Elizabeth Bertrand facts for kids

Elizabeth Bertrand, also known as Elizabeth Mitchell, was an important Anishinaabe woman. She was a successful fur trader and a leader in her community. She lived near the Straits of Mackinac in the early 1800s. In her own language, Anishinaabe, she was called Omagigiwikway. She became well-known after marrying David Mitchell, a British army surgeon.

Early Life and Family

This map from 1883 shows Mackinac Island. Elizabeth Mitchell's home was on Market Street, in the southern part of the island.

Elizabeth Bertrand was born in the mid-1700s. Her mother was an Ojibwe woman. Her father was a French fur trader. Elizabeth grew up learning the Anishinaabe culture from her mother. She spoke a mix of the Ojibwe and Odawa languages.

In 1776, Elizabeth married David Mitchell. He was a surgeon for the British army. Together, they worked in the fur trade. They soon became one of the richest families in the Great Lakes area. From 1781 to 1811, the Mitchells lived in a large house on Michilimackinac. They had many children there. A writer named Elizabeth Therèse Baird described the Mitchell family. She said they were "prominent, interesting, aristocratic, and wealthy."

Role in the War of 1812

During the War of 1812, Elizabeth Mitchell played a big part. She helped gather Indigenous warriors to fight against the United States. Her efforts were very important. They helped stop the American attack on Mackinac in 1814.

Leaders like Elizabeth Mitchell and Jean-Baptiste Assiginack were very influential. Because of them, American forces often lost battles in the upper Great Lakes region. This happened even when Americans won in other places. After the war, the British government recognized Elizabeth's influence. They gave her 50 pounds a year for two years. This was a lot of money at the time.

Life After the War

Life became harder for the Mitchell family after the War of 1812. The Treaty of Ghent returned Mackinac Island to the Americans. David Mitchell moved with the British army to Drummond Island in July 1815. He worked there as a surgeon. He was part of the British Indian Department.

Elizabeth, however, stayed on Mackinac Island. She wanted to protect their business interests there. The American government was not happy about Elizabeth's role in the war. For several years, U.S. officials tried to stop her from trading furs. Elizabeth complained to the British government about this. But not much changed. Even so, the Mitchells remained successful and important. They had influence on both sides of the new international border.

Elizabeth Bertrand passed away on February 28, 1827. She was visiting her family on Drummond Island at the time.