Wawanosh Sands Mern_fonds_Series 1 correspondence File 1

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Wikwemikong Manitouline[Manitoulin] Island March 7th '50

Namens formerly head chief of the whole track of land comprising Owen Sound, Sauging[Saugeen], Goderich, the Sable and Port Sarnia, had nine brothers To one of his nephews, Kabi-san-ichkang, he gave the tract of land from Owen Sound to Sauging[Saugeen] inclusive. Wabitik[Wahbuhdick] the present Chief, is the son of Kabi-san-ich-kang. Namens also gave to Kach-kin-nin-dji, another of his nephews, from the Sable to Sarnia inclusive. Wawanosh the present chief of that tract of land is the son of Kach-kin-nin-dji. He (Namens) reserved to himself from within 20 miles of Sauging[Saugeen] to 10 of the [Sable?]. He had no children but a step daughter named Mos-son-equah whom he adopted for his own. She married a nephew of Namens' [Mitakijigs?] And had two sons - Sa ga a na gwech kang and Tage-wi-ni-ni - the elder of whom Sagaanagechkang she gave to her stepfather to serve and take care of the old chief, who at his death made him his heir and chief of all the land he had reserved to himself One month after the death of Namens his adopted son Sa gaana gwech kang died also, and consequently Jean Baptiste Tangewinini lawful brother of Sagaanagechkang became successor to the land in question but, he having neglected to take immediate possession of the same, his cousin - Wa-wa-nosh -

Wa wa nosh monopolised[monopolized] and sold it to Government. He (Wawanosh) denies having sold it and notwithstanding Ta ge wi ni ni's repeated applications to him for a share, at least, of the pay the only satisfaction he can obtain is the usual reply - "apply to the Government for your rights, I never sold your land"

Sir George Coleburn when Governor told Ta ge wi ni ni that the land in question had been purchased of Wawanosh, and offered to transfer the pay from him to Tagewinini, but the latter refused to deprive his cousin of the whole of the pay, trusting to his generosity and honesty, to be allowed at least, an equal share of the same Sir George Coleburn expressed his approval of Ta ge wi ni ni's decision in favour of Wawanosh, saying that he had no doubt but that he would act honestly in the matter, but such has not been the case and now Tagewinini's only resource is to state the facts as they are, and demand that justice may be done him. It will be well to state that five years since Tagewinini received to the amount of $180. in small remittances at different periods from Wawanosh, by way of present as the latter expressed it, and not as pay for the land.

his Jean Baptist + Tagewinini mark

To The Superintendent of Indian Affairs