History of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan

by Andrew Blackbird

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Native American, Reference

132 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1887

About the author

born January 1814

Andrew Jackson Blackbird

Ottawa chief

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_...

Reviews

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

EBK-B, Great Lakes Digital Library (Overdrive), @ 2012, Read 9/12/21. Non-fiction, Michigan, Indian Tribes, The 1800's.
The author of this book was an Odawa Tribe Leader and Historian, who was born Jan. 1814 in Harbor Springs, Michigan, and died there on Sept. 17, 1908. He wrote this book in 1887. It's a very interesting narrative about the everyday lives and hardships of Michigan Indians, especially those in the northern lower peninsula. Probably not something the regular reader would be interested in, but I am familiar with that area in Michigan, and wanted to know more about the first inhabitants of this state. 3☆'s = Good.

[Greg Koontz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I’ve read in a while. Northern Michigan lore.

[Courtney Smith Atkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad and awesome. Definitely better then the one I just listened to on audio. This one I liked better because it was written by an Indian and it included some of the Indian lore.

[Chris Theule · Rating 5 out of 5]

We went to Mackinac Island this summer and there is a superb history of the native Americans who lived on the island, as you take the road around the island. The history pulls no punches. The U.S. promised them land, and then took it away a few years later. AJ Blackbird tells this story, which was first published in 1887. An amazing book.

"A treaty was concluded in the city of Washington in the year 1836, to which my people--the Ottawas and Chippewas--were unwilling parties, but they were compelled to sign blindly and ignorant of the true spirit of the treaty and the true import of some of its conditions. They thought then when signing the treaty that they were securing reservations of lands in different localities as permanent homes for themselves and their children in the future: but before six months had elapsed from the time of signing this treaty...they were told by the white neighbors that their reservations of land would expire in five years, instead of being perpetual, as they believed."

[Patrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an invaluable firsthand account of Ottowa history and culture by a man who lived through the overwhelming changes caused by the arrival of Europeans. Unlike most histories, it isn't organized chronologically or by topic. It's anecdotal and reading it feels similar to being spoken to by a man sharing reflections on his memories and thoughts. The history weaves between personal and general, ancient and contemporary (contemporary being the end of the 19th century), mythology, culture and politics. The end contains a brief but comprehensive primer of the Ottawa language. I found the writing extremely accessible for a piece written almost a century and a half ago. It's not a long book, but very full. I do wish the publisher printed the text in something larger than size 8 font though.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andrew Blackbird was an Ottawa who lived in the 1800s in Michigan, and he tells his story here. Simply written, he is articulate and although it is not paragraphed the way most of us are used to reading, it still is quite readable. Very interesting, historical and tells a few truths about the treaties that were not so very good for the tribes. Good read.

[Lily P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in 1887, this book provides detailed, astonishing and sometimes appalling accounts of the Ottawa and Chippewa peoples of Michigan.

An advocate for his people, his intelligence and understanding of justice and fairness created interactions where he was treated unjustly--however his spirit perseveres and he achieves some successes from his advocacy.

He never forgets the moral and pure traditional life of his boyhood, before the white influences moved in. While he takes advantage of education and moves in the white world, his roots are always with his people, his traditions and his language.

As a historical narrative, the book conveys detailed information regarding numerous unjust situations (broken treaties, outright lies, thievery) for American Indians, and some personal tragedies. The author's style of writing is calm, without browbeating the reader. It is not necessary to do more. The detailed, very credible facts speak all too well for themselves.

The author includes some oral history of his peoples, along with a language/grammar guide to the language.

Very interesting--a surprisingly good read. Get this eBook free from Amazon.

[David Olmsted · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing first person autobiography and general Ottawa history by a native American Ottawa Indian, Andrew Blackbird, published in 1887. He wrote this near the end of his life which began around 1834. He describes his own personal experiences as well as the tribal legends and history that he is able to remember. He grew up as a member of his tribe in northern Michigan along the shores of Lake Michigan before his tribe was forceably "settled" by the approaching American civilization. He was educated in western ways at religious schools and like his brother had a desire for learning. His brother would have become the first native Catholic priest ordained at the Vatican before he was assassinated just prior to his ordination. The Great Lakes Indian culture is completely different from the better known plains Indians so this book is a treasure.

[Rocia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing glimpse into the time of transition from pre to post colonialism. Written by an American Indian chief with his personal history and his tribes history. Few if any Indians wrote their own history. A very unique perspective. You get to know Chief Blackbird through his narrative and struggles.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a rambling mish-mash of autobiography and recording oral tradition, so it was difficult to follow sometimes. But the ending poetic lamentation and translation of Nicene Creed into Ottawa made this book for me.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Read on Michigan 's Indian Heritage

Good Read on Michigan's Indian heritage. Was looking for information on Chippewa/Ottawa interactions with the Sauk, but none was to be found. Enjoyed the book though.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just read it.

[Sima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, very informative but sometimes hard to read just because of the sentence structure. Though that may just be do to being written in the 1800's