Jill - Thank you for this article. My husband is a descendent of Marguerite and Jacob (on his mother’s side of the family). We have visited the cemetery several times and also saw the play at the History Theatre in St. Paul. He has done some research on the family history and might be able to add some information to what you already have. If you are interested, let me know.
Hi Karen. I am a descendent of them as well. Their son Edward is my mom's great grandpa. I would love to know if your husband has any pictures of our family from those times.
Thanks for reading and connecting here. Given your last name, I have to ask whether you are related to Marci Rendon, one of my favorite Minnesota mystery novelists.
Wow! I hadn't known about this play. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Another reader (thanks Heidi in South Mpls) sent me a link to a Twin Cities Public TV segment on George Bonga https://www.tpt.org/north-star-minnesotas-black-pioneers/video/bonga-7951/ Someone could do a biography on George Bonga alone. He wrote to Schoolcraft to recommend his brother-in-law Ozaawindib (Jacob Fahlstrom) as a guide to help him get to the headwaters of the Mississippi. Appreciate knowing about this theatrical production and how fortunate to have seen it.
Fascinating in so many respects! But this guy: "Schoolcraft took credit for finding the headwater of the mighty river ... even though he was taken there by a Swede in a canoe who already knew where it was because he learned from the Ojibway who lived there."
So interesting, Jill! I'm glad to know of this tolerance and inclusion. It makes so much sense when settlers created a new life far from their original families and cultures. Also, I also that women had to keep businesses going when men traveled. And it's sad. but not surprising that settlers took credit for what the Ojibwe already knew about the river. You've done an incredible job gathering all this information and sharing it.
Henry Schoolcraft was more of an explorer and entrepeneur than a settler himself. So much of history has been written about those who claim to have "discovered" land. As though the land were lost. I discovered women had originally been banned from the Hudson Bay Company trading posts, but they couldn't function without women and rescinded the rule.
This entry has my head spinning due to all you have discovered since your last posting.
I would only respectfully change your last sentence by adding one word:
“The Swedish, Ojibway, and African heritage in the Fahlström-Bonga family story shows me some people have always seen each other as human, and worthy of love and respect.”
I say this because of your report of the novel (which I would call historical fiction):
“Kingsblood notices his neighbors treat him differently when they learn of his lineage and force him to move out of his all-white neighborhood. The novel invites readers to think about conformity to social norms when it comes to pride in heritage.” It just seems to me that along the way we discover some social norms practiced that are evidence that “some people did not see others as worthy of love and respect.”
P.S. I am going to suggest to Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. that he read your postings!
Good point. Not everyone sees others as worthy of love and respect. It begs the question of which social norms demand conformity in thought and behavior and which social norms emerge from shared values and common aspirations. I'd like to think our ability to treat each other with kindness can be exercised without forms of social control or coercion.
Thank you for taking us on this journey with you. I appreciate seeing your creative writing and research/journalism talents merge in this important project.
I grew up hearing the story of the Mississippi headwaters, but this is the fascinating truth! Thanks for another wonderfully researched and told piece!
Jill - Thank you for this article. My husband is a descendent of Marguerite and Jacob (on his mother’s side of the family). We have visited the cemetery several times and also saw the play at the History Theatre in St. Paul. He has done some research on the family history and might be able to add some information to what you already have. If you are interested, let me know.
Hi Karen. I am a descendent of them as well. Their son Edward is my mom's great grandpa. I would love to know if your husband has any pictures of our family from those times.
Thanks for reading and connecting here. Given your last name, I have to ask whether you are related to Marci Rendon, one of my favorite Minnesota mystery novelists.
Yes. That's my mother.
She's an amazing writer! But I imagine you hear that all the time. Thanks for reading and becoming a new subscriber!
Thank you Karen for your comment and I would welcome knowing more about the family history. Yes, please!
https://www.historytheatre.com/2015-2016/george-bonga
This was an amazing play..hope it comes back sometime.
Wow! I hadn't known about this play. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Another reader (thanks Heidi in South Mpls) sent me a link to a Twin Cities Public TV segment on George Bonga https://www.tpt.org/north-star-minnesotas-black-pioneers/video/bonga-7951/ Someone could do a biography on George Bonga alone. He wrote to Schoolcraft to recommend his brother-in-law Ozaawindib (Jacob Fahlstrom) as a guide to help him get to the headwaters of the Mississippi. Appreciate knowing about this theatrical production and how fortunate to have seen it.
Fascinating in so many respects! But this guy: "Schoolcraft took credit for finding the headwater of the mighty river ... even though he was taken there by a Swede in a canoe who already knew where it was because he learned from the Ojibway who lived there."
Schoolcraft is a fascinating figure in American history whose biography is yet to be written.
So interesting, Jill! I'm glad to know of this tolerance and inclusion. It makes so much sense when settlers created a new life far from their original families and cultures. Also, I also that women had to keep businesses going when men traveled. And it's sad. but not surprising that settlers took credit for what the Ojibwe already knew about the river. You've done an incredible job gathering all this information and sharing it.
Henry Schoolcraft was more of an explorer and entrepeneur than a settler himself. So much of history has been written about those who claim to have "discovered" land. As though the land were lost. I discovered women had originally been banned from the Hudson Bay Company trading posts, but they couldn't function without women and rescinded the rule.
This entry has my head spinning due to all you have discovered since your last posting.
I would only respectfully change your last sentence by adding one word:
“The Swedish, Ojibway, and African heritage in the Fahlström-Bonga family story shows me some people have always seen each other as human, and worthy of love and respect.”
I say this because of your report of the novel (which I would call historical fiction):
“Kingsblood notices his neighbors treat him differently when they learn of his lineage and force him to move out of his all-white neighborhood. The novel invites readers to think about conformity to social norms when it comes to pride in heritage.” It just seems to me that along the way we discover some social norms practiced that are evidence that “some people did not see others as worthy of love and respect.”
P.S. I am going to suggest to Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. that he read your postings!
Good point. Not everyone sees others as worthy of love and respect. It begs the question of which social norms demand conformity in thought and behavior and which social norms emerge from shared values and common aspirations. I'd like to think our ability to treat each other with kindness can be exercised without forms of social control or coercion.
Thank you for taking us on this journey with you. I appreciate seeing your creative writing and research/journalism talents merge in this important project.
I appreciate your kind comment. Thanks for taking the journey with me.
Wonderful message for the time we live in, too!
I grew up hearing the story of the Mississippi headwaters, but this is the fascinating truth! Thanks for another wonderfully researched and told piece!
Thanks, Lori. The unexpected stories are the reward for chasing down the facts.
wow!!
right? and look at Marguerite's and Jacob's hands in that photo. Big. Strong. Hard-working people.