A Face in the Rock: The Tale of a Grand Island Chippewa

Eight miles long, four miles wide, Grand Island lies off the south shore of Lake Superior, near Munising, Mich. One of its scenic features is the Pictured Rocks, and it is the locale of Hiawatha. Grand Island was once home to a small band of peaceful Chippewa whose decline began during the 1830s when their mainland brethren goaded them to join in fighting the Sioux. Only one islander survived the battle-Little Duck, who became Powers of the Air. Shortly thereafter, the Chippewa abandoned the Island. Graham (The Ghost of the Executed Engineer) offers a fine piece of local history and a vivid account of white encroachment, desecration of natural resources and degradation of the Chippewa-all within the lifetime of Powers of the Air. Graham concludes his story on a positive note: since the mid-1970s, the Chippewa have undergone a resurgence, and Grand Island is now part of the National Forest system. Illustrated. (July)