Archaeological evidence indicates Native Americans first visited Burt Lake 2,000 years ago.
The ancestors of the “zhiibaa’igan” (Chaboiganing) Burt Lake Band of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians were the first of the “First Peoples” to make the Tip of the Mitt their year-
round home. They moved to the area permanently several centuries ago, hunting, fishing and growing corn amidst the beautiful land and lakes.
“Zhiibaa’igan” and ”Chaboiganing” both mean “inland passage” in the native language. The inland passage runs almost 40 miles from Conway on Crooked Lake, through the
Crooked River, Burt Lake, Indian River, Mullet Lake and the Cheboygan River to the Straits of Mackinac in present-day Cheboygan.
The passage provided easy access by canoe to rich hunting and fishing grounds.
Today, the passage is still known as the “Inland Waterway.” It remains a lengthy and picturesque route boosting recreation, tourism, winter fishing, and the economy in the Tip pf the Mitt today. Indian Point was an idyllic setting, as those of us who live Up North today understand fully. It was also the cultural center for the Burt Lake Band.
But it was not to be theirs much longer. As European immigrants migrated from New England to the Great Lakes, they seized land that had long been home to Natives Americans.
As a result, the United States negotiated several treaties with Native tribes. U.S. negotiators took advantage of tribal leaders, often deceiving them on how much land they were really planning to take and offering mostly cheap trinkets in exchange. In the Treaty of 1836, the U.S. took possession of the northwestern portion of northern lower Michigan and half of the Upper Peninsula.
Trying to protect even a small portion of their former lands, the Chaboiganing Burt Lake Band purchased more than 300 acres on Indian Point and gave the land in trust to Michigan’s governor, believing he would protect them.
Tribal leaders were keenly aware of the removal of entire tribes from southern Michigan, Indiana and Ohio on trails of tears and death. They most feared forced removal to Kansas, far away from their homes and spiritual lands.
A local author and historian, Helen E. Smith, wrote about those perilous days in her priceless book about early Cheboygan history.
Devout Catholics, the Indians were hard workers. They built a solidly constructed church and dedicated it to St. Mary. Nearby, they also created a Catholic Cemetery, part of which survives. Their priest traveled from Harbor Springs. When he came, services lasted all weekend.
The Indian Point Burt Lake Indians were like many of the white settlers. Many of the families had sewing machines and other modern conveniences. They farmed, hunted, and fished. The men held good-paying professional jobs in the logging industry up near Cheboygan.
They also had a school and teachers for their children. Irene (Mosser) Train taught in 1899. She wrote this about her students, “Like all young children, the Indian children liked fun, and the boys, especially, liked teasing 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, “John, the eldest son in the family, would say ‘’ you go now’’ and he would walk ahead of me to make a path (to school) in the knee-deep snow.’’
Trying to protect even a small portion of their former lands, the Chaboiganing Burt Lake Band purchased more than 300 acres on Indian Point and gave the land in trust to Michigan’s governor.
But they were still not safe.
In 1900, a Cheboygan land speculator purchased rights to their land in a fraudulent land auction. With the help of the Cheboygan Country sheriff, the Indians’ log homes and contents were doused with kerosene and burned to the ground.
Tragically, the land speculator had chosen a workday to perform his ugly deed so all of the men would be faraway at work, unable to come rescue their homes and lands.
Many escaped to the homes of nearby friends and family.
The speculator re-named Indian Point, “Colonial Point,” and started selling lakefront building lots.
To be continued . . .