Zheewegonab facts for kids

Zheewegonab (also called Shewaquonap or Sheawaquanep) was an important leader among the northern Ojibwe people. He was active between about 1780 and 1805. He played a key role in the fur trade during his time.

Who Was Zheewegonab?

Zheewegonab was the son of Nonosecash, who was also a leader of an Ojibwe group. In 1766, Nonosecash's group had about 30 people. Sadly, Nonosecash was killed around 1772 or 1773. His brother was killed about a year later. It was likely around this time that Zheewegonab became a leader himself.

Starting His Trading Journey

We don't have any records of Zheewegonab until 1780. That year, a man named John Kipling from the Gloucester House trading post at Washi Lake wrote about trading with Zheewegonab. Zheewegonab came back to trade again in 1781. He said he was happy with how he was treated there.

A serious illness called smallpox spread in 1781 and 1782. It greatly affected Zheewegonab's group, and many people died. Because of this, his group couldn't trade furs during that time. They returned to Gloucester House in 1783, but found it empty. So, Zheewegonab decided to trade his furs with traders from Montreal instead.

Changing Trading Partners

In 1784, James Sutherland from the Hudson's Bay Company met Zheewegonab. Sutherland found Zheewegonab and another leader named Cannematchie near Pashkokogan Lake. When Sutherland heard that Zheewegonab had started trading with Montreal traders, he asked him to come back to Gloucester House.

To make a deal, Sutherland and Zheewegonab shared a calumet (a special pipe used in ceremonies). They also exchanged gifts, including guns. After a dance and a feast, Zheewegonab agreed to trade with Gloucester House again.

A Smart Trader

During the 1780s and 1790s, Zheewegonab's group hunted around the north side of Lake St. Joseph. When the Hudson's Bay Company built Osnaburgh House in 1786, Zheewegonab often traded there. However, he was also smart and traded with the North West Company if they offered him a better deal.

Zheewegonab asked the Hudson's Bay Company to build a trading post 90 miles west of Osnaburgh House. When they didn't, he started trading with the North West Company even more often. John McKay, who managed trade at Osnaburgh House, wasn't sure if the furs Zheewegonab brought in always made money. But Zheewegonab was a very active trader. He was known as "the chief Captain at Osnaburgh" in the 1790s and early 1800s because of his influence.

Zheewegonab is not mentioned in any records after 1805. He may have passed away or simply stopped being a leader around that time.