CARRIERS

Pew people l i v i n g i n Ezamt and Charlevoix Counties today knew much about om o f the most interesting and h i s t o r i c spots i n t h i s section o f nor^em Michigan - Qreensky H i l l .

fears ago anyone traveling along Highway 31j between Charlievolx and Petoskey was reminded of the old Indian meeting placel hy the Methodist Indian Can?) Meetings and t h e i r wayside stands at which one could purchase the beauti­f u l baskets and birch-bark t r i n k e t s th© Indians sold to passers-by. -Here the early seeds of c i v i l i i a t i o n and Protestantism were sown by the f i r s t Protestant Iiuiian Missionary, Peter Qreensky, who came thf-y over a huridred years ago.

Peter Greensky (Shagasokicki i n Indirn) ; radian brave of the Chippewa's (Ojibway'e) began his missionary t r a i n i n g ut wi mil Methocfist settleoent i n the upper Peninsula called Bay M i l l s , ^ locatev-i near Sault Ste. Marie.

About 1830 the Protestant Poard of Missions vdth headquarters i n Boston turned i t s attention to the Chippewa Indians and established a mission there. I t included a school for Indians and half-breeds and i t was there Peter Greensky was converted t o the Methodist f a i t h , as set f o r t h by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. This mission was also a way otation;(stop over s i t e ) for tr a v e l l e r s other than Missionaries, Often men l i k e Henry R. Schoolcraft of the Federal Indian Service, Dr. Charles Bcrup of the American RJT CoEpary ,and his Chief, Ramsay Crooks were constantly coming sj-id goir^ bctvreen buslnssdi points i n l^per Michigan and tho Stxaits Country. They related tha l a t e s t and newest developnsnta i n the Northwest T e r r i t o r y during t h e i r b r i e f atops. Peter Greensky became very interested i n the new Ps-otest&it moven»nt for tim Indians and talked with Schoolcraft about the new miisionaries vho were to be sent t o ^ Mackinac for the Grand Traverse i*«gion. '

I n the Spring of 1638 Peter Greejieky and a few of his friends dscided t o 1 go t o Mackinac Island where Schoolcraft was stationed. When he aiTived ; Schoolcraft informed them of the new aissior. that was t o be established. Two miastonaries. Rev, Peter Dou/gherty and Rev. Peter Fleming were sent to the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions t o os'g&niae the f i r s t Protestant ItlaslonS i n the region of Orard Traverse Bay at Miseicm ferbor. After spending the winter i n Mackinac ccapletijag the mission p.lans; th© Rev. Peter Dougherty and Rev. Peter Fleming proceeded t o Mission H* boi There they found otm Indian v i l l a g e . On t h e i r a r r i v a l the head chief, lif. . . -iua-gran-a-ba, held a council for the purpose of considering the proposal of the missionaries f o r a mission. Tlxe Indians proposed t o divide t h e i r settlement i n t o two v i l l a g e s . One groxip decided to go wit h tlie missionaries and h«'ip t o establish the missitm colony. I t was decided to go to the mouth of Elk River, where Elk Rupids i s now s i t u ­ated. By June Schoolcraft arrived to confirm the establiahiaent of the settlement.

"He found Rev. Dougherty, wi t h the assistance of Peter Greensky, the inte r p r e t e r , busy wi t h tl» work of flnisMng t l ^ house, and clearing the land i n the v i c i n i t y . The housa was of logs with a cedar bark roof. Once or twice tiw roof took f i r e from the stove pipe cbianey, but fortunately not any great dama/f J was done. The old Chief and his wife cajj;e and stayed w i t h Rev. Dougherty «.\ Rev. Fleming when the house was conpleted., perhaps to siiow friendliness for the only i d i i t e men i n the area." Arrangementf were made by Schoolcraft for Isaac sleorg©, an Indian black­

smith, t o stay aj.d help with the coloi^^f. I t was soon a f t e r the depaj*tare of S.hoolcraft teat Chief Ah-go-so, one

of the chiefs at Mission Harbor, acco3?>aai,ed by the mm of his band of Chippewa's came t o v i s i t Rev, Dougherty,, He brought the news that most of th© Indians at Mission Harbor ware unwilling to rjove ove.v' t o the i-mw colony. The Chief and his

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band offered t o transport the Missionaries and a l l t h e i r goods across to Mission Harbor and they would furnish them a house and help b u i l d a mission i f the Rev. Dougherty would come to t h e i r settlement. Rev, Dougherty was convinced that the harbor was a more suitable s i t e for his work, and he accepted the proposal.

After the moving was conpleted the miesion opened a school with t h e i r interpreter Peter Greensky as teacher, i n the bark wigwam that the Indians va­cated for Rev, Eiougharty's use at Mission Harbor.

During the winter of that f i r s t year the mission family consisted of the four men - Rev. Doaghtery, Isaac George, Peter Greensky and Mr. John Johnson who was sent by appoi?itment of Schoclrraft t o reside there as an Indian farmer. Rev. Fleming had been called back home so Rev. Dougherty was the missionary new i n command of the c.'lonj'. Rev, Dougherty bought the land from a band of Indians whose Chief was -jhawb-wah-sun, for t h i s missiorx, Bster Greensky assisted Rey. Dougherty i n the translations of the hymns and lessons^ to be used i n the school. . With Greensky.'8 knowledg'^' of t h " C" ' -ewa (Ojibway) dialect Rev, Dougherty was able to make the translate :n.5 ry successfully,> i n one h i s t o r ­i c a l reference i t was statedi

" I t i s the b e l i e f of the w r i t e r that the contribution of t i ^ Rev, Peter Dougherty to modem c i v i l i z a t i o n cannot he estimated alone by his work either as a minister of the Gospel or a teacher i n hie backwoods school at Old Miasiorij but as the discoverer of a most

valuable connecting l i n k batween the fiboriglnee of the great Inner I l i p i r e of Michilimackinac and modern c i v i l i z a t i o n i n his tra.islations of the A B C's of thv O. ibway nation.." Thi school was i n session during tha three winter months of each year. The

Indian men and boys were given re l i g i o u s Instruction and taught t o read, write and s y e l l . The other months of the year vsre speit i n clearing land, farming, fishing and building for the colony. Greensky rerieined wi.th t h i s mission a year and then because he s t i l l clung t o his e a r l i e r Meiuodist t r a i n i n g ha agreed t o asfiiSt Solomon Steel, a Presiding Elder of the MetH odist C i r c u i t , i n converting t i e Northpoint (now Morthport) Chippewa's i n the stjomsr months when the Rev. Dougherty did not need him i n his Presbyteriiin achcol. He went about Leelanau Peninsula w i t h the Elder holding canp meetin(;s and /?&a/ of the Chippewa's ^Tsre converted. The Ifethodist decided to eatabli?.h t h e i r settlement at Northpoint (noir Northport). Greenskj- often held neatings without the Elder cuid socn had e fo'.Uowing of his own, known as t t e Greensky Indian^. His evangelistic services caused disputes^ between Rev. Dcugho.-.-y, tha Methodist Elder and him­s e l f , because of the way i n which he cosv- his qien-air mBeti%;3. Unfor­tunately i n I8h0 at the happy celebration ' iedication of the f i r s t ifethodist {3iurch at Northpoint, the occasion turned O x t to be 3 very sad on© for the Greensky Indians. The Greensky groip became so noisy i n t h e i r praise and thanks to the "Great S p i r i t " , that the Minister and ^Ider requested Peter Greensky to i n s t r u c t his followers to r e f r a i n from p r a i s i i g aloud during the service or to leave. Qreensky and hie people became indignant and uhen they l e f t the service they were troubled over the white man's demands, Oreta-isky called a i!»eting of his followers and at t h i s nseting he vfas made t i a i r leader and Chief, Inamdiate-l y , plans were under way t o leave the Methodist lettleaent and f i n d a new place where they could worship as thsy so deaired,

Peter Greensky, now Chief Greensky, ha.8 wife his brother, Isaac Qreensky (he had come from the .Sauli the, year Jxjfocia.),. and v.\?®at,y.ra3Vi6n faailAe* 4.oaded t h e i r canoes and paddled northward across the bay \.) tho mainland i n search of a place where they could s e t t l e and worship t h e i r M\ker as they saw f i t . The courageous l i t t l e band entered a small sti'eam calloa >Bee-pe-wa< or Green River

(now known as the channel at Charlevoix). After going up the stream they came to small Roxmd Lake, through which they had t o pass cn t h e i r way to Green laike, l a t e r changed to Pine Lake and now known as I ^ e Charlevoix. They ^vere d e l i g h t ­ed with the surrounding forest and high b l u f f s abov© the lake. This seeioed to be the "Promised Land" fo r which they were searching. They crossed Gi-een Lake to a small bay where they beached t h e i r canoes. They climt'Sd the pine-wooded h i l l s t o the highest point, and there found th© old ''Gounctl Trees". Greensky knew of t h i s meeting place' on the high plateau above Green Lake - he had found the Council Grounds of the Chiefs 1

T r a d i t i o n a l l y from time iaenemorial the "Council Trees" marked the s i t e ^shere tha Chiefs were said to gather from v i B ; se as fSEr aorth as Maekinac t o settlements as far south as th© Grand Tr-' sr. 'sgion, to hold councils.

A legend records that o r i g i r i & l l y th( ro r, s t h i r t y trees, planted hy the various Chiefs of these Indian villages as a pledge that as long as the tress grew and had leaves, the t r i b e s would remain at peace with each other. When these trees were young, they were bent and t i e d with baaswood thongs to deform them i n the vain e f f o r t that they would be saved f r c n the white man's axe. Now, standing i n a c i r c l e i n a meadow at the top of the h i l l , are nine giant maples reaching t h e i r crooked branches skyward, as i f pleading for mercy. The legend explains:

"Each council tree had a meaning which the Indians either do not know or have refused t o t e l l and each was named for a cheif who planted i t . As a reminder to the Indians that these council grounds must be kept sacred by them and preserved,' a knife was thrust i n t o the t r u i ^ of a hugh beech tree which stood i n the woods nearby. I t i s t o be deeply regretted that the beech has been cut down by soii»-on© Ignorant of i t s meaning." Aft e r the a r r i v a l of CkieS Greensky end his bend at the council treee,

they found a small lake on the east side of the h i l l . I t was along i t s west shares t h a t they established t h e i r sett;iea»nt and Chief Greensky christened the lake, "Susan" i n hoaoe of his wife. Tbs h i U i s kr.oms as Greensky H i l l a f t e r the Chief and his family irtio f i r s t s ettled there over a century ago.

Immediately the Indians i n t h i s region caiae to welcome th© Chief and brought g i f t s to him. One Indian, James Wag^r^ jic, who claimed t o own the land, donated four or f i v e acres of the land at Lh. l l - i c p t o be used for a church mission. A rude tabernacle called a »Ws>g-sjo • >g» (meaning church} was b u i l t of boughs and covered with cedar bark. Eere^ t'here the present church now stands Chief Greensky preached the Gospel, I t i s said he wore a blanket and was an impressive figure as he spoke t o his people. Those who knew him and worked w i t h him have w r i t t e n :

"Greensky had long black hair and from bis ears hmg bone earrings. With his blanket wrapped aroiujd him, he preached ir: the l i t t l e earthen-floored «Wag-nog-ang'« Mapy Indiaoa gathered to h^ar him. Many wanted to be converted. He gave them irsatructiona before they could be baptised. The baptismal ceremony was held i n the waters of Pine Lake, at the l i t t l e bay^ known as (^Uv Bay,^^ The Chief's f i r s t shelter was of berk and b u i l t i n the center of the c i r c l e

of council trees., a sacrecl spot for a Chi©/.', wlio was a missionary for his people. JAter a log home was fxiilv- there. But through ignorance of the white man's laws, the property was l o s t to the Indians and the rai-ssion.

After getting t h e i r settlajmtn-;. w e l l established, these Indians greatly de­sired a larger church liaving used the 'Wag-nog-ang' for nearly ten years.

In 1850 i t was decided t o b u i l d a lar/;er cliurch of logs. The Indians gathered from miles around t o o f f e r t l m i r services. Tne t a l l e s t , straightest

piae trees were f e l l e d and trimmed. The only help they had i n hauling these huge logs was a yoke of oxen belonging t o Chief Greensky, The lumber, windows, doors and nails were brought from Traverse City i n canoes t o t h e i r landing place on Pine Lake (Ijake Charlevoix) at Cyster Bay. From there for the remain­ing two miles through heavy forest the Indians carried the material piece by piece on t h e i r backs, and with t h e i r own hands b u i l t the church as i t now stands.

• I n an old l e t t e r ? the following particxxlars about the building of the church were related:

"The logs were hewn f l a t w i t h the broad axe from the largest trees i n the surrounding countryside. The building i e twenty-six by thi r t y - t w o feet and has eight windows, three on a side and two at the end. The logs were l a i d one above the other and notched at ttie corners so as to f i t as snugly as possible, Tha crevices were chirJced with pieces of wood and clay mud. The f l o o r consisted of rough planks hewn or s p l i t out of logs. The i n t e r i o r i n spite of i t s rough boards had a peculiar charm. The wainscoting was painted a v i v i d blue and the plastered walls were l e f t white. The platform extended the whole distance across tha end of the building. . rusty, Round Oak stove fltood i n ti« center of the room. On e i t l s i d e of the center i s l e were the rows of rough blue benches." There were nearly f i v e hundred Iridiaixs of the Chippewa and Ottawa tr i b e s

i n t h i s v i c i n i t y of whom about tiiree hundred were members of the Mission Church at the time i t was completed. For nearly h a l f a century, the Indiaiis came to t h i s church from Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Boyne City, Horton's Bay, East Jordan, Charlevoix, and as far south as Travei'se City.

I t was t o l d that the church was i n need of a b e l l to c a l l the Indians t o worship - then one Sundajr', one of the msmbers brought a huge conch s h e l l , that irtien blown, i t s haunting echo could be heard through the h i l l s . Quickly the Indians answered the c a l l and the soft pad of mcccassioned feet followed the t r a i l s up tlie h i l l t o church. The s h e l l served the purpose for- many years, then a b e l l was presented to the chuirch and placed i n the l i t t l e steeple, where i t i s seen today.

I t was not out of the ordinary at service ttm for several hundred Indians to gather there. The whole service seemed permeated w i t h a devotion and seriouaness which t o any v i s i t o r seemed remarkable x> Some who have attended worship remark:

"My former conception of an Indian as s t o l i d «nd unoriotional was wrong. These sinple, c h i l d like people i n t h o i i ' devotions were most humble and sincere. Tlte Indian's r e l i g i o n permeates his whole l i f e and forms a big slenant i n hi© cultuT^ ." No doubt, t o Chief Greensky tlie woi'k se*. • slow and discouraging, yet i n

these members there can be traced the slow dc iopment or religious concepts as they became c l a r i f i e d by the introduction 'jx the moral and charitable elements of C h r i s t i a n i t y . Tie Indians und?;f Greensky's teatliirgs gradually accepted the Gospel and adhered fij-mly and f a i t h f u l l y ' t o t h e i r f a i t h i n Christ. No mere c i v i l i z i n g agency lias hem able t o accomplish that vbich th?. church has among the Indians of t h i s urea.

I n l a t e r years the aut.hor oivie attsmkid a jKsrvite Rhen the "Sacrament of tha Lord's Suppei-" was administeT-ed. Th» Indians weat to the platform and a f t e r taking "of the Bread", several arose and found a member or friend i n the congre­gation whom they have wror.god. They aek their forgiveness, ••iheii return to r e ­ceive "the cup" and blessing - and became ovcr-Jcsji'ed at t h a i r recoi-icilation, they even danced about the stove. Suj*s3y hare waa the essence of r e a l C h r i s t i a n i t y !

In •the settlement along Susan Lake the Indian families had small farms which they sometimes cxiltivated w e l l , but often times • (ory poorly. Prom the Indian's teS''^e°f:,c^i^ai^i*'.v»SS ^Z^^'^^ t-h«^f.l«etir« enrf I f c i v a t i , ^ o f t h e s o i l s b o u l d

^^i^r—i •"•Pi- tioi-ioe much or tlr>r 1, aoviowo mod. ..o:.-!. . 3.0= .-o.- .,do 'tra.- oo .tir

Xba m i s s i o n bad l-bs own unique O u r l a l ground. Between Stae oburoh erd vne shore of Susan Lake i s the ancient cemetery. About one hundred persons are buried i n a p l o t close t o the church, but farther back, the woods are f u l l of graves, unmarked and largely unknown. The csjEstery i s rough and poorly cared f o r . Amid the t a l l brush and heaved t u r f are the p l a i n vrooden crosses or slabs. Here and there are found a few more pretentious markers made of cobblestones. Near the top of the h i l l i s one grave marked by a l i t t l e wooden picket fence, where years ago many were marked i n that fashion. At one time a l l children's graves were decorated with toys, small china animals or colored t r i n k e t s , placed there by the mothers, f a i t h f u l to the memory of t h e i r children.

T r a d i t i o n a l l y i t i s claimed that the Chiefs were buried to the north of the "Council Trees". Indians Y^O were Idred t o cut treee, refused to do so on t h i s p a r t i c u l a r spot and when asked fo r a reason, r e l u c t a n t l y replied that many chiefs were buried there. I t i s regrettable that Chief Qreensky's grave i s un-know. However, there are some recent graves close to the church at the present iimB. One i s a grave of a soldier of World War 1, another of World War I I .

Both of these are mtrkftd with wndem htfadstiJ-'T 'sd decorstod" with a f l a g . Other interesting customs msre practr c&d the Ore^aaky InAijans i n . early

days. One was the removal of a l l stones from as earth Yhich was used to f i l l i n a new grave. As has always been t h e i r custom, to face the grave toward the r i s i n g sun. Another custom was t h e i r method of care f o r the bodtjr. At death a body was placed on a wooden fra«» called a " t i e r * . The •bier" was covered with a white c l o t h which hung to the f l o o r and en t h i s , the corpse was l a i d . A canopy made of stripes of c l o t h was fastened to the c e l l i n g i n several loops over the body, then a wreath of paper flowers of various colors was placed at the head. The Indian was wrapped i n white cloth or i f very old, i t was black c l o t h . At times the body was clothed ijn his best a t t i r e , or a t r i b i a l costums. Tha c o f f i n was hand made of pine boards wi t h black c l o t t i tacked on the outside and line d with Ydiite on the inside. (Children's c o f f i n s were a i l «Mte). Ihen possible, gold headed tacks were used for decoration.

Sometimes for two nights before tl» b u r i a l a "wake" was held. The relatives and friends gathered i n the home to feast, pray and slug Indian fUneral chants a l l through the night. On the fu.rera], day t t e body would be taken to the church on a c a r t , i f the family owned onej otherwise ^he c o f i i r was carried on the shoulder's of friends, and the movc^mrs follrAfed i n singli: f i l e on foot. After the services i n the church, a procession was formed and a l l sang the death chant a l l the way to the grave, which liad been docorufced w i t l i flowei's and branches before the service had started. Although long since abandoned, i t I'ssd to be the custom to put tobacco, matches, a gun, shelle and food i n the grave or c o f f i n . After tl« funeral, members of the family usually placed fond upon the grave, be­l i e v i n g i t would be vised on t h e i r ^journe^/ to :"Happy-huivting Grounds".

Perhaps the most o r i g i n a l asid eldest eastern that has been continued from the haginnii^ of tlie aieRj.on to the proaent dsy i s the Au'3;u5t Camp Meeting. One could not l i v e or resort long i n (Jither Emmet or Charlevoix Counties without

I n the settlement along Susan Lake the Indian families had small farms which they sometimes cult i v a t e d w e l l , but often times very poorly. Prom the Ir^dian's point of view, i t v/as l o g i c a l that planting and c I t i v a t i n g of the s o i l should be the exclusive work of woman. For years, t h 5 auaw was the f i e l d hand i n ag r i c u l t u r e . Then too, during much of thf^ 'dr the squaws made baskets and quill-work boxes for the summer trade. Ccaiseqt. i c t i y as time passed and the tour­i s t trade grew, the squaws met the boats, or v i s i t e d the resorts to s e l l t h e i r wares. While the men voiild hunt, f i s h or help buil d i n the settlement. Then, l a t e r they worked at the m i l l s or resorts, during the summer season, i n Charlevoix.

The mission had i t s own unique b u r i a l ground. Between the chvu:ch and the shore of Susan Lake i s the ancient cemetery. About ore hundred persons are buried i n a p l o t close to the church, but farther back, the woods are f u l l of graves, unmarked and largely unknown. The cessetery i s rough and poxorly cared f o r . Amid the t a l l brush and heaved t u r f are the p l a i n v/ooden crosses or slabs. Here and there are found a few more pretentious markers made of cobblestones. Near the top of the h i l l i s one grave marked by a l i t t l e wooden picket fence, where years ago many were narked i n that fashion. At one time a l l children's graves were deccz-ated with toys, small china animals or colored t r i n k e t s , placed there by the mothers, f a i t h f u l to the memory of t h e i r children.

T r a d i t i o n a l l y i t i s claimed that the Chiefs were buried to the north of the "Council Trees". Indians Y^O were Idred t o cut trees, refused t o do v o on t h i s p a r t i c u l a r spot and when asked fo r a reason, r e l u c t a n t l y r e p l i e d that nwoy chiefs were buried there. I t i s regrettable that Chief Qreensky's srave i s un-know. However, there are some recent graves close to the church at the present time. One i s a grave of a soldier of World War ?i, another of World War I I .

Both of these are mertoid with HSJdem hdadst'5n: ytf deccretod w i t h a f l a g . Other in t e r e s t i n g customs vwro practic&d the Qre^n&iy lodJ^e in.early

days. One was the removal of all stones from - .3 earth Yhich was used to f i l l i n a new grave. As has always been t h e i r custom, to face the grave toward the r i s i n g sun. Another custom was t h e i r method of care f o r tbs body. At death a body waa placed on a wooden frame called a " t i e r * . The 'bier" wae covered w i t h a white c l o t h Yrtvich hung to the Tioor and on t h i s , the corpse was l a i d . A caaofsy made of stripes of c l o t h wae fastened to the c e i l i n g i n eeveral loops over the body, then a wreath of paper floYfers of various colors was placed at the head. The Indian was wrapped i n white cloth or i f very old, i t was black c l o t h . At times the body was clothed i n Ms bsirt a t t i r e , or a t r i b i a l costume. Ttia c o f f i n was hand made of pino boards wi t h black c l o t h tacked on the outeide and l i n e d Yrith ndiite on the inside. (Children's cof f i n s were a i l white). Ihen possible, gold headed tacks were used for decoration.

Sometimes for two nights before tlie b u r i a l a "wake" waa held. The relatives and friends gathered i n the home to feast, pray and sing Indian fUneral chants a l l through the night. On the f u i e r a l day t t e body would be taken to the church on a c a r t , i f the family owned oaej otherwise the c o f f i r was carried on the shoulder's of f r i e r r i s , and the mourners followeii i n tingln f i l e on toot. A fter tha services i n the church, a procession was formed and a l l sang the death chant a l l the way to the grave, which had been dtscorufced 7/ith flowei's 5ind branches before the service had started. Although long since aoandoised, i t cssd to be the custom to put tobacco, matches, a gun, shellc md food i n the grave or c o f f i n . After the funeral, members of tho family ustUjJT; solaced ford upon the grave, be­l i e v i n g i t would be used on t h e i r journe:y t<5 ^ "Happy-hvu;ting Grounds".

Perhaps the most o r i g i n a l md eldest eastern that has been continued from the beginning of tiie Biefb.on to the prnaent dsy i s the August. Camp Meeting. One could not l i v e or rosort long i n either Enwet or Charlevoix Counties without

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gaining a keen iqipreciation of the ieiportance of the Indian Camp Meetings. There was a general i n f l n x of Indiiim t o 6r«ensl9> H£Jl-fvea-aU OVM* ItLchigan, Canada and Vieconsin. The whole wocv'e bussed with a c t i v i t y . Nuaercms tents were erected as the hundreds gathered f o r the encaoptent. I t was a cosoaon sight t o sea the oldest, too feeble to /o m-ih work, s i t about the grounds or along the road sttddng and dosing beiwo' i -j&Js and the services. The younger ones did the work of maintaining the c \ ruling l i t t l e stands where they sold the bea u t i f u l aweet-grass basket?:. Uisikete and biack-berries (vriiich the children gathered) for money that waa 'la^did t o carry on and run ttie caap. The woumn prepared a l l the meals over cgier f i r e s or t a l l caop stoves* l^altime was a busy happy hour. Each family or torn groip seemed to run a boardir^ table with free meals t o a i l "out of town" guests idio came from great distances. These guests would gc from canp to camp durlrg the whole week without embarrassment.

At t h i s season because the church i e inadequate t o seat the crowds, the evening worship i s held i n a n a t i r a l iwphiihea'ter which i s on the h i l l s i d e op­posite the cemetery and close tc the church s i t e . Several rows of rude benchss are the only seats i n front a covered platform where the loc a l Indian preachers are seated. The night services are conducted by the Indian preachers ndio usually speak i n t h e i r native language, f o r although the Indians around the local area use the i ^ g l l s h language ti i r y commonly use the Indian d i a l e c t among th9»;-selves. Their sonorous words cc; j'ure a ay s t i c a l enchantment to the strange jice-js. The dark inten t faces f a i r l y stc ' C upon the speakers as they address tham. "ht Indian preachers fro® aray or all. settlements have a part i n some one service .'or-Ing the caz:p time. The woods aid h i l l - s i d e would be crowded with believers. The two Su^Klay afternoon services of the Camp Meeting i s thronged with Indla/s, residents and summer v i s i t e r s , Toese services are usxially conducted by the Methodist minister residing isi. CbarlevoixAl and occasionally he i s accoop.ini.ed by one o f t h e i r ovw race. Mfvny ;re converted and bsptised on the f i n a l 5u'iday. The hymns that are sung iU8u=vl}: .In Indian) cause the woods and h i l l s t o xho and re-echo with t h e i r songs c > ' a i K i j . V i s i t o r s are always made welcoise at the "Sunday Camp ifeetings", drawi' / tha siovelty of such a unique religious ©Jiper-ience, but impressed by the € • .mstness of the Indians i n t h e i r Christia-i worship.

I t i s regrettable since . 9h9 when TIS~31, from Charlevoix t o Petosko/ was re-routed, that t r a v e l l e r s are no longer reminded of those gala days i n the l i f e of Greensky«£ Mission.

But i n memory of the old Chief and his feaily wlao had so enriched the l i v e s of so many Indians, the nnarVy Jijodian families have and s t i l l maintainid the o r i g i n a l log church and hold thti August Canp Meetings. Tbsre are neaily a hundred members at the present time, but only about twenty-five l i v e i n the ifjiaediate region, and only about twelve are active i n keeping the church qpen f>r service. These active raasbers are kinsman to the early families who came w i l i i Chief Gi^ensky so long ago. They have flaintained and preserved the buiidLl/ig and have been responsible for recent improvf.saents.

Last sumnsr (1951) a buLlding t c be used as a kitchen wae erected. A x»w cement platform was b u i l t by .John R i l l i s and Nathan Smith for the s/iphitheater. Water and e l e c t r i c l i g h t s ar"i' modern iaprovements alsc. The i n t e r j o r has been re-decorated. The woodwork md henc^s have boon painted an aak ciflor and var­nished. White curtains are ut tbe vixidatm, Tne wtiola appearance of the l i t t l e church i n the woods i s only of neatness and cXeanliness,

The Avigust Caiap jfeeting l a s t year waa said to be t\» largest gatheringi2 i n many seasons. Indians fiom mmj parte of Michigan, Canada and Minnesota were present.

This mission haa been and .11 \>3 a ijelf-8u»i>ortingl3 mission, except for a few years when a Mathodist F . s of Missions, through the aid of Rev. George

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N. Puller, then pastor at Charlevoix, received funds t o carry on the work, Taat help was disccntinued many years ago,

At one tiffle there was a book containing Vaa h i s t o r y of t h i s isission and the Qreensky family. The large leather bound VOIUSB, w r i t t e n p a r t l y i n Indian and p a r t l y i n English, was i n the handwriting of Chief Greensky, who so c a r e f u l l y recorded events which had transpired from the beginning of his church to almost his death. The book was given to George Oreensky,i*» the son of Chief Greensky, who made his home at Bay Shore. When his home Uirned the hook was destrcyed -an irreplaceable loss as regrettable as f a r as the mission i s concerned, as the re-routing of U S - 3 1 .

Because Indians suffered so much il l - t r e a t m e n t at the hands of the white men i t was only with the greatest d i f f i c u l t y that the Greensky's (George and his yixia Susan) were persuaded t o relate much of the history they knew.

After tbe less of t h e i r home the George Greensky family moved t o Petoskey. However they carried on the work at the mission for many years u n t i l Mrs. Qreensky's death. Then Mr, Greensky and his three sons, Jacob, Isaac and George, went i n t o the Stat© of Minnesota to l i v e * There the father worked as an Indian missionary and at present conducts services at Sawj-er, Minnesota, His son, Isaac, helps'his father d t h the- services since Mr, Greensky has had poor health for the past few , j i s two daughters are married, one l i v i r i g i n southern Michigan and the y^ ^gest, Ifrs. W i l l a r d Sh«ain, l i v e s i n Petoskey. The Shomin's have two chi l d r e i * Dean and W i l l s r d , J r . , who attend the Petoskey Oentral School,

I t i s evident, through the inforaiatlon given by Mrs. Shomin of friends of the Qreensiry's, about t h e i r e f f o r t s i n continuing the Msthodist f a i t h for tl» Indians i n t h i s ares, that they .desire the h i s t o r i c mission bearing t h e i r name to be kept sacred and preserved fpr many years to come.

There i s a p o s s i b i l i t y that t h ^ work may be carried cm l y the great grand­son of old Chief Greensky. Mrs. ShdRdn's son. Dean, has a desire to become a missionary and I t i s hoped that he wiia^caiTF on the work which his grandfather and great grandfather began 3 0 long ago.v.

The Indians' heritage at Greensky H i l l Kisdion i s one so r i c h that they might w e l l receive that welcome pland i t "Msll dons good and f a i t h f u l servant." .

A l l rofarszwea i n the above story were congfilidd by Audrwy V. S i l l e r

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