Chief Bemidji, whose real name was " Shay-Now-Ish -Kung," received his new name from Lake Bemidji which was called Bay-me-ji-ga, or "lake with cross waters." He was born near Inger, Minnesota, in 1833 or 1834 and lived in the Leech Lake and Cass Lake area. In 1860, he married a Leech Lake Pillager Indian woman and they had eight children, three boys of whom died at early ages. Four daughters and one son grew up and lived to older ages. In 1882, Chief Bemidji's wife died. Saddened by her death, he loaded all his possessions and children in his birch bark canoe and paddled up the Mississippi River to settle on the south shore of Lake Bemidji. He was the first permanent settler of Bemidji (from p. 107,"The Bemidji Area Looking Back" 2004).
The formal portrait of William Hoffman of Prairie Island. Hoffman was a member of the Mdewakanton band of Dakota. His Dakota name was Ta Shunke Maza which translates to Iron Horse.
Portrait of Old Shoto. Photograph taken with a magazine by ars olclone camera. Contemporary handwriting on back. He is one of Chief Shakopee's braves, he was baptized by Father J. J. Girrimondi of St. Mary's church in 1894; he died in 1899. He is standing in front of a teepee with an open door.
Shoto walking with two walking sticks in Shakopee. Father J. J. Girrimondi of St. Mary's Church baptized 90-year-old Shoto in 1894 and buried him 1899. Shoto was one of Chief Shakopee's braves.
Portait of Shoto in front of tepee. The book, "The Shakopee Story" says that Shoto was one of Chief Shakopee's braves. He was baptized by Father J. J. Girrimondi of St. Mary's Church in 1894. He died in 1899.
This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. It shows a Dakota campsite along a body of water.
This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. It shows a view of the Minnesota River Valley.
This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. The print shows a medicine dance performed by members of the Winnebago tribe.
This is a photograph of John Otherday, whose Dakota name was Ampatutokacha. Called Good Sounding Voice when he was young, he was born in the vicinity of Swan Lake in Nicollet County about 1819.
This is a photograph of Po-Go-Nay-Ke-Shick, also known as Hole in the Day, an Ojibway Native American. The photograph was taken in the studio of St. Paul photographer Joel E. Whitney. The photograph was purchased in 1862 by a woman from Indiana.
This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. It shows several dwellings of the Dakota people.
This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. The print shows a Native American activity in which a number of men are involved.
This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. The print shows Native Americans moving with their belongings to a new location.
This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. The print shows a mounted Native American man about to kill a buffalo with an arrow.
This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. Two Native American men on snowshoes are shown hunting buffalo.
This is a print by the artist and military officer Seth Eastman, who was stationed in Minnesota before statehood. A Native American is shown as he is catching fish by using a bow and arrow.
View of Traverse Des Sioux or "crossing place of the Sioux." It was here in 1851 that the U.S. government signed a treaty with the Sisseton and Wahpeton bands of the Dakota Indians.
This image shows the rock that marks the site of the signing of the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux in 1851. Members of the St. Peter D. A. R. arranged for the rock to be brought to the site. With an attached plaque, the rock was dedicated in 1914. A log cabin is shown to the east of the rock. This postcard negative, marked 459, has been converted to a digital positive image.
This image shows the marker and the log cabin that were located at the site of the signing of the 1851 Treaty of Travere des Sioux, north of St. Peter. The cabin, brought from the C. J. Edoff farm, was dedicated in 1931. This postcard negative, marked 1449, has been converted to a digital positive image.
Red Lake, Leech Lake and White Earth Chiefs, taken in Washington, D.C. (Darwin S. Hall presented photo to White Earth Agency office, Arthur P. Foster presented to Becker County Historical Society.)
Winter scene of three homestead women and a Native American holding a small child in the woods. A horse and cart, teepee, frozen slaughter pig and other bundles are visible in the surroundings.
Sioux Indian Camp at White Earth on June 14, 1910. White Earth is located within the White Earth Indian Reservation (Gaa-waabaabiganikaag) and is home to the White Earth Nation, also known as the Anishinaabe.
View of the Chippewa (Ojibwe) camp at White Earth on June 14, 1910. White Earth is located within the White Earth Indian Reservation (Gaa-waabaabiganikaag) and is home to the White Earth Nation, also known as the Anishinaabe.
Indian Sham Battle at at White Earth on June 14, 1910. White Earth is located within the White Earth Indian Reservation (Gaa-waabaabiganikaag) and is home to the White Earth Nation, also known as the Anishinaabe.
Indian War Dance at White Earth on June 14, 1910. White Earth is located within the White Earth Indian Reservation (Gaa-waabaabiganikaag) and is home to the White Earth Nation, also known as the Anishinaabe.
View of the Chippewa (Ojibwe) Indian War Dance at White Earth on June 14, 1910. White Earth is located within the White Earth Indian Reservation (Gaa-waabaabiganikaag) and is home to the White Earth Nation, also known as the Anishinaabe.
Indian War Dance at at White Earth on June 14, 1910. White Earth is located within the White Earth Indian Reservation (Gaa-waabaabiganikaag) and is home to the White Earth Nation, also known as the Anishinaabe.
Indian War Dance Celebration at White Earth on June 14, 1910. White Earth is located within the White Earth Indian Reservation (Gaa-waabaabiganikaag) and is home to the White Earth Nation, also known as the Anishinaabe.
Indian War Dance at White Earth on June 14, 1910. White Earth is located within the White Earth Indian Reservation (Gaa-waabaabiganikaag) and is home to the White Earth Nation, also known as the Anishinaabe.
Chippaway [Chippewa] Indian Camp at White Earth on June 14, 1910. White Earth is located within the White Earth Indian Reservation (Gaa-waabaabiganikaag) and is home to the White Earth Nation, also known as the Anishinaabe.
Indian Canoe Race at White Earth on June 14, 1910. White Earth is located within the White Earth Indian Reservation (Gaa-waabaabiganikaag) and is home to the White Earth Nation, also known as the Anishinaabe.
Indian Canoe Race at White Earth on June 14, 1910. White Earth is located within the White Earth Indian Reservation (Gaa-waabaabiganikaag) and is home to the White Earth Nation, also known as the Anishinaabe.
Studio portrait of Old Shoto, believed to have been one of Chief Shakopee's braves. Old Shoto was baptized by Father J. J.Girrimondi of St. Mary's Church in 1894. He died in 1899.