"Sudden and Entire": Investigating the Accusation of Cannibalism in the Early Chippewa Tribes

Abstract

This essay aims to investigate and disprove the claims that the Lake Superior Chippewa tribe was subjected to forced cannibalism by their medicine men on Madeline Island in the early 17th century. This research will use the primary source of William Warren’s book History of the Ojibways; which states the secondary claim that because of this cannibalism, the Chippewa tribe fled the location due to the beliefs of evil spirits residing where acts of consuming humans took place. In conjunction with Warren this essay will use the Jesuit Relations to examine the time period, as well as several other secondary sources including anthropological essays on the subject of Midwestern American Indian cannibalism, and the religious beliefs that accompany these actions. Thus, this paper will take a different stance on the early Midwest American history to prove that the stories of forced cannibalism were statements taken by questionable means, and to which even the author does not fully know if they were truthful. In order to completely investigate this topic this paper will look at the mythology and theological beliefs surrounding cannibalism in this location. It will also inspect other American Indian tribes for this taboo in the time period, as well as briefly state how this type of cannibalism fits in with other parts of the world that practiced this. In total, this paper will also give depth to the action of cannibalism and acknowledge the humanity behind the taboo.