Saulteaux: Difference between revisions

They are a branch of the Ojibwa people (aka Algonquin, Anishinabe, Bungee, Chippewa, Little Shell, Nez Perce, Ojibway, Ojibwe, Pembina, Saginaw, Sac, and Sauk. Their land was located just east of Lake Superior when the English and French first met them in the early 17th century. It was the French who supposedly named these eastern&nbsp;[[Lake Superior Chippewa]] District people the Saulteaux. It means "'''People of the Falls'''" in French. In Montana, the Gros Ventre are known as the '''People of the Falls '''or '''People of the Waterfalls '''or simply the '''Waterfalls People'''. They are the Chippewas who forced their way from the west to the east after the whites invaded. They are also the '''Montana Saulteaux'''. They originally lived in the Great Falls, Montana region and still do.<br>  

Their original land was located at and in the immediate surrounding region of Sault Ste. Marie. Ojibwa authors from the 19th century wrote about Chippewa's from the west forcing their way to the east, after the whites invaded. According to George Copway, the Chippewa's from northern Wisconsin and Minnesota, settled the region where Sault Ste. Marie is. They then forced their way further east. Copway wrote that these Chippewa settlers colonized the region east of Lake Superior and east of Lake Huron, after 1634 and 1635.  

Not very long after the western Chippewa's colonized the region east of Lakes Superior and Huron, they were forced to commence diasporas to the west. It was the Seven Fires Prophecy which forced them to leave for western lands. Among them were the '''Amikwa Chippewas '''who are also known as the '''Nez Perce'''. They are the Nez Perce of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Amikwa means Beavers in Anishinabe. The '''Beaver Tribe including the Sekani '''of British Columbia, are the Amikwa Chippewas.  

The focus will be on the northern Saulteaux Indians north of Lake Superior and exactly where they migrated to. From the Sault Ste. Marie region, they followed an old road north of Lake Superior which led to where Winnipeg, Manitoba is now situated. This same road led into what is now Saskatchewan then to what is now Edmonton, Alberta. It then branched off to where the Saulteau First Nations are located in British Columbia. That is where Moberly Lake is. Before the road reached Moberly Lake, it branched off where Dawson Creek, British Columbia is. It led up to where Fort Nelson, British Columbia is now.  

Another branch of this same old road, branched off near Dawson Creek and extended into central British Columbia. From there, it led to where Prince Rupert, British Columbia is. The whites now call this old road the Highway of Tears. The Chippewa's probably named the road Highway of Tears. Similar to the Trail of Tears in the United States which is now known as route 66.  

Other branches of the Ojibwa Nation are the Little Shell, Pembina, and Saginaw. The Saulteaux lived north of them, excepting the Pembina who historians probably classify as being Saulteaux. To identify the Saulteaux Indians, information about the Little Shell, Pembina, and Saginaw must be separate so the information about the Saulteaux can be unique. By that, i am referring to a unique Saulteaux District.  

This Saulteaux District bordered the&nbsp;[[Pembina Band of Chippewa Indians]] District and the&nbsp;[[Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians, Montana]]&nbsp;District. It commences in eastern Saskatchewan and extends into Alberta. It may have included land in nortern Montana, east of the Rocky Mountains. It also included much of British Columbia, particularly northern British Columbia. Another Chippewa District was probably located in southern British Columbia.  

Only Reservations or Reserves, in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories will be included. Historians have written that the [[Cree Indians|Cree Indians]] made no use of totems or clans. If that was correct it will signify that they are not Algonquian. However, it is known that the [[Swampy Cree|Swampy Cree]] and [[Woodland Cree|Woodland Cree]] used totems or clans. Woodland Cree are obviously Saulteaux.  

 

Their history is one that is fragmented and difficult to place together. There is one Saulteaux people in northeastern British Columbia and one in Alberta. However, there is something weary about this predicament. Probably because of the Seven Fires Prophecy which has played a major role in Saulteaux history.

 

Were living in Minnesota in the early part of the century. As a result of the white invasion many were sent east to support the eastern Chippewa's in the wars against the whites and their Indian allies.  

Wars against the whites intensified. As the 18th century progressed, the wars became more deadly. By 1795 (after the Battle of Fallen Timbers) the Saulteaux living east of Lake Superior and north of Lake Huron, commenced diasporas. Some migrated up to northern Quebec. Most migrated north of Lake Superior then to the west.  

Many Saulteaux Indians had migrated into northwestern Ontario then southern Manitoba. They probably participated in the [[Pemmican War|Pemmican War]] which was a part of the [[Canada in the War of 1812|War of 1812]]. By the 1860s, they were realizing they had to migrate again. Under the leadership of Saulteaux leaders [[Chief Yellow Quill|Chief Yellow Quill]], his sub-chief [[Chief Kinistin|Chief Kinistin]], [[Chief John Smith|Chief John Smith]] and his brother [[Chief James Smith|Chief James Smith]], the diasporas commenced. From southern Manitoba, they migrated into southeastern and central Saskatchewan. Other Chippewa leaders who followed prophecy and led diasporas were [[Chief Kahkhagooguns|Chief Kahkhagooguns]] and [[Chief Napaneegwan|Chief Napaneegwan]]. Both leaders did as instructed and led the Saulteaux people to northern British Columbia, from southern Manitoba.