Eight miles long and four miles wide, Grand Island lies off the south shore of Lake Superior. It was once home to a sizable community of Chippewa Indians who lived in harmony with the land and with each other. Their tragic demise began early in the nineteenth century when their fellow tribesmen from the mainland goaded them into waging war against rival Sioux. The war party was decimated; only one young brave, Powers of the Air, lived to tell the story that celebrated the heroism of his band and formed the basis of the legend that survives today. Distinguished historian Loren R. Graham has spent more than forty years researching and reconstructing the poignant tale of Powers of the Air and his people. A Face in the Rock is an artful melding of human history and natural history; it is a fascinating narrative of the intimate relation between place and people.
Powers of the Air lived to witness the desecration of Grand Island by the fur and logging industries, the Christianization of the tribe, and the near total loss of the Chippewa language, history, and culture. Graham charts the plight of the Chippewa as white culture steadily encroaches, forcing the native people off the island and dispersing their community on the mainland. The story ends with happier events of the past two decades, including the protection of Grand Island within the National Forest system, and the resurgence of Chippewa culture.
A Face in the Rock The Tale of a Grand Island Chippewa
About the Book
Reviews
"Loren Graham's steady vision and painstaking research result in a fascinating and poignant story. A Face in the Rock is very true, very touching."—Louise Erdrich, author of The Bingo PalaceTable of Contents
PROLOGUE
The Idyllic Life
From Peace to War
The Battle of the Cavern
A Song for the Dead
A Partridge for Pearl-Whisper
Hunger
From Culture to Commodities
Spreading the Legend
Creating Hiawatha
Settling the Island
Cunning versus War
Shooting the Totem
Shining the Light
Spreading the Gospel
Returning to Trout Bay
EPILOGUE: DECLINE AND RENEWAL
Sources
Acknowledgments
Index
Awards
- Stuart D. and Venice Gross Award for Excellence in Literature, Saginaw Valley State University
- Folio Award for its contribution to Michigan history, Michigan Historical Society