The
Sword Of Mookomaanish
By Alan Corbiere
Kinoomaadoog Cultural and Historical Research
M'Chigeeng
At
all of our Pow Wows and many other community events, our Nishnaabe
veterans hold a place of distinction and honour. Throughout the period of
contact with Europeans, our warriors were highly esteemed and much sought
after allies during various wars, and even to this day, the Nishnaabeg's
war time service continues. Although our warriors have been valued on the
battlefield, upon completion of their war time service they have often not
been dealt with in as fair and equitable manner as their non-Native
comrades. Last year's compensation package offered to Native Veteran's
reveal this. Even though the inadequate or unfulfilled pensions of Native
veterans' remains a contemporary issue, it is actually quite an old story
that dates back to at least the War of 1812, as the story of Mookomaanish
testifies.
Mookomaanish, or "Little Knife", was an Odawa Chief of Wikwemikong. He is
the Great-great- grandfather of the Kinoshameg family. During the War of
1812 Mookomaanish was a war chief who fought alongside the British against
the Gchi-mookomaanag - Americans. It is reported that during a battle down
"on the Wabash" river, Mookomaanish was wounded and could not walk. He,
however, was able to capture the young American who wounded him. One of
Mookomaanish's warriors then happened to come by with a horse and conveyed
them back to the garrison. Lieutenant Colonel Robert McDouall wrote the
following letter commending Mookomaanish:
"I do hereby certify that the bearer hereof, the Ottawa Chief, the Little
Knife, is an Indian of a most respectable character, a brave warrior, and
has always been distinguished for his loyalty and attachment to the
British Government. His six brothers are also highly deserving, and I
strongly recommend the whole to kindness and protection of the future
commanding officer of His Majesty on Lake Huron. I perform this duty with
the more pleasure from the noble act of mercy and generosity shown by the
said Chief, the Little Knife, to a young American whom he took prisoner on
the Wabash and who had previously wounded him by not only sparing his
life, but by bringing him with kindness and attention to this garrison. In
testimony of my approbation of his conduct upon this occasion which will
be so gratifying to the King, his Great Father, and to encourage similar
acts of mercy in the future to the vanquished and unresisting, I, in his
name, present him with a silver mounted sword, in token of his merit.
Given under my hand and seal at Michilimackinac this 8th day of June
1815".
Often, the commanding officers had more respect for the war chiefs and
warriors that served with them. McDouall gave Mookomaanish the silver
sword with an ivory handle to commemorate his valour and honourable
conduct. However, fourteen years later at a General Council held in 1829
on St. Joseph's Island, Mookomaanish appealed to British Colonial
officials for his pension. Mookomaanish was told that his claim would be
considered but nothing resulted from that appeal. Ten years later at an
1839 Manitowaning Council, Mookomaanish made another appeal:
"Father I have little more to say. Many years ago when you called upon us
to fight side by side with you and not to fear either wounds or death, you
promised us that the widows and orphans of our warrior's should become
your pensioners, that those who were struck by the shot of the enemy
should, if Chiefs, receive one hundred dollars a year, the others fifty. I
was one of those, whilst fighting against the Long Knives, a ball struck
me and I was unable to walk. My young men placed me upon a horse and
conveyed me to lodge. There are many like me.
Father I am old and infirm I cannot talk long, there are not many steps
between me and the grave, grant me, grant us all our pensions and arrears
and we may then build our houses and live in plenty the few short years we
have left.
This time Mookomaanish was flat out denied his pension. Unfortunately,
this speech could have been an appeal by some of our contemporary veterans
to the Canadian Government. They too, are also getting old and many have
gone on without being able to "live in plenty".
Scholars today debate the motivations of Native veterans for enlisting in
the armed forces, some scholars posit an innate "warrior ethic", others
attribute the high enlistment to the lack of work, however, many
Nishnaabeg enlisted because they had to fight to protect our land, the
land where the bones of our ancestors lie, the land where our people are
born and our freedom. This, I believe, is why Mookomaanish fought
alongside the British against the Americans. The sword is a symbol of the
British's esteem for the Nishnaabe warrior's valour, ethic and prowess.
The Sword of Mookomaanish is on loan from the Canadian War Museum and is
on display at the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation for the month of September
and October.
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