Turtle Mountain Chippewa Heritage Center
  • Home
  • The Turtle Mountains
    • The Leaders
    • The Ojibwe people
    • The Metis People
    • Native Hall of Honor
  • Our Culture
    • The Pow Wow
    • Metis Music/Dance
    • Local Foodways
    • Local Music
    • Local Artists
  • Heritage Blog

Battle at the Wild Rice River

3/1/2012

9 Comments

 
Black Duck (Mug-a-dishib) was a brave warrior and sub-chief of the Pembina (Turtle Mountain) Chippewa.  He was considered a great warrior and the defender of the frontier.  He made his village near Stump Lake, ND and also camped and hunted near Fargo, ND. 

Around 1807 Black Duck raised a considerable war-party and proceeded south of Pembina deep into Sioux territory – somewhere near Lake Traverse or Big Stone Lake, SD.  After failing to find the village they were looking for, the majority of the war party abandoned the quest and returned north to Pembina.  Forty warriors stayed with Black Duck and they continued the search for the enemy Sioux.  They eventually found and attacked a large village – killing many Sioux.  It seemed that they would kill everyone, but a friendly Assiniboine travelling with them warned them that reinforcements were coming from a nearby Sioux village. Because they had exhausted their ammunition, Black Duck and his party reluctantly retreated. The Chippewas had not proceeded far, when, on traversing a wide prairie, clouds of dust coming from the direction of their recent massacre told them that their enemy was approaching. Rather than have the entire party killed by the overwhelming Sioux war party, it was decided that the Chippewa would separate and each group try to escape.  Knowing that escape was futile, Black Duck and the remaining handful of warriors who stayed with him decided to meet death together so that the other group could escape.  They seated themselves on the prairie and began smoking their pipes, quietly awaiting the enemy.  Three hundred mounted Sioux warriors dashed up and surrounded them.  The Chippewa engaged the Sioux and the struggle was with knives, tomahawks, and spears.  It was a short and bloody battle. Only one Chippewa escaped to tell the tale.

This final battle happened at the Wild Rice River south of Fargo, ND.  During the middle 1800s Father Genin, a Catholic Priest who served the Chippewa and Metis erected a cross at the site where Black Duck and twelve of his followers fell in their supreme sacrifice.  This location is where the Milwaukee Railroad crosses the Wild Rice River.  Black Duck is almost forgotten today, but his descendants can still be found among the Turtle Mountain Chippewa. 
Picture
The Black Duck was a great warrior

Picture
The Wild Rice River (ND)
9 Comments
glass bongs link
11/9/2012 10:54:05 pm

I think they are first used glass pipes.

Reply
best e cigarette link
1/31/2013 01:05:17 am

Today more and more are using electronic cigarettes.

Reply
Noah Burke link
10/1/2013 06:13:45 am

Interesting read.

Reply
www.gamesforge.eu link
3/5/2014 01:33:58 pm

Awesome blog. I enjoyed reading your articles. This is truly a great read for me. I have Bookmarked i

Reply
replica rolex link
3/30/2014 06:59:18 pm

.I am talking about replica Rolex watches in accurate and replica watches in general.These are moderately priced and for absolutely a few of us,could become our admission to the apple of appearance and fashion.

Reply
chanel replica link
7/8/2014 05:36:52 pm

I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article.

Reply
Ed link
1/10/2019 12:15:09 pm

I am really happy to read this webpage posts which includes
tons of helpful data, thanks for providing these kinds of statistics.

Reply
Darian Agecoutay
10/11/2019 01:50:14 pm

Hello, Makadeshib was my 8th generation grandfather. A branch of his descendants live on the Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada where I am from and grew up. I am wanting to find the exact location of this white cross so I can visit the resting place of my grandfather. Could you please guide me to someone who has this knowledge. mistahi ninanaskomon

Reply
Moody Smith
8/10/2020 10:58:05 am

I am a ascendant of Black Duck. Many are unaware of his travels and his original place of birth. Some of my ancestors came through fort christanna at virginia/nc border. Black Duck family tree originates in NC as quite a few siouan nations descended from the south and frequently traveled north and south such as Black Duck. Chippewa = Anishinaabe, Black Turtle = Lakota. My Grandma recently passed, being a flandreau moody sioux and her mother being full blooded santee high. Many Lakota became Dakota. Eastern carolinian siouans have the deeds to the Black Hills. Black foot = Tar Heel. DarcoTar (Decota) Algonquin El'k Tribe

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Content is provided by Kade M. Ferris M.S.  Kade has a B.A. in anthropology and history from University of North Dakota, and a M.S. degree in anthropology from North Dakota State University.  Kade serves as the Historical Society board Vice President and is a professional historian and anthropologist with over 18 years of experience.  He serves as the THPO and Director of Natural Resources for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, and is the Vice President of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Historical Society Board.

    Archives

    June 2012
    March 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • The Turtle Mountains
    • The Leaders
    • The Ojibwe people
    • The Metis People
    • Native Hall of Honor
  • Our Culture
    • The Pow Wow
    • Metis Music/Dance
    • Local Foodways
    • Local Music
    • Local Artists
  • Heritage Blog