be found in a Hollywood movie. Fancy outfits, bows and arrows, horseback riding, fights with cowboys, and the list goes on. While some of what the general person knows about Indians is true we have to realize that the term “Indian” was made up by the white man. This is something that I didn’t really ever think about until writing this paper. I was just like that random person on the street who just remembered what I saw on the TV. We really should be calling “Indians” Native Americans because that is what they are. They are the native people of this land we call “America.” They were here before the European settlers came here.
Before visiting the Anishinabek exhibit I studied some books that specifically related to the Indian Tribes at hand. In my readings I learned about some of their history, tradition, and culture.
One book that I read excerpts out of was the History of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan by Andrew J. Blackbird. This book was written a very long time ago in 1887. I chose this book because it was written by a Native American and I thought it would give a very good untainted perspective about the true history of the West Michigan Indian tribes. In this book there was a lot to be said about Indians being mistreated by white men. The author quotes, “From this time hence my father lost all confidence in white men, whatever the position or profession of the white man might be, whether a priest,
West Michigan Indians
Brent Vaalburg
SOSC 201
Prof. Drury
6/25/2012
Abstract
This writing will compare and contrast research and knowledge that I had about Ottawa, Chippewa, and Potawatomi Indians of West Michigan before and after I visited the Anishinabek exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
Ottawa, Chippewa, and Potawatomi Indians of West Michigan
“Indian,” what exactly does that mean. If you ask a random person on the street they would probably tell you a lot of things that can be found in a Hollywood movie. Fancy outfits, bows and arrows, horseback riding, fights with cowboys, and the list goes on. While some of what the general person knows about Indians is true we have to realize that the term “Indian” was made up by the white man. This is something that I didn’t really ever think about until writing this paper. I was just like that random person on the street who just remembered what I saw on the TV. We really should be calling “Indians” Native Americans because that is what they are. They are the native people of this land we call “America.” They were here before the European settlers came here.
Before visiting the Anishinabek exhibit I studied some books that specifically related to the Indian Tribes at hand. In my readings I learned about some of their history, tradition, and culture.
One book that I read excerpts out of was the History of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan by Andrew J. Blackbird. This book was written a very long time ago in 1887. I chose this book because it was written by a Native American and I thought it would give a very good untainted perspective about the true history of the West Michigan Indian tribes. In this book there was a lot to be said about Indians being mistreated by white men. The author quotes, “From this time hence my father lost all confidence in white men, whatever the position or profession of the white man might be, whether a priest,
References: Blackbird, A. J. (1887). History of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan. Ypsilanti, MI: The Ypsilantian job printing house. Cleland, C. E. (1992). Rites of conquest: the history and culture of Michigan’s Native Americans. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press. Kinietz, W. V., & Raudot, A. D. (1965). The Indians of the Western Great Lakes. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press. Native North Americans. (2009). In T. L. Gall & J. Hobby (Eds.), Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life (2nd ed., Vol. 2, pp. 384-396). Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.proxy.davenport.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX1839300198&v=2.1&u=lom_davenportc&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w Trafzer, C. E., Keller, J. A., & Sisquoc, L. (2006). Boarding School Blues: Revisiting American Indian Educational Experiences. U of Nebraska Press. Child, B. J. (1999). Boarding school seasons: American Indian families, 1900-1940. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.