Paper and ink.

Handwritten with quill pen.

Totemic emblems of animal motifs: bear, thunderbird, fish/sturgeon, wolf, bird of prey/eagle.

Page 1:

No. 12

deed of the Savages in favour of Geo: McDougall for Nine [appears added later as space left for word is smaller than word, and ink thicker, as done at a slower speed than rest of manuscript] Acres of Land ins frunt [this section is written in a different hand from that below, which appears written by signor]

Received and Recorded in the Registers Office in Quebec on Thursday the Twenty Third day of January 1777. at one o’clock in the afternoon in the English Register Letter E page 622.

Geo: Allsopp.

Page 2:

Know All Men by These Presents that I Oquichenon Chief of The Ottawa Nation of Indians do for My self & by the Consent of the whole of the said Nation of Indians for the Good will I bear and is borne by the Whole of the Said Nation unto George McDougall Late Lieut. of his Majesty’s Royal American Reg’t. Grant Give and Release & by these presents doth Grant Give and Release unto the said George McDougall his Heirs Ex’ers [Executors], Adm’rs [Administrators] and Assigns forever A Certain Tract or parcel of Land Situate Lying and being on the South Side of Detroit River, beginning at the East Side or point of the Land Now Occupied or in possession of Loriet Paran or Three Acres East of the Dwelling House of Oqichinon and at Low Water mark from thence running up the River the Lenth of Nine [appears added later in space left blank because does not fit or flow with other words, ink thicker suggesting a slower pen than rest of words] Acres from thence Running back from the River towards or into the (inserted) woods Eighty Acres Keeping in every part the breath of Nine [appears added later in blank space for same reasons as above] Acres all french measure to have and to Hold his Heirs and assign’s [assignees] forever, and I do hereby Acquit for my self and the said Nation of Indians and our Heirs all Claim to the Afor.d [aforesaid] Tract or Parcell of Land but Gives it to the Afor.d George McDougall as a free Gift without any Lett Hindrance or Mollestation from us or our Heirs. Signed Sealed & Delivered in The presence of - 22 July 1772 [appears added later, small] John Thobisay [ink thick under surname] [different hand] n(?) Alexr. Macomb [different hand]

Given under any Hand & Sealed Detroit This 22th day of July Anno Domini one thousand Seven Hundred & Seventy Two [ink very think and shaky on ‘72’]

[totemic signatures with names written underneath – all sideways to right – appears by same hand as manuscript]:

Shawana (under totemic signature of bear)

Eteokeesheik (under totemic signature of thunderbird: hourglass body, lightening coming from eyes, wings and tail)

Atawa (under totemic signature of fish – possibly sturgeon)

Oquin(?)giwane (under totemic signature of wolf: fluffy tail, long back, long neck, opposing knee joints on legs, 2 ears and pointy face)

Mickenaque (totemic signature of bird of prey – possibly eagle?: talons, beak, no wings, possible bustle)

Folded into four horizontal bands.

MS signed and dated July 22 1772. (DLM)

Campau Family Papers July 22, 1772. Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library.

This record was created as part of a Great Lakes Research Alliance for the Study of Aboriginal Arts and Cultures (GRASAC) research trip to the Burton Historical Collection, at the Detroit Public Library, funded by a grant from the International Opportunities fund of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).