[quote name='scotto' date='January 21st 2008 5:30 PM' post='305297']
Wow you noticed that! I was just going to post a reply about that…
The “swastika” bead work on, Chief John Smith’s arm may look like a nazi swastika but it is not. Actually this is a Ojibwe piece symbol. Nazi swastika are right facing where as the Ojibwe piece symbol, like the bead work on Chief Smith’s arm, is left facing. At the old high school building in Mahnomen Minnesota, where my mother went to school, there is some old tile work with the Ojibwe piece symbol design on some of the tiles. When I first noticed that I could not figure out why, I asked my mother and she told me what it was… The school was built in the 1920’s. I don’t think it would go over so well now a days, in fact, you RAREley see the “left facing” Chippewa piece symbol any more.. Most likely because it’s its almost always mistaken for a nazi swastika.
I’ll post new thread on the subject of tensions in Minnesota between the Chippewa Indians and the Whites later.
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Outstanding photos! Do you know how long John Smith lived? He looks like he is at least 120 years old but one never can really tell time on a face etc.
My wife's people go back to the Cherokee Nation and The Trail Of Tears, so many perished and nowdays it is really hard to get all background facts and history of family members.
January 21st 2008 5:39 PM
