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“Mama Nel” comforts Richie “Powekonnay” Plass after the first day of his Menominee “Trail of Tears” walk. Most of the walkers took rides when they needed them. -Pete Christianson photo |
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Their Own Trail of Tears
from the pay grounds near Winneconne to Menominee County
By Pete Christianson
Contributing Writer,
The
Winneconne News
The Menominee Indians were “removed” to their reservation in November of 1852. The first treaty they signed allowed them to stay in most of their traditional area for as long as they wanted. The fur trade created a need for European goods and a dependence on European fur traders. It caused them to give up many of their “Indian” ways. Another treaty asked for all their land and required them to move to the Crow Wing territory in Minnesota, as their lands were occupied. A group of them visited the area and found it unsuitable.
They petitioned the government for a better place and were given an area north of Shawano. Many had moved to the south side of Lake Poygan where they would be available for the yearly payments for their lands.
In the late fall of 1852, they were notified that they were expected to make the move. The Indian Agency people were given wagons to move with. The Menominees were expected to go by birch bark canoe or to walk. An early cold spell that year left the Wolf River with a thin layer of ice that cut through the thin birch bark. Of the 2,400 people starting the trip, about half made it to the reservation. Many drowned or succumbed to sickness, and more than a few simply walked away from the group.
Richie Plass lives on the reservation and had an idea to trace that journey from the pay grounds near Winneconne to Menominee County, but walking this time. Plass’ Native American name is “Powekonnay”, meaning “one who changes his feathers.” This was also the name of the chief at the time of the removal.
The idea grew from there and on the first of June, they started their trek near the little sign that tells about the pay grounds in Poygan. In all, about 20 Menominee made the trip, but most went only part of the way, or went home each night.
While at their first night’s stop in Winchester, Plass reflected on his trip through Winneconne. He said he was nearly always greeted in a friendly manner. The police were especially helpful, stopping several times to see if they needed anything. After they got out of town, there were a few cars that sped up, as soon as they got around the group, much the same as an immature driver would do for a school bus.
Just before they got to Winchester, a cold rain started falling. Plass made the decision to gather the walkers into a van and take them to the pavilion in Earl Nelson Park. Meals were provided by support vehicles with “Mama Nel” planning the menus.
Plass, who has agreed to tell stories at the Winchester Area Historical Society’s Rendezvous from September 24 to 26, says he would do the trek again, “if I’m alive in 150 years!”
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