The Impact of Colonialism on Indian Life in Wisconsin

The Impact of Colonialism on Indian Life in Wisconsin

Introduction

Thousands of movies, TV shows, stories, and even songs have been produced depicting Native American Indians. In addition, at some time in their lives, most children played the game, “Cowboys and Indians.”

Despite the means in which they were portrayed, the interpretation of Native Americans was always the same. They were the quintessential “bad guys,” while white Americans, regardless of their origin, represented the “good guys.” The stories always showed Indians along with bow, arrow and hatchet, attacking the White Man.^[1] The Indians ransacked and pillaged villages, robbed dwellers of their belongs; assaulted, and brutalized townsfolk. However, their primary mission was to murder or mutilate as many people as possible; burn down the town; and abduct and rape white girls and women.

If that wasn’t the case, Native American Indians were viewed as bumbling idiots, who lived in “wigwams,” wore ridiculously audacious feathers, performed “rain dances,” and were constantly drunk. They were mocked, vilified, stereotyped, and never taken seriously. Indians were shown as the enemy, and in many instances still are today.

All the images described above couldn’t be further from the truth. Where, when and why Native American Indians became painted in such a negative picture is a mystery; however, they unquestionably are not the evil beings depicted in the media. In fact, once the Europeans’ settled in America, especially around Wisconsin, the Native Americans became their victims. (Wisconsin Department of Health Services).

Purpose

This thesis will answer questions about consequences Indians experienced once European’s came to America; how they were dominated, demoralized, and exploited by the white men; the impact it had on Indians’ lives, and what affects resulted when treaties were signed. Additionally, this essay will demonstrate that Native American Indians living in Wisconsin, now nor ever were like portrayed in the movies and TV, etc.

One fact people should know there was an overwhelming and destructive influence on all Indian societies, once the Europeans decided to make Wisconsin their home. For the Indians in Wisconsin their entire lives changed radically, and never were the same once the Europeans arrived. (Wisconsin Historical Society).

In the Beginning

Archaeologists have tangible indications that people dwelled in areas now known as Wisconsin, more than 10,000 years ago. (Wisconsin Department of Health Services). Copper tools have been found in northern Wisconsin, from the time period between 4,000 and 12,000 B.C. It confirms they mined copper, transformed it into utensils and tools; numerous millennia before contemporary mining procedures were even a consideration. (Wisconsin Historical Society, 2004).

What’s more, the discovery of effigy mounds^[2] by archaeologists unearthing burial locations, provided more proof that American Indians occupied Wisconsin much longer ago than what was originally believed. (Wisconsin Department of Health Services).

First to Arrive

Samuel de Champlain was the first documented Frenchman to form strong relationships with a tribe of American Indians called Hurons, who lived by the Georgian Bay, in Lake Huron, and collectively instituted the “colony of Quebec in Canada in 1608.” (Indian Country Wisconsin, Relations between the Indians and French).  In his quest to create a flourishing colony and establish strong and secure relations with the Indians, he sent several Frenchmen to different parts of Wisconsin to survey the countryside, and investigate their culture, traditions, rituals, and overall ways they lived. (Jung).

Étienne Brûlé was sent to explore the Great Lakes region, by Champlain in the 1620s, where it is thought he wound up in northern Wisconsin, by Lake Superior. (Indian Country Wisconsin, Relations between the Indians and French). However, there is strong evidence that in 1634, Jean Nicolet disembarked near Green Bay, and truly was the first Frenchman in Wisconsin. His mission was to make peace between the Huron, and a tribe called “the People by the sea,” now called Ho-chunk. It was also believed he looked for the legendary Northwest Passage to Asia. (Indian Country Wisconsin, Relations between the Indians and French).

Nicolet, realizing he was not in Asia, (Indian Country Wisconsin, Relations between the Indians and French).) returned to New France. Twenty-years passed before another Frenchman went to Wisconsin. (Jung).

Immigration from Europe

It was 1654 when the next Frenchman visited Wisconsin. Their main purpose was trading European goods, such as guns, knives and cloths (Jung). for furs, from the Indians.

Soon masses of Frenchmen arrived in Wisconsin, beginning in the 1660s, to trade goods with the Indians, which was desired, as they didn’t have to pay the additional prices of working through the Ottawa “intermediaries,” and could trade in their own villages. Most of the traders were authorized by New France, and licensed to trade. Yet many went into the pay d’en haut, or “upper country” (Jung). (west of Montreal) illegally, to trade. They were called coureur de bois, or “wood runners,” and considered criminals. (Jung).

From 1640 through 1680 chaos ensued for the Indians of Wisconsin.  Dealings with the Europeans caused dislocation and disorder, as many tribes from the east relocated to Wisconsin. (Wisconsin Historical Society). Iroquois from NY infiltrated the Huron to seize their land. Displaced Indians, such as Kickapoo, Mascouten, Sauk, Fox, Ojibwa, Ottawa and Potawatomi swarmed into Wisconsin. Northern Wisconsin and Green Bay drew innumerable Indian refugees. The Ho-chunk and Menominee Indians had it the worst, as they inhabited that region before the surge came. (Indian Country Wisconsin, Relations between the Indians and French). Furthermore, because the Indians had no immunity to germs and bacteria the Europeans brought to Wisconsin, many died. French visitor Bacqueville de la Potherie wrote, “Maladies wrought among them more devastating than even war did, and exhalations from the rotting corpses caused great mortality.” (Wisconsin Historical Society).