Chief Owasippe is the main subject of a legend with origins in Western Michigan near the Manistee National Forest and the town of Whitehall, MI. The legend tells the story of a local Native American chief whose sons left on a journey to Lake Michigan via canoe. When the time came for his sons to return home, he climbed to a high spot overlooking the river that they left from, usually the White River or Silver Creek, and sat there awaiting the arrival of his sons. After waiting in the same spot for several days, Owasippe died, he was buried in a seated position in the spot where he died overlooking the river. Years later, a group of boys discovered the bow of a canoe emerging from the ground, when the site was uncovered, the remains of two boys were found along with various artifacts, the site was not far from where Owasippe had died. While there are slight variations between versions of the legend, most of the main elements remain common throughout. The legend is also the source of the name for the nearby Boy Scouts of America camp, Owasippe Scout Reservation.
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Fred Norman Account
One of the first written accounts of the story came from a Whitehall shopkeeper by the name of Fred Norman. Originally written in 1898 in White Lake Reminiscences by Norman himself, His account was later expanded upon many years later in 1950 by a relative of his, Ms. Bernice Norman. Fred Norman tells the story of "Burying Ground Point" about three miles out side of Whitehall. His tale is of a nameless aged chief who had two sons that were the pride of his life, his sons traveled down Silver Creek, a branch of the White River, and into Lake Michigan. When the time came for his sons to come back, the old chief climbed to a bluff looking over Silver Creek where he died and was buried while he waited for his sons return. Years later, some boys were fishing when they saw the tip of a canoe emerging from the ground, when it was excavated two canoes were found with various artifacts and the skeleton of two boys who had been determined to be Native American based on the artifacts they were discovered with.
Bernice Norman added many things to Fred Norman's story including the name Owasippe itself and how Fred Norman had heard of the legend. Fred Norman heard the legend from a local Native man by the name of John Stone when asked about a nearby burial mound. She also added more detail about the discovery of the canoe. According to Bernice Norman, three boys, Glenn Stewart, Erastus Monroe, and Patrick Riley, were hiking along the mouth of the Silver Creek when they notices the tip of a canoe coming from the earth. Once the site was excavated the skeleton of two teen boys were found along with artifacts including a copper kettle and metal parts of a flintlock gun. This account closely matches a news report from the area in August 1885 when a local newspaper, "The Whitehall Forum" reported on the discovery of two skeletons found in a buried canoe near the Whitehall area.
Modern Account
The version of the legend of Owasippe currently used, mainly by the Boy Scouts at Owasippe Scout Reservation, has some differences from the original account by Fred Norman. This version tells the story of a Potawatomi Chief who had married late in life and had two sons. When his sons came of age they left home and traveled down the White River, into the White Lake, and into Lake Michigan, eventually coming to Fort Dearborn. When enough time had passed Owasippe climbed to a tall hill overlooking the White River and sat and waited for his sons to return. He sat there for many days until he eventually refused food from his people, after days of waiting he died in a sitting position and was buried looking down the White River. Years later some young boys were hiking when they saw the tip of a birch bark canoe poking from the ground, when they returned with men and shovels they found that the canoe held the bones of two young boys, this site was less than a mile from where Owasippe had died. The Fort Dearborn part of the legend most likely came about as a way to connect the scout camp's name to Chicago, due to its ownership by the Chicago Area Council.
Origin of Name
The name "Owasippe" most likely came from the local natives name for the White River during the time period,”Waba-sippi”, which would have been written out by the French when they came across the area as “Ouabisippi”.