Every once in a while an Indian (read American Indian) will give a friend or family member a nickname. Sometimes these names are given just for fun, other times they are given to help that person be humble. “Dances With Wolves” comes to mind.
I actually know some of my aunts and uncles by their nicknames: Ishky, Bunny, and Boogens are three.
I told my wife that I finally figured out what her Indian nickname was.
“Well, what is it?”, she asked.
“Too Many Pillows”, I said.
She laughed… because she knew it was true.
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I recently came across this picture of my grandfather, Benjamin Odawa Littlecreek posing with a group of unknown men. I would like to know who they are. He traveled extensively during the winters when he wasn’t working at his Trading Post at Itaska State Park in Minnesota. He often went to other countries. He worked at Itaska from about 1947 to at least 1960 (That’s when I think I was about 5 when I saw him there). So I believe this was taken during that time period–most likely from the thin ties I would say in the fifties. At least it gives people a general period around which to look.
A Mystery Solved
Posted in American Indian, Anishinabe, Chippewa, Culture, Genealogy, Indian Values, Minnesota, Native American, Photography, Stories, Uncategorized, tagged Commentary, Culture, Family, Family History, Genealogy, Humor, Journal, Musings, My-life, Opinion, Photography, Reflection, Stories, Thoughts on August 24, 2017| 10 Comments »
I found this picture while searching for family photos at the Minnesota Historical Society way back in ’77. (1977, not 1877)
Grampa Ben with Bob Hope
I managed to find out where I could write to Bob Hope at the time and sent him a copy, hoping that he might have some information about it. I received this letter from him along with my returned photo.
Mr. Hope couldn’t provide me with any new information except to suggest it may have been taken in a studio. (I was thinking Cali-for-nii-aa) but I was pleased nonetheless to have received a personal letter back along with his autograph!
I recently signed up for a five day free trial of Newspapers.com (I needed a credit card but was told how I could easily cancel my trial before the five days were up.)
During that period, I pretty much dedicated myself to looking up as many possible Ancestor references for myself and friends who were interested. I probably looked at a thousand possible articles and was rewarded with a score or more, which I “Clipped” and then downloaded. This was one of them.
Yep, same top hat, same sport coat, same two people. BINGO!!! Mystery solved.
Part of the article reads:
“Forever a gagster, Bob Hope invaded Minneapolis Monday. He put on a two-hour stage show in Minneapolis Auditorium. Sang a duet with Mayor Eric G. Hoyer, said nasty things about Bing Crosby, and was made an honorary Indian. Most of the shenanigans took place in Nicollet Hotel, where, among other things, the ski-nosed comedian attended a dinner put on by the Theadore Peterson American Legion Post.
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In Picture below, Hope meets Chief Ben Littlecreek of the Red Lake Chippewa Indian Tribe. Hope made the Chief an honorary “Paleface”, from the movie by the same name.”
As a side note, I like Hope’s irony here. That’s the first time I’ve heard of an Indian being made an honorary Paleface!
All kidding aside, for you genealogy buffs out there, Try the Newspaper.com free Trial. It was worth it! (And, they actually made cancelling the trial easy!) All irony aside, I will pay for a subscription–which I can get for just one month if I want–should I need to research other ancestors in the future.
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