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"Boozhoo!" Means "Hello!"

"Boozhoo!" is a Potawatomi phrase for "Hello, friends!"  Before Europeans settled in Northern Indiana, the area was settled by the Native tribe, Potawatomi.

Native American history is passed down generations in oration, or the telling of stories. According to the oration of the Potawatomi history, they originated in Wisconsin and moved east into northern Indiana and southern Michigan. [1]

The Potawatomi people were part of a larger tribe called, Anishinabe, or "original people." This tribe split into three groups: Chippewa: Keepers of the Faith, Ottawa: Keepers of the Trade, and Potawatomi: Keepers of the Fire.

The split in the tribe led to the three groups separating the land that was once communal, or belonging to all the people.  The Potawatomi took the land that is now southwestern Michigan, southeastern Wisconsin, northwestern Ohio, and northern Indiana and Illinois.

Years later the American government held the policy of Manifest Destiny. They believed that they should own the entire continent. As they pushed farther and farther west, the natives were moved from their land to reservations in Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Manifest Destiny led to the passing of the Indian Removal Act in 1830. The natives from Georgia and Virginia were moved to Oklahoma in 1838-1839. This well-known movement is called the Trail of Tears. That same year, the Potawatomi were moved out west to Kansas in the less known but just as grave Trail of Death. [2]

In the late1830s, Leopold Pokagon argued that Catholic Potawatomi people should not be removed from the area. He set up a church that was ministered by the Holy Cross Fathers of Notre Dame, Indiana. Pokagon Potawatomi tribe re-settled in southwest Michigan and northwest Indiana. [3]

Indiana was accepting of Potawatomi people, but Michigan was still unreceptive to them. Leopold Pokagon continued his argument until his death in 1841. After his death, the Michigan Supreme Court granted the descendants of Leopold Pokagon property in southwest Michigan. [3]

To learn more about the Potawatomi that lived in this area, check out the references.

[1] "Potawatomi Indians - Neshnabek Nations, Bands and Clans," AAA Native Hearts, http://potawatomi.aaanativearts.com/

[2] "History of 1838 Trail of Death," Trail of Death Association, http://www.potawatomi-tda.org/ptodhist.htm

[3] John N. Low, "Keeper’s of the Fire: The Pokagon Potawatomi Nation" (PDF document, A Joint Exhibition of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indian Nation and the Museum at Southwestern Michigan College, June 21- December 29 2006), http://www.pokagon.com/presentation/SMCppt_20080112.pdf

Diana of the Dunes

It is night time on the lakeshore. You see a ghostly image of a woman running along shoreline. She runs into the water and disappears.

Many people claim to have seen this exact thing, but who is this woman?

According to local legend, the woman running along the lakeshore is Alice Gray, who was sometimes described as a "nymph" roaming the beach.

In the early 1900s, the beauty of the Indiana Dunes attracted many writers, artists, and bohemians. One of these was Alice Gray, who came to be known Diana of the Dunes.

Alice, born in 1881, grew up in Chicago and went on to attend the University of Chicago. While at University, she got swept up in the Chicago Renaissance movement. This movement was inspired by the chaos of the city and the open beauty of the Indiana Dunes. It began with many great Americans, like poet Carl Sandburg and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams.

After she graduated from the University of Chicago in 1903, Alice Gray studied in Germany. There, she got involved in a movement, "Birds of Passing." It was a community of young adults who gave up their material possessions and lived in nature.

When Alice returned to Chicago, she worked as a secretary at an astronomy magazine. In this time period, women were not given the same opportunities as men. About her life in Chicago, Alice said, "The life of a salary earner in the cities is slavery, a constant fight for the means of living." In 1915, she escaped normal society to live off the land of the Indiana Dunes.

As the Dunes were being taken over by factories and ports, Alice began fighting to save the nature of the Dunes. She caught the attention of many newspaper reporters, and eventually, the newspapers began calling her "Diana of the Dunes."

Alice met and married Paul Wilson, who was known for having a violent temper and being in trouble with the law. The two moved into a shack in Ogden Dunes and called it "Wren’s Nest." Several times, the couple tried to move to Texas, but the Dunes called Alice back to Wren’s Nest every time.

When Alice died, many believe it was Alice’s wish have her ashes scattered across the Indiana Dunes. Paul Wilson refused to do this. Instead, he had her body buried in the Gary cemetery.

To this day, Alice Gray, “Diana of the Dunes,” is a topic of conversation and local lore along the lakeshore that she loved so much.

Note: The above story is local legend only, and is not presented for historical accuracy.

Read more about Diana of the Dunes:
http://chestertontribune.com/Local%20History/alice_gray.htm

More Local History

To find out more about the history of the Duneland area, visit:

• Chesterton Tribune - Local History
• Historic Landmarks of the National Lakeshore
• Westchester Township History Museum

Homework

Discovery (Grades K-12)
Rose Hulman Institute of Technology (Grades 7-12 and College)

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World Almanac for Kids (Grades K-12)
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Events for Kids & Families on the Duneland Calendar

Fri03FebWiggles & Giggles: Wiggles & Giggles is a story time for children two-three years of age and… Details >

Sat04FebDouglas Center Family Day: Enjoy the hands-on, family activities available at the Indiana Dunes National… Details >

Sat04FebWinter Beach Walk at the Indiana Dunes: Meet the park interpreter at the beach pavilion of the Indiana Dunes State Park… Details >

Sat04FebSnow Shoe Hike at the Indiana Dunes: Please join a ranger at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore's Calumet Dune… Details >

Sat04FebCSI: Owls! at the Indiana Dunes State Park: Swoop into the Nature Center of the Indiana Dunes State Park for an opportunity… Details >

Sat04FebSaturday Night Ski-in: Enjoy the dunes under a bright moon tonight! Meet the naturalist at the Nature… Details >

Sat04FebHappy Teeth at Thomas Library:  Westchester Public Library is the place for Happy Teeth!  Join local… Details >

Sun05FebKids Fun: Join an Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Ranger for an afternoon of fun kids… Details >

Sun05FebWinter Nature Crafts at the Indiana Dunes: Join the Naturalist at the Nature Center of the Indiana Dunes State Park this… Details >

Sun05FebA Big Bowl Hike at the Indiana Dunes: Bring your favorite team’s colors and join the Naturalist for a refreshing… Details >

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