Taken from The American Promise, A History of the United States, 4th Ed. Roark, p. 184. “....there was no lasting peace in the Ohio valley, in 1761, a Chippewa Chief named Minivavana clearly explained the reasons why, in an ominous speech delivered to a British trader at Fort Michilimackinac, a British outpost that guarded the Straits of Mackinac..... “Englishman, although you have conquered the French, you have not yet conquered us! We are not your slaves. These lakes, these woods, and mountains were left to us by our ancestors. They are our inheritance, and we will part with them to none.” Further, “Your King never sent us any presents, nor entered into any treaty with us, wherefore he and we are still at war; and until he does these things must consider that we have no other father, nor friend, among the white men than the King of France.””
The flag's meaning, correlative to the Peace Pipe tradition: Id. ““Minivavana's complaints about the lack of British presents was a far more serious problem. Gifts exchanged in Indian culture cemented social relationships, symbolized honor, and established obligation. Over many decades, the French had mastered the subtleties of gift exchange, distributing clothing, textiles, and hats and in return receiving calumets, (ornamental ceremonial pipestems) as symbols of friendship. The British military leaders, new to the practice, often discarded the calumets (pipes) as trivial trinkets, thereby insulting the givers. Amherst saw extensive gift exchange as demeaning to the British, forcing them to pay tribute to people he considered inferior. “It is not my intention ever to attempt to gain the friendship of Indians by presents,” Amherst declared. Sir William Johnson, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, warned Amherst that he was insulting the Indians, but the impervious Amherst would not listen.” After Pontiac's Rebellion, Amherst was disgraced, and blamed for mishandling the conflict. He was replaced by Thomas Gage, who took the advice of Johnson, and treated the Indians accordingly. Gage later organized the raid on Concord, on April 18, 1775. This began the American Revolution.
The colonials relied on France's resources to wage war in support of an under-resourced Continental Army. Greater still, the colonial government relied on France and its historic alliance with Great Lakes tribes that encompassed two centuries prior to the start of the Revolution. The Gopher family has yet to research the specifics of the historic record; current efforts on this exciting work is detailed in greater detail under the Research tab.
Copyright. 2012. Listening Thunder Band of Ojibway. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright. 2012. Listening Thunder Band of Ojibway. All Rights Reserved.
