Old Mackinaw; Or, The Fortress of the Lakes and its Surroundings

"Old Mackinaw; Or, The Fortress of the Lakes and its Surroundings" by W. P. (William Peter) Strickland is a 19th-century narration that uncovers the multifaceted story of the Mackinaw area. It starts with the myths of the local Indigenous peoples, and it moves to the relationships among different tribes and the coming of European colonizers and religious leaders. Important people in the story include members of the Ojibwa and Ottawa tribes, as well as well-known figures from history like Jean Marquette. The book begins by pulling readers into the attractive history connected to Mackinaw. This history includes important Native American myths, significant people like Hiawatha, explorers, and missionaries. It also talks about tribal traditions and spiritual beliefs, such as the heroic actions of warriors like San-ge-man. Strickland prepares us to understand how important Mackinaw is, both culturally and historically, as the region grows and changes. This will lead to later explorations of how it transitioned from a Native stronghold to a French, and then English, settlement. The introduction creates a fascinating groundwork for anyone interested in how Indigenous and colonial histories come together in North America.