Noahquageshik facts for kids
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Noahquageshik (born around 1755–1770, died around 1840–1855), also known as Chief Noonday, was an important leader of the Grand River Band of the Ottawa Nation. The Ottawa are a group of Native American people. Chief Noonday lived in what is now the state of Michigan. His name, Noahquageshik, means "Noon-day" or "Noon-sky."
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Life of Chief Noonday
Noahquageshik spent much of his life in an area that is now Yankee Springs Township in western Michigan. He was one of the first Native American leaders in his area to start trading with European settlers.
Battles and Alliances
In 1794, Noahquageshik took part in the Battle of Fallen Timbers. This was the last major battle of the Northwest Indian War, a conflict between Native American groups and the United States.
During the War of 1812, Noahquageshik fought alongside Tecumseh. Tecumseh was a famous Shawnee warrior and leader. They fought together in the Battle of the Thames. After Tecumseh was killed in this battle, Noahquageshik received his tomahawk and hat.
Treaties and Land Sales
In 1821, some Ottawa leaders, including Noahquageshik's fellow leader Keewaycooshcum, met with U.S. representatives in Chicago. They discussed selling tribal lands south of the Grand River. Noahquageshik did not want to sell the land and disagreed with the treaty. However, other Ottawa leaders signed the treaty. This treaty later led to the forced removal of the neighboring Potawatomi people, an event known as the Trail of Death.
By 1836, there was a concern that another Ottawa group might sell the Grand River Ottawa's land north of the river. Because of this, Noahquageshik and other leaders wrote a letter to President Andrew Jackson. They stated that they would not give up any land or move west of the Mississippi River.
However, after a very hard winter and a year-long outbreak of smallpox, the Grand River Ottawa's position was much weaker. In March 1836, about two dozen Ottawa leaders traveled to Washington, D.C. to talk about a new treaty. The resulting treaty meant the Ottawa agreed to sell their Grand River lands to the United States. In return, they would get reservations for five years in western Michigan, regular payments, hunting rights, and tools for farming. Noahquageshik was not in Washington for the treaty, but he was named a "first class" leader and was to receive $500 each year for his tribe.
Religious Beliefs and Community Changes
As part of the 1821 treaty, the United States provided money for the Grand River Ottawa to build a school and a missionary in Grand Rapids. Noahquageshik led a village in Grand Rapids called Bowting. He invited Reverend Leonard Slater, a Baptist missionary, to build a mission there. Some members of the Grand River Ottawa criticized Noahquageshik for accepting and spending the treaty money given by the missionaries.
In 1837, after the Treaty of Washington, the Ottawa at Bowting split up over how the tribe should be managed. The Ottawa who followed the Baptist faith left with Noahquageshik. They created a new settlement called the "Ottawa Colony" in what is now Prairieville Township. Other Ottawa, including those who were Catholic or followed traditional beliefs, went with Noahquageshik's son-in-law, Megis Ininne.
Chief Noonday's Legacy
Today, several places are named after Chief Noonday. These include the Chief Noonday Outdoor Center and the Chief Noonday Recreational Heritage Route in Michigan.
In 2010, a sculptor named Antonio Tobias Mendez created a seven-foot-tall bronze statue of Chief Noonday. This statue is located near Grand Valley State University's Eberhard Center, along the Grand River in Grand Rapids. It is part of the Grand Rapids Community Legends Program, which aims to educate people about important local historical figures through sculptures.
