Wabishkee Penas and the Ontonagon Boulder

Wabishkee Penas, the guide that led Lewis Cass and Henry Schoolcraft to the Ontonagon Boulder.

In 1820, Territorial Governor Lewis Cass went on an expedition through Lake Superior to the Mississippi River. The Michigan Territory at the time extended to the great river. Accompanied by Henry Schoolcraft and Douglass Houghton, the expedition had determined to discover the validity of the existence of the legendary Ontonagon Boulder, an object sacred to the Ojibwa.

When the Cass expedition arrived at the mouth of the Ontonagon River, they asked the local natives for a guide. The Cass expedition consisted of native guides and interpreters. One agreed to take them to the boulder. His name was Wabishkee Penas (White Pigeon) and he expertly navigated the rugged Ontonagon River for Cass and his men. Arriving at the boulder, Schoolcraft and Houghton were underwhelmed with the two-ton copper mass. They thought it would be bigger.

When they returned, Governor Cass gave Wabishkee Penas a silver medal for guiding them to the boulder. They then packed up and proceeded further with their explorations. When Wabishkee Penas returned to the tribe he was met with derision. He had done something unforgivable. He gave away the location of the great sacred boulder to outsiders. In a final insult, he was sent away, exiled, ostracized from his tribe, shunned by all.

Col. Thomas McKenney

Col. Thomas L. McKenny, Indian Agent in 1826.

Six years later he reappears at the door of Col. Thomas McKenney insisting on seeing Governor Cass. Cass and McKenney was attending a treaty signing in Fond du Lac, (at that time, Fond du Lac referred to the western part of Lake Superior) Minnesota and Mc Kenney was the current Indian agent. McKenny had set up offices in an old hut. Wabishkee Penas was emaciated and appeared to have spent most of his years hungry. Completely friendless, Wabishkee Penas sought the one person that might still greet him with a smile, Governor Cass. Around his neck still hung the silver medal.

Cass met with him. McKenney had his portrait painted. The resulting portrait is the first illustration above where his starvation and silver medal can be seen. McKenny would release a three-volume book called the “History of the Indian Tribes of North America.” Wabishkee Penas portrait as seen above was published within its pages. For better or for worse forever enshrined in history.

For more information on Thomas McKenney, Click here.

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