Indian Point now , called Colonial Point, had been granted to the Indians by the government and the Indians lived there, in their log cabins , paying no taxes. Most of the families had a sewing machine and other conveniences. They had a good frame church, which they built themselves. Their priest traveled from Harbor Springs and when he came, services lasted all weekend.
They also had a school and a teacher for their children. Irene Train [ Mosser ] taught the school in 1899. She wrote this about the children ‘’ Like all young children, the Indian children liked fun and the boys especially liked teasing the newcomers. Amos Shawa, a good natured boy, delighted in hiding in the woods, imitating a hoot-owl call till the curious youngsters hunted him out. Or, early in the morning we would be awakened by a lusty crowing and our searching would turn up Amos as the rooster. often perched on top of the barn.’’
Part of the time the teacher stayed at Mrs. Nonqueslana’s house. The teacher wrote, ‘’She was a very clean housekeeper and a plain cook, and very good to me, as were the others in the family. John, the eldest son in the family, would say ‘’ you go now’’ and he would walk ahead of me to make a path in the knee deep snow.’’
All the men were good hunters. One night they brought the deer they had killed into the living room and laid it at my feet, much to my surprise.’’ In 1910 there were about 27 Indian families in the Burt Lake Community. There were 2 white families, the Griswolds, Mrs. Griswold was an Indian, and the J. A. Butlers.
The Indians gave suppers the first of November. They decorated their graves with paper flowers that they had made. These were primarily religious customs but they were colored by the Indian character. Most families gave a supper in memory of those who had died. The ones eating the supper were to think of someone that they wished to honor. They could eat many of these feasts in one night, going from one home to another. Of course, the women did the cooking!
Later Amos Shawa and his wife were in the cast of Indians who presented the play,’’Hiawatha,’’ in Emmett County, on Round Lake. There were many more Indians in Emmett County than in Cheboygan County. For 11 years, for 5 weeks each summer, travelers on the Inland Route could see the Hiawatha Pageant in the early 1900’s.
Elizabeth Nonqueslaua was a lovely Indian woman. She made delicious cornmeal cakes for breakfast and lovely quilts. Laura Butler taught the Indian school in 1918 and she lived with Elizabeth. Laura said this concerning the Burt Lake Indian Community at that time, following the burning of most of the Indian homes by whites, ‘’ Only 2 0f the old houses are standing , one , the house of Jonas Shenanequet where his son- in- law lives. All of the others have decayed, burned or fallen to pieces. Some new ones have been built for children or grandchildren of the old timers. Many of the young ones have gone to the cities to live and the Burt Lake Indian Settlement remains only a memory to a few of us.‘’
The peaceful Indians who had helped Cheboygan Counties early immigrants so much are now greatly diminished in size. We owe them our respect and gratitude.