Page:History of the Ojibway Nation.djvu/480

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470
MINNESOTA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

way home from Prairie du Chien was taken sick and died; the wife of the old Hole-in-the-Day also died at Sauk River. During Curly Head's sickness he called two brothers who as young men had been his pipe bearers, and committed to them the care of the Mississippi Ojibways. One of these was Song-uk-um-eg, Strong Ground; the other Pug-on-a-ke-shig,[1] Hole-in-the-Day.

TREATY IN 1826 AT FOND DU LAC OF LAKE SUPERIOR.

As full deputations of the Ojibways were not at Prairie du Chien, it was agreed that the tribe should assemble again at the Fond du Lac of Lake Superior. The commissioners on the part of the United States were Gov. Lewis Cass and T.L. McKenney. On the second of August, 1826, the council met, and after the usual feast, speeches, and exhausting of patience, on the fifth, a treaty was concluded, which was ratified on the second of February of the next year by the United States Senate. By the third article, the United States was given "the right to search for and carry away any metals or minerals from any part of their country."

CHIEF SHINGABA WOSSIN.

Shingaba Wossin, of Sault Ste. Marie, then the head chief, was the principal speaker. In council he said: "My relatives! our fathers have spoken to us about the line made at the Prairie [du Chien]. With this I and my band are satisfied. You who live on the line are most interested. . . . . My friends! our fathers have come here to embrace their children. Listen to what they say. It will be good for you. If you have any copper on your lands, I advise you to sell it. It is of no use to us. They can

  1. The name attached to the treaty of 1826, is spelled Pu-in-a-ne-gi.