Page:History of the Ojibway Nation.djvu/202

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192
MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

sissippi, the Ojibways took possession of the head-waters of this river. The pioneer chieftain of this extensive district of country, was named Sha-da-wish, a son of the great chief of the Crane family, who received a gold medal during the French convocation at Sault Ste. Marie in 1671. From this scion of the family, have directly descended the noted Keesh-ke-mun, Waub-ish-gaug-aug-e (White Crow), and the present ruling chief of this section of the tribe, Ah-mous (Little Bee). From a second son of the same ancient chieftain, named A-ke-gui-ow, are descended the branch of the Crane family residing at La Pointe, of whom the late deceased Tug-waug-aun-e was head and chief during his lifetime.

The French early designated that portion of the tribe who occupied the head-waters of the Wisconsin, as the Lac du Flambeau band, from the circumstance of their locating their central village or summer residence, at the lake known by this name. The Ojibways term it Waus-wag-im-ing (Lake of Torches), from the custom of spearing fish by torch-light, early practised by the hunters of their tribe who first took possession of it.

Before eventually permanently locating their village at this lake, the Ojibways, under their leader, Sha-da-wish, made protracted stands at Trout Lake and Turtle Portage, and it was not till the times of his successor and son, Keesh-ke-mun, that this band proceeded as far west as Lac du Flambeau, for a permanent residence. From this important point there has branched off families who now occupy the country on the Wisconsin River as far down as the Yellow banks, near the mouth of Fox River, and families who occupy the Pelican Lakes in the direction of Lake Michigan.

Within the past century there has spread over this region of country, including the Chippeway River and St Croix district, from natural increase and accessions