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Wis-Ki-Ge-Amatyuk Family

 

PIPE STEM OF TOPINABEE

Oldest relative pipe stem carried thru hereditary chieftain line in Burnett bundles is the pipe stem of Topinabee.
Side-by-side comparison of pipe stem from Topinabee portrait and his pipe stem in the Burnett bundlePortrait of Topinabee
Elders and ritual leaders thru prayer speak of the pipe stem in great respect and tell of the birth or making of the United States. The Potawatomis intersected American history at very critical points. Ceremonial and personal pipes were used for prayers and meetings during the conflicts of war between the French and English fathers.

Chief Topinabee is son to hereditary sachem chief of all Potawatomis, Anaquiba, and brother to Chief Chebaas, biological grandfather of Chief Abram B. Burnett (Nan-Wesh-Mah). He was a great warrior and highly respected, intelligent chief involved in all battles and noted as a war chief to Tecumseh during the Tecumseh uprising. Topinabee was also documented as a signer of all important treaties.

Topinabee is biological uncle to Abraham Burnett, a family line Potawatomi chief who was involved with battles in Michigan. Abraham Burnett was son to Kaukema and William Burnett, a known trader.

Abram B. Burnett was baptised and married June 5, 1838 by a priest named Father Benjamin Petit to Dah-Moosh-Ke-Keaw D'Moosh-Kee-Kee-Awh, first wife of Abram B. Burnett(D'Moosh-Kee-Kee-Awh), a wealthy Potawatomi woman who was from Chief Aub-Ba-Naub-Ba’s and his son Pau-Koo-Shauck’s Potawatomi band. Three months later they would travel the Death March from Twin Lakes, Indiana, starting on September 4, 1838, and ending at Osawatomi, Kansas, on November 4, 1838. Dah-Moosh-Ke-Keaw (D'Moosh-Kee-Kee-Awh) was the first wife to Abram B. Burnett. She is captured in a portrait painted by well-known artist, George Winter. She was known to have died in the year of 1842 in Sugar Creek, Kansas.


Burn markings of fire starting
Above,.
Burn markings of fire starting.

Left,
Traditional fire starting

Notch to capture embers
Above,
Notch to capture embers.

The Fire Keepers

The Potawatomis, known as the “fire keepers,” were referred to by the old ones in slang as the “Cheek-blowers” to signify the act of blowing out the cheeks as in kindling a fire and is supposed to refer to the facility in which the nation possessed in kindling the ancient counsel fires of their fore fathers.

Left: The old pipe stem bears traditional Potawatomi marks of ancient Fire starting. Attached to a pipe bowl, the pipe stem was used in counsels of great importance. Four full body woodpeckers were traditionally attached to the body of the stem.


See also:

Also visit: www.wiskigeamatyuk.com

Page compiled by Carol Yoho
Photos © 2006
by
Wis-Ki-Ge-Amatyuk Clan

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Chief Abraham Burnett, Potawatomi historical figure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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