MI-IONIA-BELDING-L Archives

From: "Kimberly Pennock" <>
Subject: [Belding] Chapter II Part Two
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 13:05:44 -0700

Continuing the previous posts from Belding's Yesterday published in the Daily News June 7, 1982

Chapter II Part Two Indians of the Flat and Grand River
It is odd how wrong ideas we have regarding the Indians. Did you picture Michigan as having many thousand, perhaps even a million redskin inhabitants? Instead, never were there more than 16,000 Indians in what is now Michigan. Indeed, in all of what is now the United States there were only 800,000 Indians - less than Detroit's population today. the Indians had to depend upon the land, the rivers and the lakes for their food. Heavy concentrations of Indians in one area could not be sustained - hence, they were forced to roam widely in search of food.

The Indian tribes had no common language and, because of many dialects, experienced difficulty in conversing with Indians from other areas of the country.

The ideas we have regarding Indians dress and homes are shattered when we learn that not all Indian chiefs wore many-feathered war bonnets. A band bearing two or three feathers sufficed for our Michigan chiefs and rather than decorated skin wigwams, they often lived in bark-covered tepees. Our Michigan tribes were "DP" (Displaced Persons) groups who took refuge here, driven into this area by war-like Indians to the north and west. And after they made their homes here they were gentle and peaceful rather than fierce and warlike. Careful study of Ionia County's early history reveals no Indian massacres or scalpings. True, when people disappeared, died mysteriously or pioneered cabins burned, blame was often placed upon the Indians but never really proven.

Most of the Indians were friendly to their new neighbors, the white men. It was an Indian who ferried Mr. Morse, the first settler in the Belding area across the Flat River so he could select land midway between Belding and Cooks Corners for the first home hereabouts. Our early settlers, busy clearing the land and buildings homes, welcomed the wandering Indians who came to their cabins bartering fish, venison, furs, or moccasins.

Those simple childlike redmen seemed at times rude and often unmannerly and often shocked our pioneer ancestors. How would you like to wake up some stormy morning and find two or three blanket-wrapped Indians asleep on the floor before the fireplace - visitors who had entered your home during the night? Or can we blame the pioneer mothers for being cross when Indians stole great slabs of bacon ("Napnee") or a whole batch of freshly-baked bread! Indians were very sociable people and loved going visiting and having parties. In some parts of our country such parties were called pot-latches. An Indian, even if very poor, would plan a pot-latch and invite all his friends - often spending all his money and trading off his belongings in order to make the party something very special.

Speaking of parties, do you remember what you had last year for Thanksgiving dinner? Turkey, squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, or perhaps strawberry shortcake? All were first grown by the Indians and are the same foods that they enjoyed in their feasts.

As more and more settlers came to Michigan the Indians were crowded out of this area and went to live on reservations, land set aside for their use, farther north. However, many of them frequently returned to the lakes and streams around Belding to gather willow and hickory withes used in basket making, to search for herbs along the shores of Wabasis lake and as late as 1879, to cut bark and make canoes near Kiddville.

Today only a few thousand full-blooded Indians remain in Michigan. They live in houses like ours, attend our schools, speak or language, and dress like us. It is sad to relate, but few of the younger generation cherish the traditions and skills of their ancestors. During the depression of the 30's the WPA had to teach the Indians how to make baskets.

Today when visiting Good Hart of Cross Village, Indian settlements in the northwestern part of the Lower Peninsula, we see on the streets or in charge of gifts shops many in authentic costume. However, after the tourists have departed they quickly rid themselves of their picturesque garb and perhaps drive away in a new car.

Few, if any Indians live hereabouts but reminders that this was their one-time home - their trails, their garden plots their artifacts, and the towns and rivers bearing their name - still are to be found.
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End of Chapter II

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• [Belding] Chapter II Part Two by "Kimberly Pennock" <>