THE MENOMINI INDIANS BY WALTER JAMES HOFFMAN, M. D. INTRODUCTION HISTORY OF THE INVESTIGATION The circumstances under which the materials for the accompanying memoir were procured are as follows: Having succeeded, in the years 1887-1890, in obtaining from the Ojibwa Indians of northern Minnesota instruction in the ritual and ceremonials of initiation into the Mide'wiwin or "Grand Medicine Society" of that tribe, together with copies of hitherto unknown mnemonic charts and songs, on birch bark, relating to their genesis and cosmogony, the results were published in the Seventh Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology. In consequence of this exposition of what was to them a secret of vital importance, the attention of some Menomini shamans, who visited Washington during the first three months of 1890, was gained, and, after protracted conferences, the proposition was made by the chief, Nio'pet, that a visit to their reservation, at Keshena, Wisconsin, be made; that, after proper instruction by some shamans to be appointed, due initiation into their society, termed the Mitä'wit, would be conferred, in order that their version of the traditions and dramatized forms of initiation could be studied and preserved "for the information of future generations of the Menomini," these arrangements being made in anticipation of the consent of the chiefs of the society. The first visit was therefore made to Keshena in 1890, followed by four subsequent visits, to attend to the necessary instruction and ceremonials of the society. It was during these visits that other new and interesting facts were obtained-material relating to their mythology, social organization and government, customs, industries, and gentile system and division into gentes and phratries, together with linguistic data germane to the subject in general. These facts were believed to be entirely new to ethnology, as the Menomini had not hitherto received careful attention by students, the 11 fugitive papers relating to this tribe being exceedingly brief, and often difficult of access to the general reader. HABITAT OF THE TRIBE The Menomini Indians are located on a reservation in the northeastern part of Wisconsin, and occupy almost the same territory in which they were found by Nicollet in 1634. Their history is intimately connected with that of the Winnebago, as they have lived with or beside that tribe from very early times, although their language shows them to belong to the Algonquian stock, and more nearly related to the Ojibwa than to any other. THE TRIBAL NAME The word Menomini is from Omä'nomine'u (mäno'me, rice, and inä'neu or inä'ni, man). Shea' says the "name is the Algonquin term for the grain Zizania aquatica-in English, Wild Rice. The French called both the grain and tribe Fol Avoin--Wild Oats." The tribe has been designated in literature under a variety of synonyms, of which the following are a list, together with the authorities therefor, and such additional notes of the respective authors as may be deemed of interest. Some of the changes in orthography are due to misprints, but still have a certain value in identification. The people of the tribe designate themselves "Menomini," or "Menomoni" giving preference to the latter, in which the sound of o is heard, although the letter i of the former term is more in harmony with the etymology of the word. Synonymy Addle-Heads.-Jeffreys, Natural and Civil History of the French Dominions in North and South America, pt. 1, London, 1761, p. 48. Falsavoins.—(Johnson, London Doc. xxxvi, 1763) Docs. Col. Hist. New York, vol. vii, Albany, 1856, p. 583. (Probably that portion of the tribe living near Green bay; enumerates 110 as belonging to Ottawa confederacy.) Falsovoins.-(Harrison, 1814) Drake, Life of Tecumseh, and of his Brother, the Prophet, etc, Cincinnati, 1852, p. 162. Felles avoins.-(State of British Plantations in America, in 1721) Docs. Col. Hist. New York, vol. v, Albany, 1855, p. 622. Folle Avoine.-Relations des Jésuites (1671), tome iii, Quebec, 1858, p. 25. Folle Avoines.-(Mem. of 1718) Docs. Col. Hist. New York, vol. ix, Albany, 1855, p. 889. Folles, Les.-Featherstonhaugh, A Canoe Voyage up the Minnay Sotor, etc, vol. i, London, 1847, p. 174. Follesavoine.-(Vaudreuil, 1720) Margry, Découvertes, tome vi, Paris, 1866, p. 511. Folles Avoines.-(Cadillac, 1695) Margry, Découvertes, tome v, Paris, 1883, p. 121. Fols, Les.-(Baden, 1830) Ann. de la Prop. de la Foi . . ., tome iv, Lyons, 1853, p. 537. Fols Avoin. -Pike, An Account of Expeditions to the Sources of the Mississippi, etc, Philadelphia, 1810, p. 13. Fols Aroines.-Brown, Western Gazetteer, Auburn, 1817, p. 265. Folsavoins. (Johnson, 1763) Docs. Col. Hist. New York, vol. vii, Albany, 1856, p. 583. 1 Coll. Hist. Soc. Wisconsin, vol. iii, for 1856, Madison, 1857, p. 134. Fols-avoise.-(Schermerhorn, 1812) Col. Massachusetts Soc., vol. ii, 2d ser., Boston, 1814, p. 10. Fulawin.-(Dalton, 1783) Col. Massachusetts Hist. Soc., vol. x, 1st ser., Boston, 1809, p. 123. Macomilé.-(La Chesnaye) Margry, Découvertes, tome vi, Paris, 1886, p. 6. Mahnomonie.-James in Tanner's Narrative of the Captivity and Adventures, etc, New York, 1830, p. 326. Malhomines.-Charlevoix (1721), vol. ii, London, 1761, p. 61. Malhoming.-Bacqueville de la Potherie, Histoire de l'Amérique Septentrionale, tome ii, Paris, 1753, p. 90. Malhominis.-Ibid., p. 70. Malhomins.-La Potherie, op. cit., tome i, p. 206. Malhominy.—(Cadillac, 1695) Margry, Découvertes, tome v, Paris, 1883, p. 121; La Potherie, op. cit., tome ii, p. 49. Malhommes.-Jeffreys' Natural and Civil History, op. cit., p. 48. Malhommis. (Perrot, 1720) Mémoire sur les Mœurs, coustumes et relligion des Sau- (Quotes-erroneously-from La Hontan.) p. 231. Malominese.-Blue Jacket (1807) in Drake, Life of Tecumseh, etc, op. cit., p. 94. Malouin.-Sagard (1615), Histoire du Canada, etc, tome ii, Paris, 1866, p. 424. Maloumines.-Warren (1852), Col. Minnesota Hist. Soc., vol. v, St. Paul, 1855, p. 33. (So designated by the French.) Manōmanee.—Kane, Wanderings of an Artist, etc, London, 1859, p. 29. Manomines.-Henry, Travels and Adventures in Canada and the Indian Territories, etc, New York, 1809, p. 107. Maroumine.-Relations des Jésuites (1640), tome i, Quebec, 1858, p. 35. Mathomenis.-La Potherie, op. cit., tome ii, 1753, p. 70. Mathominis.-Ibid., p. 81. Melhominys. (Croghorn, 1759) Proud, History of Pennsylvania, in North America, etc, vol. ii, Philadelphia, 1797–98, p. 296. Melominees.-Perkins and Peck, Ann. of the West, St. Louis, 1850, p. 713. Memonomier.-Vater, Mithridates oder allgemeine Sprachenkunde, pt. iii, sec. 3, Berlin, 1806-17, p. 406. Mennominies.-(Goldthwait, 1766) Col. Massachusetts Hist. Soc., 1st ser., vol. x, Boston, 1809, p. 121. Menomenes. (Pike, 1806) Schoolcraft, Inf. Respecting Ind. Tribes, vol. iii, Philadel phia, 1853, p. 262. Menomenies.-Brown, Western Gazetteer, Auburn, 1817, p. 265. Menominees.-(Treaty of 1825) U. S. Ind. Treaties, Washington, D. C., 1837, p. 376. Menominie.-(Treaty of 1826) U. S. Ind. Treaties, Washington, D. C., 1837, p. 155. Menominny.-Featherstonhaugh, A Canoe Voyage, etc, op. cit., vol. ii, p. 25. Menomoee.-Gale, Map of the Upper Mississippi, 1867. Menomonees.-(Edwards, 1788) Col. Massachusetts Hist. Soc., 2d ser., vol. x, Boston, 1823, p. 86. Menomonei.-McKenney, Rep. Comm. Ind. Aff., Washington, D. C., 1825, p. 90. Menomones.- Long's Narrative of an Expedition to Source of St. Peter's River, vol. ii, London, 1825, p. 171. Menomonies.-Boudinot, Star in the West, Trenton, 1816, p. 100. Menomonys.-Lapham, Indians of Wisconsin, map, 1870. Menonomees.-(La Pointe Treaty, 1842) Col. Minnesota Hist. Soc., vol. v, St. Paul, 1855, p. 494. Menonomies.-Howe, Historical Collections of Virginia, Charleston, 1852, p. 436. Meynomenys.—(Johnson, London Doc. xxxvi, 1763) Doc. Col. Hist. New York, vol. vii, Albany, 1856, p. 583. (Mentions 110 as belonging to the Ottawa confederacy.) Meynomineys.-(Johnson, 1764) Ibid., p. 648. Mineamies.-(James Madison, MS., 1778) Schoolcraft, Inf. respecting Ind. Tribes, vol. iii, Philadelphia, 1853, p. 560. Miniamis.-Keane, in Stanford's Compendium, London, 1878, p. 522. Minominees.-Jones, History of the Ojibway Indians, London, 1861, p. 39. Minomonees.-(Edwards, 1788) Coll. Massachusetts Hist. Soc., 1st ser., vol. ix, Boston, 1804, p. 92. Minonimies.-(Warren, 1852) Coll. Minnesota Hist. Soc., vol. v, St. Paul, 1885, p. 33. Minoomenee.-Jones, History of the Ojibway Indians, London, 1861, p. 178. Monomony.-Long, Voyages and Travels of an Indian Interpreter, London, 1791, map. Monomunies.-(Lindesay, 1749) Doc. Col. Hist. New York, vol. vi, Albany, 1855, p. 538. Moon-calves.-Jeffreys, Natural and Civil History, op. cit., p. 48. Mynomamies.-Imlay, A Topograph. Descrip. of the Western Territory of North America, London, 1797, p. 292. Mynomanies.-(Hutchins, 1778) Schoolcraft, Inf. Respecting Ind. Tribes, vol. vi, Philadelphia, 1857, p. 714. Omanomineu.-Father Zephyrin, Prayer Book in Menomoni, St. Louis, 1882. Omanomini.-Kelton, Annals of Fort Mackinac, Chicago, 1882, p. 149. (So called by the Ojibwa.) O-mun-o-min-eeg.-(Warren, 1852) Coll. Minnesota Hist. Soc., vol. v, St. Paul, 1885, p. 33. Oumalominis. (Prise de Possession, 1671) Margry, Découvertes, tome i, Paris, 1875, p. 97. Oumaloüminek.-Relations des Jésuites (1670), iii, Quebec, 1858, p. 94. Oumaominiecs.—(Du Chesneau, 1681) Doc. Col. Hist. New York, vol. ix, Albany, 1855, p. 161. Ounaboims. (Prise de Possession, 1671) Doc. Col. Hist. New York, op. cit., p. 803. Walhominies.-McKenney and Hall, History of the Indian Tribes of North America, etc, vol. iii, Philadelphia, 1854, p. 79. White Indians.-Long, Narrative of an Expedition to the Source of St. Peter's River, etc, vol. ii, Philadelphia, 1824, p. 175. Wild Oats (Nation of the).—Of various authors. Wild Rice.-(Doc. of 1701) Doc. Col. Hist. New York, vol. ix, Albany, 1855, p. 722. DISCOVERY AND EARLY HISTORY of the Indians of Although the Jesuits had early penetrated the country west of Lake Michigan, and although La Salle had, in 1682, taken formal possession of the valley of the Mississippi in the name of Louis the Great, King of France and Navarre, it was not until 1699 that Lemoine d'Iberville planted the germ whence sprang the colony of Louisiana.' Thencefor ward various posts were established at remote points, to facilitate intercourse between the outlying missions and settlements and to guard Parkman, Conspiracy of Pontiac, vol. i, Boston, 1886, p. 61. against invasion along the several waterways. Detroit guarded the approach from Lake Erie; Michilimackinac protected the entrance to Lake Michigan; while the forts at St. Joseph and at the head of Green bay (called La bay) commanded the routes between the lakes and the Mississippi. Sieur Jean Nicollet arrived on the "Baie des Puants," or Green bay,1 about the year 1634, although the account of his voyage thither was not recorded by Père Barthelemy Vimont until 1643. Nicollet's arrival in the land of the Menomini was heralded by some young Winnebago Indians, who had been sent ahead; so that when he landed "this marvelous man" must necessarily have made a profound impression, appearing as he did in a robe of China damask profusely decked with flowers and birds of various colors, and "carrying thunder in his hands." This gaudy display, together with the firing of pistols, caused the terror-stricken women and children to flee. Between 4,000 and 5,000 people partook of the feasts, at one of which, it is recorded, 120 beavers were consumed.2 In the notice of the discovery of the Menomini by Nicollet, no accurate information is given as to their geographic position. Père Gabriel Dreuillettes, who enumerated the several tribes located on Green bay, says that the first "nation," or the nearest to the village or town of St. Michel, was called in Algonquian, Oupouteouatimik (Potawatomi), and comprised about 700 men or 3,000 souls, including 100 men of the "Nation of the Petun," or Tobacco nation. The second nation was that of the Noukek, the Ouinipegouek (Winnebago), and the Malouminek (Menomini). These people, located a short distance only from the Potawatomi, gathered a certain reed which grew naturally on their prairies and which was deemed equal to Indian corn. There were also 200 Algonkin, who formerly resided on the rivers and along the northern coast of Lake Huron, but who had here sought refuge.3 The enumeration of tribes by Père Dreuillettes continues, placing the Maskotin out on the prairie, distant three days' journey by water; and various southward tribes are enumerated, with extravagant population-for instance, the Aliniouek (Illinois), living in 60 villages, were said to number 20,000 men, or in the vicinity of 100,000 souls. The Noukek of this record were no doubt identical with the Nouquet, or Noquette, who lived on the northern extremity of Green bay on what today is designated the Bay of Noquet. Under this name, also, were the Menomini referred to in some old accounts; but no tribe at present From the French designation, "la grande baie." ... On depescha plusieurs ieunes gens pour aller au deuant du Manitouiriniou, c'est à dire de l'homme merueilleux; on y vient, on le conduit, on porte tout son bagage. Il estoit reuestu d'vne grande robe de damas de la Chine, toute parsemée de fleurs et d'oyseaux de diuerses couleurs. Si tost qu'on l'apperceut, toutes les femmes et les enfans s'enfuïrent, voyant vn homme porter le tonnerre en ses deux mains (c'est ainsi qu'ils nommient deux pistolets qu'il tenoit). La nouuelle de sa venuë s'espandit incontinent aux lieux circonuoisins: il se fit vne assemblée de quatre ou cinq mille hommes; chacun des principaux fit son festin, en l'vn desquels on seruit au moins six-vingts Castors.- Relations des Jésuites, 1643, pp. 3, 4. 3 Relation des Jésuites, 1658, p. 21. |