SONGS OF THE LAC DU FLAMBEAU RESERVATION 



In the north-central part of Wisconsm, about 80 miles southeast 

 of Ashland, is the Lac du Flambeau Chippewa Reservation, formerly 

 under the La Pointe Agency, but now in charge of the school super- 

 intendent. It is a beautiful region of pine forests and quiet lakes, 

 A typical forest on the reservation is shown in plate 24. The prin- 

 cipal Chippewa village (pi. 25) is several miles from the agency. The 

 ceremonies of the Mide'wiwin are held regularly and many other native 

 customs are perpetuated. The gathering of wild rice forms an absorb- 

 ing mterest m autumn, followed by hunting expeditions. Deer are 

 plentiful on the reservation and bears are not infrequent trophies of 

 the chase. With these native avocations is mingled much that has 

 been taught by the Government, many of the Indians cultivating 

 little farms and even shipping potatoes with due regard to their 

 market value. 



E'niwiib'e ("sits farther along"), plate 26, the singer of many songs 

 in the present series, is the owner of two houses, one in the Indian 

 village, and one on his farm where he spends the summer. This 

 farm of 4 or 5 acres is cultivated to the best of his ability. His house 

 in the Indian village is ready for occupancy at any time, but he 

 spends the long cold winter at his son's home near the agency. His 

 own team of horses furnishes conveyance for himself and family when 

 there is a gathermg of Indians on a distant part of the reservation. 

 He has never complained of being cheated by the white man, for he 

 has been able to take care of his own interests. In liis contact with 

 civilization he has conceded comparatively little and gained much, 

 standing to-day as a type of native manhood respected by all who 

 know him. 



Mec'kawdga'bau ("stands firmly"), plate 20, another singer, has a 

 house and a few acres of cultivated land near the Indian village. The 

 phonograph was taken to his house for recording many of liis songs, 

 which include those of the Drum-presentation Ceremony. His wife, 

 Dji'sia'sino'kwe ("deceiving woman"), also sang two love songs, 

 naively insisting that her husband depart while she recorded them, to 

 be recalled when they were played on the phonograph. 



Seventy-five songs were recorded at Lac du Flambeau. The per- 

 sonality of the other singers is described in connection with the 

 analyses of the songs. 

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