Shaynowishkung

Shaynowishkung (English: He Who Rattles; c. 1819 – April 19, 1904) sometimes referred to as Chief Bemidji or John Bemidji, was a Ojibwe leader of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Shaynowishkung is noted as being the first permanent settler and resident of Bemidji, Minnesota before its founding in 1888. Although not a chieftain in the traditional sense, Shaynowishkung was a spokesperson for some 50 people of both the Leech Lake and Cass Lake Bands of Ojibwe who lived on the southern shores of Lake Bemidji.

Early life Shaynowishkung was born around 1819 near modern-day Inger, Minnesota in Itasca County, Minnesota. Not much is known about Shaynowishkung's upbringing with the exception that he was moved to the Leech Lake Indian Reservation during the creation of the Indian reservation system in Minnesota around 1855.

During the Dakota War of 1862 Shaynowishkung was an advocate for peace between the Ojibwe and White settlers in northern Minnesota and spoke out against joining Little Crow and the Dakota people in their uprising. Carson eventually married one of Shaynowishkung's daughters, , otherwise known as Mary Carson. making Shaynowishkung the earliest permanent resident of the area. In 1888 when first introduced to European settlers he told them the name of the lake, Bemijigamaag. This was misinterpreted however and settlers thought he was telling them his name, Shaynowishkung was thence occasional called "Chief Bemidji" despite not being a tribal leader, nor his name being Bemidji.

Legacy The Chief Theater (also called the Paul Bunyan Playhouse) in Bemidji was erected in 1927 and was originally named in honor of Shaynowishkung. Three statues of Shaynowishkung have existed throughout the years. Another monument to Shaynowishkung exists in the Greenwood Cemetery in Bemidji where he is buried.