Noahquageshik

Noahquageshik (1755–1855[1] or 1770–1840[2]), also spelled Nawehquageezhik, Nawehquageezhig, or Nowgeschick, and better known as Chief Noonday, was a chief of the Grand River Band of Ottawa Nation Native Americans in what would be become the U.S. state of Michigan.[3]

Bronze statue of Chief Noonday on Grand Valley State University's campus in downtown Grand Rapids

Biography

Noonday spent much of his life in Yankee Springs Township in western Michigan.[3] He was one of the first Native American leaders to establish trade with European settlers in the area.[4] In 1794, he was involved in the Battle of Fallen Timbers, which was the final battle of the Northwest Indian War. During the War of 1812, Noonday was allied with Tecumseh during the Battle of the Thames. Tecumseh was killed in this battle, and Noonday inherited his tomahawk and hat.

Legacy

The Chief Noonday Outdoor Center and Chief Noonday Recreational Heritage Route in that area are named after him. In 2010, sculptor Antonio Tobias Mendez completed a seven-foot-tall bronze statue of Noonday.[5] The statue was placed near Grand Valley State University's Eberhard Center, along the Grand River in Grand Rapids. Part of the Grand Rapids Community Legends Program, the statue is one of 25 planned sculptures intended to educate the public about local historical figures.[6][7]

References
  1. "Chief Noonday". Find a Grave. Retrieved 17 Jul 2019.
  2. "Monuments, propaganda and settler colonialism in Grand Rapids". Grand Rapids People's History Project. Retrieved 18 Jul 2019.
  3. "Chief Nawehquageezhik Noonday". MSU. Retrieved 17 Jul 2019.
  4. Harger, Jim (21 Feb 2017). "Tribe's new convenience store named for ancient chief and trader". Mlive. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  5. Recker, Rachael (10 Aug 2010). "Chief Noonday statue unveiled in Grand Rapids, names of future statues of historical figures announced". The Grand Rapids Press. Retrieved 18 Jul 2019.
  6. Kaczmarczyk, Jeffrey (10 Aug 2010). "Grand Rapids Community Legends project immortalizes nearly 200 years of history in bronze". Mlive. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  7. Pirkola, Mary (17 Jul 2013). "Community Legends Project sculpture installed at Grand Valley". GVNext. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
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