Photo from the Detroit Free Press - 31 Dec 1933
Left to right: Standing--John Gingway, assistant chief; Edward Hall, counsellor; Paul Agosa, counsellor; Alexandrine Wahsequom, counsellor; George SAnds, counsellor. Sitting--Ben Peshawba, chief; Jonah Shawandase, second chief.
Leelanau Enterprise - 3 Nov 1933
INDIANS LEAGUE TOGETHER FOR BENEFIT OF ALL
PROTECT THEIR RACE
OTTAWAS AND CHIPPEWAS OF REGION LOOK FOR STATE-WIDE ORGANIZATION
The following atricle [sic] is published at the request of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of the Grand Traverse Region:
On Monday evening, Nov. 20, the Indians of the Grand Traverse region held an important meeting. A previous one of like importance was held Monday evening, Oct. 14. A number of other meetings, of minor importance, were held during the past summer, all tending to the point of bringing to realization, the uniting into a working unit, the Indians of this region. The purpose of this union is the devense of their rights against further encroachments: to put an end to outrages perpetrated upon them by certain outlaw element that enters their settlements to carry on with unbridled license libertine acts of violence: and to present a united front to obtain the benefits, both legal and social that accrue to them, or should, by virtue of their membership in the commonwealth.
This union will be known as the "Anishinabe Mawandjiidiwin Nenakanad o Michiganing," "The Indian Defense Assoiciation of Michigan." It is tending towards a state-wide organization with brances in every county where there are settlements of Indians.
This movement has the support of the local authorities who have the welfare of the public at heart, especially the downtrodden Indian. The state authorities have also been consulted and are wholeheartedly in accord with the movement. In addition representatives, both Federal and state, are lending a generous support. Petty politicians of small mental calibre, and with aims of serving but a select privileged class, will no doubt frown upon the movemnet but their day of reckoning has come.
The Indians realize that the first step necessary to enlist the support of the good citizenry interested in public affairs, and the uplift of the underprivileged calls, is to show tendencies and conduct worthy of commendation.
The noble Indian nature, unspoiled by a civilization marred by corrupt elements, but embellished by the genuine teaching of Christianity as taught by the first heroic missionaries that blazed the trail through the wilderness nearly three hundred years ago, has no difficulty in winning recognition and praise from any quarter. You need not go to the musty archives of history for proof: personal contact with such Indians is all that is necessary.
That the Indians as a body have not always exhibited those qualities in the past, expected fo them, they are well aware. Whith this in mind they are setting about to do a little housecleaning. In the various settlements vigilance committees wil? [sic] set to work to cary out the aims of the organization. The Indians are well aware that there are some members of their own household who have betrayed their race and cast a blight on their nobility of character. These unforunate ones will be induced to step up again to the lofty postition from which they have fallen.
A simultaneous step will be in the direction to curt, the influx into the settlements of such persons, who in the past, have made license of their criminal propensities and libertine activites in the settlements at the expense of the Indians. Peshabetown [sic] being conveniently situated on the public highway, for example, is one of their rendezvous. The Indians have long detested the abominable situation, but not being organized they were helpless against the hordes of detestable demoralized syocphants, desrving rather the name of demons, that that of human beings.
Words fail to describe the havoc wrought by these self-inviting importuning criminal pests. They parade off in elite society as "the citizens," "good sports," whatever the case may be. The light of day is not suitable for theses evildoers to carry on their pet hobbies, then sneak about in the darkness of the night, selection periods of the month wehn as authority of influence is not at hand. Down upon the defenesless [sic] Indian settlements they swoop, accompanied by the Luciferian legions of darkness. Truly if "by their fruits ye shall knw wthem," [sic] demons they be, for diabolical is the effect of their work left behind.
The morning dawn is breaking, off they scoot to cover, their deviltry has again been done. They soon don the vesture of innocence and bypocritically they pass off before their fellow man as respectable citizens. But what about the place they slunk away from? "All is not quiet along the Potomac" by any means. Drunkenness, wrangling, and things unmentionable, are in evidence everywhere. And most pathetic is the sigt of whining, helpless children, hungry and frightened, crawling amidst the heaps of drunkards. A crim crying to heaen for vengeance.
The these things the Indians have been witness time and again. Not to be omitted is the local missionary and the county authorities who have to clean up the dirty mess after the slimy bedeilers scramble from the scene.
"History repeats itself," the saying goes. The like as related above we find written on the pages of history. The Indian time and agian has been the victim of the vultures of debauchery and vice, decit and cunning, theft and fraud.
The Indians make an appeal to the good citiznry of the commonwealth to assist them to rid themselves of the octopus-hold the vicious evildoers have upon them. They ask no special privileges, only their just rights, the protection of the law, and defense against crooks who are ever on the alret to defraud them of their lands, deprive them of their just labor and wages, deny them equity before the law, in the way of just relief from legal burdens which the law provides to keep them in home and food.
Discouraging as matters were in the past few years, a new era is dawning. With the Indians united, backed by Federal, state and county authorities. Not all the worngs of the past can be righted, but some can, and the day will come that some crooks who by fraud have beaten the Indian at the bar of justice, might find their seemingly-now-secure illgotten goods slipping away from them by the same process by which they obtained them.
Bettey right a wrong by your own free will, you sycophants of evil, better stay where you are. Your heyday is overwith. If any of you numskulls should take it into your head that this is an idle gesture you will be enlightened by a free ticket to a free boarding house in company of uniformed men and brass buttons.
The bedevilers have already shown their teeth by sending anonymous blackmail letters. We assure you that they will be duly preserved in the hands of the proper authorities.
Signed and approved by
BEN H. PESHAWBA, Chief
JONAH SHAWANDASE, Second Chief
JOHN GINGWAY, Secretary
JAMES M. FITZPATRICK, Prosecuting Attorney
Counsellors: Paul Agosa, George Sands, S. W. Pigeon, Alexander Wahsaquam.
Leelanau Enterprise - 26 Apr 1934
INDIANS CARRY OUT DETAILS OF ORGANIZATION
SAMPSON PIGEON CHIEF
OTHER OFFICERS ELECTED; COUNCIL WAS HELD LAST SATURDAY NIGH
Leelanau county, the cradle of the "Michigan Indian Defnse Association," had its first permanent Indian Council established when, on March 9, the Indians of the region met to elect the first permaent officers. The meeting was presided over by Mr. James Fitzpatrick, prosecuting attorney of Leelanau county.
Preceding the election of officers there was much discussion on various topics, and some very fine specimens of Indian oratory were displayed. Debates were held both in the English and the Ottawa Indian language. The time had arrived the major portion of the members wanted the organization incorporated under the laws of the the State of Michigan. To put the organization on a permanent footing it was very desirable that permanent oficers be elected. This cause a little flareup on the part of some, who misunderstanding the manner in which the organization was to grow and become effective, held that the election of permanent officers be postponed to some indefinite date. The standpatters had very carefully prepared the way for this move by pre-election meetings to garner enough strength to keep the organization in statu quo at which it had arrived at the time.
The meeting took on the aspect of a Babnylonian confusion until Mr. Paul Agosa arose saying: "I make the mothing that we suspend all other matters until we have elcted the officers' that's what we came here for. Let us not miss the point." The motion was promptly seconded and the debate ceased.
The nomination of officers was then in order. After some delay the nominating swung into full speed ahead. To be noted is, that some who opposed the election of permanent officers at the time, retused to accept when they were nominated, and proceeded to leave the council. This left the progressives in full control.
The election of officers brought about the following results: Chief, Samson Pigeon; Assistant Chief, Paul Agosa; Messenger, Alex Wassequam; Paymaster, Jonas Shawandase.
AT the close of the meeting the newly elected chief arove to thank the electors for the honor bestowed upon him and promised that he would do all in his power to exercise his funcions of office with honor and justie. He then announced the election of counsellors for the various districtes to be held the following week. Theres elections netted the following results; March 12, election at Northport at which Him Cobb ws elected counsellor for that district; March 14, election at Omena at which George Antoine was elected counsellor for that district; March 16, election at Peshabetown [sic] at which Louis Miller and Charles Miller were elected counsellors for that district.
The newly elected officers took steps at once to have the association incorporated under the laws of the State of Michigan. A set of Constitutions and by-laws were drawn up to give coherent action to the organization. This matter had already been taken care of during the perceding months. These Constitutions were drawn up according to Indian ideans and traditions. The local missionary at Peshabetown [sic] gave his services readily to put these ideas into orderly form to meet legal requirements.
The services of Mr. Fitzpatrick were solicited and gratuitously given, in filing application papers for incorporation. The Hon. Secretary of State registered the association under the corporation laws of the State March 23, 1934.
The purposes of the organization are set forth in Art. II of the application for incorporation, to wit: "The purpose or purposes of this corporation are as follows: "To bring together into a unified body all the scattered bands of Indians located within the limits of the State of Michigan, and to bring about a mutual understanding between the Indians and the rest of the commonwealth on such points where racial traditons give rise to differences of opinion; and to defend the Indians both as individuals and as a tribe, against such persons or groups of persons that bring about moral, social, and financial ruin of the Indian'." [sic]
First Official Meeting of the Council Officiers.
On April 21, the council board met for the first time at the council meeting headquarters at Peshabetown [sic]. All the officers were present with the exception of Chief Pigeon and Counsellor Jim Cobb. The former was unavoidably absent due to the critical illness of a son in Grand Rapids, and counsellor Cobb was also obliged to absent himself for reasons justifiable. In addition to the officials, other members were present to listen in on the discussions.
In the absence of Chief Pigeon, Asst. Chief Paul Agosa called the meeting to order. After a brief introductiory speech he called upon Rev. Fr. Aubert, O. F. M., the local missionary, for a few remarks. The latter stressed the importance of all the Indians to make the organization a success. He emphasized the need of the Indians to band together ot fight their own battles. He stated that no one knew the needs of the Indians better than the Indians themselves, and furthermore that no one was more aware of the sad plight of the Indians than they themselves.
The speaker stressed the point that the Indians need no longer contiue to bear with submissive silence ignominies, abuses, and injustices, as they have been subjected to in the past. By way of illustration, he pointed out a particular case, namely, said the spearker: "I know of a case where a white man broke into an Indian home at night by forcing a window in an endeavor to milest an Indian Maiden. It happened that a relative, a husky man, of the girl was present. During the fistic encounter, the intruder, after receiving a few well deserved blows, was ousted through the windw by which he had entered. The Indian man went to the local news office the next morning to bring the incdent as a news item for the day. The editior replied, 'We cannot print that item, the man is a prominent business man, it will ruin his business.' It is alright," continued the pseaker "for Indian people to be molested in various shape and form by so-called 'respectable citizens; of a different race. There is no need however for the like to continue."
Asst. Chief Paul AGosa arose to exhort the officers to take interest in their respective offices, and pointed out the necessity of the Indians to band together. He further expressed appreciation in the name of the association for the valuable help that Rev. Fr. Aubert, O. F. M. was giving the organization by the unselfish sacrifices of his time and the advantage of his superior education. He also stressed the point that the said missionary had made it his duty to study the Indian situation in all its aspects.
Paymaster Jonas Shawandase took the floor to show the need of the Indians to organize by making comparisons and references to various organizations of the white people, notably the various soldier organizations.
Mr. Mike Blackman obtained leave to speak. He told the assembly that he was seeing thins in a different light and that he felt more certain now that the orgainization was worthy of whoe-hearted endorsement. A few misunderstandings were satisfactorily explained to him and he vacated the floor contented.
Asst. Chief Paul Agosa then ordered the printing of leaflets explaining the purpose of the organization so that if distant Indians write in to the headquarters for information they could be accommodated. He like wise ordered the printing of copies of the Constitutions and by-laws. He furthermore ordered the making of a seal with which to stamp all official papers and orders. He enjoined upon counsellor Louis Miller, as artist of some note, to draw a design of an Indian chief in a war bonnet for the imprint of the seal. Upon request, Rev. Fr. Aubert, O. F. M., willing took upon himself the onus of having the necessary printing taken care of and the securing of the seal. With this business the meeting came to a close. The motion to adjourn was made by counsellor Louis Miller and seconded by Paymaster Jonas Shawandase.
The temporary headquarters of the association are:
Michigan Indian Defense Association, Alec Wassequam, Messenger Secy., Box No. 60, Northport, Mich.
This address for the present is the same for the State and the Leelanau council headquarters. When more counties are organized and a State Council is elected the State Headquarters will be at such a location as is convenient for the organization.
Signes
Chief Sampson Pigeon (Absent)
Asst. Chief Paul AGosa
Messenger Alex Wassequam
Chief's Paymaster, Jonas Shawandase, Northport
Counsellors:
James Cobb, Northport (Absent)
George Antoine, Omena
L. L. Miller, Peshabetown [sic]
Charles C. Miller, Peshabetown [sic]
Copyright (c) 2023 Vicki Wilson
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