Wondrous Women—Wonder Wedneday

Photo: c. 1890 Courtesy Andrew J. Blackbird

It's WONDER Wednesday!

This weeks WONDER Wednesday is our fourth part of our annual series on WONDROUS WOMEN! Here we celebrate Women’s History Month with a nod to local women in the past and present who have helped shape our community.

This week’s WONDROUS WOMAN is Ogabigijiakwe, or Margaret Macketenenessy Boyd. Chances are you've never heard of her, but if you live near Harbor Springs you may be familiar with her more famous brother, Andrew Macketenessy Blackbird, for whom a museum and an elementary school are named. But Ogabigijiakwe deserves recognition in her own right. As you'll see, she lived a life of bravery, conviction and resourcefulness.

ROOTED IN WEQUEDONSING
Ogabigijiakwe was born around 1817 in Wequedonsing (Harbor Springs) and descended from Chief Ogemuk, who is thought to be the founder of the area. Ogabigijiakwe would leave the area for a short time to pursue education but would spend the majority of her life in Wequedonsing and show unwavering commitment to the land and its people.

MULTILINGUAL, MULTICULTURAL
In 1825, Ogabigijiakwe, two brothers (including Andrew) and a cousin were sent to Catholic school in Cincinnati. The Odawa elders had chosen them to receive a religious education. Perhaps the primary reason was that it behooved them to have young people in their community as emissaries straddling the two worlds. Ogabigijiakwe finished her education and became a school teacher, first in Detroit and then upon returning to Wequedonsing. She married Joseph Boyd and started a family and farm.

OGEMA
(Ogema means leader in Anishnaabemowin) Like her brother Andrew, Ogabigijiakwe used her language skills and cultural understanding to help Odawa families. In this era, the Odawas survived many attempts at removal despite the 1855 treaty that gave them the right to stay in their homeland. Ogabigijiakwe wrote countless letters to state officials, pleading their case. But by 1876, she wanted to do more than write letters. Ogabigijiakwe embarked on a train trip to Washington DC for an audience with President Ulysses S. Grant. Her skill in quill work and basket making paid her way. Unfortunately, it's said that President Grant barely acknowledged her. Undeterred, she returned home to Wequedonsing where she devoted the rest of her life to helping Odawa families.