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Onamia, Minnesota. Heroes don't always wear long capes and jump tall building. many times, they are real-life people who become heroes by saving a culture, being spiritual leaders or fighting for the rights of their people. These are heroes whose stores aren't told in comic books until now.

          The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe announced today the statewide release of "A Hero's Voice", a 24-page comic book with original artwork and storyline. Through the voice of a wise grandfather, the comic book tells the story of six Ojibwe leaders who have shaped the history of the Mille Lacs Band in Northern Minnesota. It carries an important message for both Indian and non-Indian students.

          "This comic book brings together language, culture, history and pride - aspects of Ojibwe education that we want our children to start taking to heart at an early age," said Mille Lacs Band Chief Executive Marge Anderson.

          The Mille Lacs Band released the immensely popular, award-winning video, the Woodlands: The Story of the Mille Lacs Ojibwe in 1994. That was geared toward high school students, while the comic books brings the same type of important historical lessons to the younger students.

"A Hero's Voice"

The Milles Lacs Band distributed A Hero's Voice [this week] to fifth -grade teachers in all of Minnesota's public and private schools. A teacher's guide is available with the comic book, to help teachers integrate these important historical messages about history and heroes into their curricula. While it is designed for use in primary and intermediate schools, it is especially appropriate for fifth-grade students.

          The early reviews from some 11-year-olds had their parents - who have seen the comic book have been positive. "I liked that you don't have to have special powers to be brave," said Melissa Boyd, a Mille Lacs Band member and student at McGregor public school. "And I like that girls can be heroes, too." For Shawna Mitchell, 11, and her mother, Lori, reading the comic book offered a chance to take and spend time together. "I learned from it, too," Lori said. "We read it together and talked about it for a while."

          A Hero's Voice was illustrated by Steve Premo, a Mille Lacs Band member and Paul Fricke, a Twin Cities-based artist. The story was written by Band members Steve Premo and free lance writer Cindy Goff. Band Elder Jim Clark, who defines a hero as "someone who learns and wants to help his people," worked closely with the developers of the book to include the Ojibwe language and a glossary of those words.

          The storyline centers around a young boy named Georgie who is intrigued by the antics of imaginary heroes. His grandfather teaches him, however, that the real heroes are people we meet everyday. They are not people who jump of tall buildings; they are people who have worked hard to make life better for their people.

The Heroes

Waywinabe (Arthur Gahbow)

Arthur Gahbow, or Waywinabe ("seated in a place of honor"), is a contemporary Mille Lacs Band hero. He became chairman of the Mille Lacs Reservation Business Committee in 1972 and led the Band through a difficult - yet in many ways progressive - era in American Indian history. Legislation was being introduced that took aim at American Indians' treaty rights, Indians protested with the "Trail of Broken Treaties" march in Washington, D.C. in 1972, and the confrontation between Indians and the federal government at Wounded Knee in 1973.

          But under Gahbow's leadership, the Band opened the nay Ah Shing School, created social programs for Band members, and implemented special programs for Elders. One of Gahbow's biggest contributions was his involvement in establishment of Grand Casino Mille Lacs, which opened close to the time of his death. The tremendous success of Grand Casino Mille Lacs - and Grand Casino Hinckley, which opened a year later - has helped the Band build a bright future for its People.

Ayshpun (Sam Yankee)

Sam Yankee (known to his People as Ayshpun or "very high above") was elected chairman of the Mille Lacs Reservation Business Committee (RBC) in 1960. It was a time of great change for American Indians, from how funding for Indian programs and services was distributed to a shift in attitudes towards Indian education. But Yankee had already seen so many changes go awry for People that he was suspicious of any new ones.

Naygwanabe

Naygwanabe ("the point of a group of feathers") was an important spiritual and community leader for the Mille Lacs Band during the late nineteenth century. Although he was not a chief, he was a prominent mide', or medicine leaders, which means he possessed the gift of healing.

Shawbashkung

Shawbashkung ("he who passes through") was one of the Mille Lacs Band's most famous chiefs. Through his wisdom and expert negotiation skills, he made sure officials in Washington, D.C. kept the promises they had made in treaties with the Ojibwe.

          In 1855, on behalf of the Mille Lacs Band, Shawbashkung signed what the United States government called "the treaty of peace and friendship." As a part of that treaty, the Mille Lacs People promised not to harm or interfere with white settlers.

Migizi

Migizi ("bald eagle"), Shawbashkung's son, followed in his father great footsteps. A renowned leader, he was later proclaimed chief because of his great contributions to his People.

          By the end of the nineteenth century, the Mille Lacs Band's lands were taken by force, and the People themselves could only remain as "trespassers' on their own territory. Migizi was recorded as saying the following about his People's choices at that time: "First, walk into the waters of the lake and die; second, march aimlessly into the wilderness never to return; and third, fight for the amelioration of these wrongs."

Nodinens

Nodinens ("little wind') was a Mille Lacs Band Elder who spent her childhood and early adult years at Mille Lacs. The accounts of Ojibwe life she gave to ethnologist Frances Densmore have proved to be a rare and valuable resource for understanding the lives of the Mille Lacs People between 1850 and 1875.

September/October 1996
Ni Mah Mi Kwa Zoo Min
(Speaking of Ourselves)
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe