A Face in the Rock: The Tale Of A Grand Island Chippewa

by Loren R. Graham, Abigail Rorer (Illustrator)

Eight miles long and four miles wide, Grand Island lies off the south shore of Lake Superior. It was once home to a sizable community of Chippewa Indians who lived in harmony with the land and with each other. Their tragic demise began early in the nineteenth century when their fellow tribesmen from the mainland goaded them into waging war against rival Sioux. The war party was decimated; only one young brave, Powers of the Air, lived to tell the story that celebrated the heroism of his band and formed the basis of the legend that survives today. Distinguished historian Loren R. Graham has spent more than forty years researching and reconstructing the poignant tale of Powers of the Air and his people. A Face in the Rock is an artful melding of human history and natural history; it is a fascinating narrative of the intimate relation between place and people.

Powers of the Air lived to witness the desecration of Grand Island by the fur and logging industries, the Christianization of the tribe, and the near total loss of the Chippewa language, history, and culture. Graham charts the plight of the Chippewa as white culture steadily encroaches, forcing the native people off the island and dispersing their community on the mainland. The story ends with happier events of the past two decades, including the protection of Grand Island within the National Forest system, and the resurgence of Chippewa culture.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Native American

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Loren R. Graham was an American historian of science, particularly science in Russia.

Reviews

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a resident of the Upper Peninsula I am thankful this story has been told. My hope is that many people will read it and know of a quiet and loving people who resided here.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting historical account of the original Indian inhabitants of Grand Island in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. A Face in the Rock is more meaningful for those who have made the trip to this beautiful island. The water is crystal clear and the lack of tourists are surprising. Kyle and I actually took a kayaking trip to near by Pictured Rocks which provides breath-taking sites all along the coast of Lake Superior. If you are interested in the outdoors or just love to go to the beach this is a wonderful location for you.

[Donnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great story! So glad its been told. Fascinating to think that perhaps one of the most beautiful, untouched by man, places left in the continental USA has a recorded human history that dates back to the 17th century and yet is so simple and understandable.

I especially liked the way a Grand Island secret ends up in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Hiawatha and then comes back to Gand Island. Who needs the Internet to get one's message blared to the masses?

[Joan Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciate this book and the amount of work and research the author did to bring so many historical strands together. Graham's depth of respect for all the people involved in this "tale," and his desire to find the heart of the story of Powers of the Air, a Chippewa from Grand Island, shows on every page of this book. It makes me want to sing the praises of journal-writers and story-tellers, for they are the ones who informed Graham's research so profoundly.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

We are going to Grand Island this summer. Slowly learning the history of my adopted state.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spare, beautiful history of the Grand Island Objibwa. Very well-written and sensitive for a local history.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

My interest in Native American culture and in particular the Chippewa Tribes that are in Michigan have meant that I have read and want to read similar historical accounts or historical fictions that seem to be popular reads right now. The latest, about a real carving, that a friend suggested I read is "A Face in the Rock". The author, Loren Graham, is a distinguished historian and his research which began over 40 years ago because of his curiosity about the Native Americans that once lived there and his connetion to Grand Island, which is off the Southern shore of Lake Superior near Munising and the Pictured Rock's area.

The author combined legend with entertaining oral histories and original documents about the main character, Powers of the Air, and the Chippewa Indians who lived in harmony with the land and each other on the Island for many generations. It is an enthralling story that never made it into history books but is definately part of American history. Despite encroachment of white culture and the slow dispersing of the Grand Island Indian community to the mainland, the captivating story is touching and ends with happier events of the last few decades and the resurgence of Chippewa culture....which I am taking advantage of and enjoy reading and learning about.

[Carolyn Wilhelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

mutigenerational and historically accurate information

This is a very interesting multigenerational historical story explaining events and their impact on the lives of Native Americans in the area of the face in the rock. Peace loving Chippewa on Grand Island ended up having to fight another tribe which unfairly caused them great harm. But the story of how and why this happened is a gift to history and readers everywhere. Why did things turn out so badly? We learn why and can understand hopefully how to improve ourselves.
Jim Clark by the end of the book is a surprising twist and kept me reading!

[Tiffany Kuriata · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly loved this book. Learning about native american history is fascinating and living in Michigan but not being from here it was really cool to hear about the UP, somewhere I've only seen pictures of. The story may not be as thrilling as some people would like and some could even call it slow, but if you're not really interested in history, culture, or how people relate to nature and the land then this book just might not be for you.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated learning about the history and culture of the Grand Island people through stories told by the author. When I have the opportunity to visit this place, I will bring the book along to match the stories with the place.

[Pauline Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting read which pulled together the bits of knowledge I had and filled in the many gaps.

[Julia Van Susteren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and well-researched historical account, lauded by multiple Native writers.

[Fiona Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty quick read but it is packed with information on the Chippewa of Grand Island; their culture, stories, way of life, and eventually their movement away from the island. 


The author did a great job taking us through a pretty long stretch of history in an interesting way including using traditional Indigenous communication methods like oral storytelling and dance. It felt like it was being true to the people, and I could visualize what this would have looked like being passed down generation to generation

[Calvin Floyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best piece of anthropology I’ve ever read coupled with a deeply engaging personal memoir about one of my favorite places.

[Sarah]

A non-fiction book, sort of.

I was studying the Ojibwe of Wisconsin and came across this book.
It tells the story of a peaceful band who lived on Grand Island off the coast of upper Michigan.
I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for my middle school students because of the breadth of time covered. The connections that the author makes between past and present day island events I found very interesting, however.

There actually is a face carved into the rock at a small county park near Au Train, MI. Add it to my list of places to visit!

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Modern

[Adam Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

The excitement of the story peaks early but I enjoyed it all the same and put historical context to a region I love.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is great historical fiction about the Chippewa of Grand Island, Michigan. The author researched the facts well and was presented an appealing novel based on the life of one man.