Winter Returns Along Mikinaak Creek February 8-9th, 2024

This is the first channel wide moving water I've seen since the spring of 2023 --and it's in February!

On maps, the creek (or ‘crick' depending on your dialect) is spelled ‘Mickinock’ for the Anishinaabe man who lived at the Indian camp at Ross, but had seasonal camps around Wannaska and other places. The Euro-American immigrants who homesteaded here in Roseau County called him ‘Chief,’ but he may have been just a spokesperson who knew enough English to get things done peacefully and simultaneously meet the needs of his people; the word, ‘chief' was often used in derision of any Indigenous male adult.

I spell Mikinaak the Ojibwe way, in a gesture of respect; what the Dakota, who were here before the Anishinaabeg/Chippewa, called this place, this body of moving water I don’t know; just as I don’t know who came before them exactly.

I was told that one of Mikinaak's camps were here on our place in Palmville Township. Its location was pointed out to me except only as a generality, being west of this house 100 yards or so, near what we call ’the corral.' Whether anyone knows for sure, or a map designates, I’m unaware.

Comments

Joe - Wednesday's Child said…

Are those some of the trees that you planted standing in the background of this picture?

February 10, 2024 at 7:45 AM

WannaskaWriter said…

Yes, the ones my friend Jeff and I planted fifty years ago this year.

March 16, 2024 at 8:11 AM

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