Grand Traverse Reservation

Two white Christian Missionaries were sent to Old Mission Site in May 1839, to establish a mission and school. After making landfall, they were met by one Ojibwa man who told them that other Ojibwa's were living in a village across Grand Traverse Bay, where Elk Rapids, Michigan is now. A message was sent to chief Aish-gwa-gwon-a-ba or Aish-gwa-go-na-be, at what is now Elk Rapids, about an arrival of two white Missionaries sent to establish a mission and school for their Reservation. On May 30, 1839 chief Aish-gwa-go-na-be invited them to cross Grand Traverse Bay to where Elk Rapids is now. They commenced to building houses and such and even had doors and windows sent to them from Mackinac.

However, Henry Rowe Schoolcraft arrived on June 20, 1839 and decided that Bower's Harbor would be an ideal location for blacksmith and carpenter shops and for a farming agent. However, after consulting with an Ojibwa leader, Schoolcraft agreed that Mission Harbor or Old Mission, would instead be selected. Exact location where those two Missionaries first landed. An Ojibwa leader named chief Ah-go-sa (it means narrows in Ojibwa) was leader of Old Mission. Chief Ah-ga-sa talked the lone missionary (the other one left on account of family troubles) to establish a mission and school also at Old Mission. He explained that his Ojibwa Subjects refused to go to church and school where Elk Rapids is now. There were two Ojibwa villages. One led by chief Aish-gwa-go-na-be and another more important one, led by chief Ah-ga-sa. This information is suspicious because it's indicative of Grand Traverse Reservation including the peninsula where Bower's Harbor and Old Mission are located. It also includes the region where Acme, Michigan is now. Chief Ah-ga-sa then brought the Missionary to his village now known as Old Mission, to build a mission and school. The Elk Rapids region was too far off. Most Ojibwa's lived on Grand Traverse Peninsula down to Sleeping Bear and east to Houghton Lake. Bower's Harbor should have been selected for the school site. Old Mission was too far north!

According to 1836's Treaty, Grand Traverse Reservation would be held in common for the term of 5 years and no longer except by permission of the U.S. It was a threat American leaders used to prevent Ojibwa People from following prophesy and migrating west. Ojibwa leaders would not have signed such treaty agreements. It signifies "it was a threat" that was not included in original treaty text! Grand Traverse Reservation is, in fact, an Ojibwa Reservation that is genuine. In 1850, Grand Traverse Reservation was not in the market for land selling. The Missionary that first landed at Old Mission in May 1839, was not helpful in defending Ojibwa's in their attempt at keeping Grand Traverse Reservation. Instead he convinced many (they were really Odawah Ojibwa's not citizens of Grand Traverse Reservation) to save money to purchase land west of Grand Traverse Bay. Caution must be used because of illegal activity. It was a violation of treaty agreements. In 1848, American leaders illegally sold Manistee or Manis'tig Reservation. Many Ojibwa's of that Reservation, Relocated to Grand Traverse Reservation or followed prophesy and migrated west.

It's possible the Missionary was acting on their behalf. What followed is suspicious. It deals with old Manistee or Manis'tig Reservation. American leaders set aside several townships in Charlevoix, Emmit and Leelanaw Counties to be Reservations. It don't make sense because Grand Traverse Reservations Ojibwa's never left Grand Traverse Reservation. Even as late as June 7, 1850 the Indian Office notified the General Land Office and told them Ojibwa People continued to live within these Reservations and their lands must not be offered for sell as public lands. They were already holding talks about land allotments. Then on July 31, 1855 another treaty was negotiated and signed. It set aside 3 townships supposedly for citizens of Grand Traverse Reservation. It don't make sense! Michigan allowed Ojibwa People to become citizens of Michigan in 1850 and rights to sell land allotments yet those land allotments are yet under Grand Traverse Reservation jurisdiction. What Michigan leaders did was a violation of treaty agreements. Andrew Blackbird is the culprit behind Michigan allowing Ojibwa's of Michigan to become citizens of Michigan. Most Ojibwa's living at Michigan became outraged after learning Michigan had made them citizens of Michigan. It meant their annuity payments stopped. Blackbird had to be very cautious where he went. So outraged were Ojibwa's it led to new treaties.

In early 1852, the same Missionary that arrived in May 1839, Relocated Old Mission to where Omena, Michigan is. They should have selected the Omena region to be the school site in 1839. It is located on Grand Traverse Peninsula. It deals with Manistee or Manis'tig Reservation being illegally sold by American leaders in 1848. Thus, 1855's Treaty set aside 3 townships for those Ojibwa's from Manistee or Manis'tig Reservation. Grand Traverse Reservation is yet genuine! Today, Ojibwa's of Grand Traverse Reservation are bogus. They are claiming they are Odawah and Ojibwa. They always put "Ottawa" first. However, they are either willingly fooling you or don't know what is going on. They probably don't know where Grand Traverse Reservation is located and that it is intact and genuine! They are Shawnee Ojibwa's who name themselves Mississauga's. Translation of Mississauga is 'All River Mouth People.' It's correct pronunciation is 'Mi-si Sa-geague.' All, entire and whole in Ojibwa is "Misi." River mouth in Ojibwa is "sa-gi." Adding the letter 'g' to 'sagi' makes "Sa-geague" mean "River Mouth People." Shawnee is derived from the Ojibwa word for southern which is "Shaw'an." Southern Ojibwa's were named "Shaw'an'neague" which means Southern People! Whites found it easier to pronounce it "Shawnee" instead of "Shaw-an-neague." Out west Shawnee Ojibwa's are named Cheyenne which is a different way of writing "Shaw'an."