Migration
A major occurance at this time was the influx of a
large number of Indians from the United States to Walpole Island. The
American Government adopted a policy of removal of Indians from the
regions south of the Great Lakes to large reservations west of the
Mississippi. About the same time, in 1837, the Government of the
British side of the line gave notice that the annual "presents" that
had been given at various border posts to "visiting" Indians would no
longer be provided. After 1839, they would only be given to Indians
resident on the British side. Since many of the Indians in the United
States affected by the policy of removal did not want to move west,
there was a migration into Upper Canada of Pottawatomi, Chippewa, and
Ottawa. Many of these people settled at Walpole Island. Keating's
report (1842) shows a total population of 1,140 of whom only 319 are
listed as "Ojibeways (old residents)". Of the newcomers, he
identifies 197 as Ojibwa who had arrived within one year, 507 as
Pottawatomi and Ottawa from Michigan, and a further 117 who were on
their way to settle.
There is a reference in a letter of December, 1844 to
Keating to "the Pottawatomi Indians who immigrated to this Province
from the United Sates five years since who do not appear to have made
any advance towards earning their own livelihood. Keating was told
that since he reported them to be without food, that humanity forbids
that they should starve. He was authorized to give them food but to
inform them that it would be the last time. If the Pottawatomi wanted
help from the government, they would have to prepare to move to
Manitoulin Island.
Keating took the matter up with the Pottawatomi and
replied the following June:
In spite of all the efforts to get them to remove to
Manitoulin Island, many of the Pottawatomi remained at Walpole Island
where their descendents live to this day as part of the Walpole
Island Band. Keating reported that, Very little was known about the Pottawatomi of
Canada. Yet it is of more than passing interest to know that until a
very few years ago herds of wild Pottawatomi horses roamed the fields
of Walpole Island since these Pottawatomi herds were descendents of
ponies the Pottawatomi "borrowed" from the Spanish frontier
settlements in southwestern Illinois in the early 18th century. For
although the Pottawatomi moved on foot and by canoe into early lower
Michigan and northeastern Wisconsin in the very early part of the
17th century as a small population fleeing before the scourge of
Iroquois war parties, when they returned eastwards two hundred years
later they did so as mounted warriors, armed with percussion muskets,
experienced in the fur trade, now horticultural in subsistence
technique, with numerous successful political and military campaigns
of their traditional history.
"The fondness for hunting and fishing is very much on
the decrease among the Chippewa, who seldom indulge in either, except
in the winter. However, the two groups appeared to get along well
together".
The 1858 Report made the following comment, Many Indians changed to English family names after
1878. Here are a few family names that exist on Walpole today which
can be traced to the original Algonquian name.
Anglicized Name
Algonquian
Meaning
Altiman
Ashquabetung
The-last-one? *
Aquash
Ekwaash
Blowing-Off
Greenbird
Weshoo
Good-brave-warrior
Kahosed
Cow oo saud
Hunter
Kewayosh
Gii-weyaash
Blowing Home
Kiyoshk
Gyaashk
Gull
Miskokmon
Mskokmaan
Red-Knife
Nahdee
Naadii
Pinnance
Pin nais and Bnens
Little-partridge
Sands
Kookosh, Yahnoodt, and
Ashquab
Pig, Last-one
Shobway
Zhaabwe
He-Goes-Through
Solomon
Pottasung (Solomon
Pottasung)
Soney
Sona
Little Turtle
Sword
Zhaweshk
Peters
Petwegeeshig
Thomas
Pwahneeshing, and Pamahqua
doonce
Little-track-maker
Tooshkenig
Dooshknii
His-Young-One
White
Ashkeebee
"I laid before the Pottawatomi Indians assembled in
Council the proposal of His Excellency the Governor General that they
should this summer proceed to Manitowaning. They to a man objected -
the reason they assign, and which is a true one, is that they have
never been accustomed to canoes or fishing, living as they formerly
did in extensive prairies where they always both hunted and journeyed
on horseback. Not being able in consequence to avail themselves of
the chief resource of the Island, they would actually
starve..."
"They have been kindly
received
by the resident tribes, and allowed to settle on their lands; but
their roving habits render them averse to settling...
Keating
described the Pottawatomi on arrival as skillful hunters who have
long depended solely on the chase and as being very different in
character and habits from the resident Chippewa's.
"The
Pottawatomi live in perfect harmony with the Chippewa's, and are
generally industrious and honest".
If you have more information on the last names, then contact me and I will make corrections...thanks!