Dove Island Drums
From Powwows to Rock Bands, Drums Boom on Dove Island!
by
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Charlie, his heart as heavy as a rock, paddled across the bay to spend the night at Lake Shore House, the only hotel still open. Rainy Lake City, which had burst out of the wilderness during the gold rush, had turned into a ghost town. The post office had recently closed; he was grateful it had been open while they corresponded.
Unable to sleep, Little Star realized she didn’t want to lose Charlie. She and Maggie always swore they would never leave Rainy Lake. They had been inseparable since they were small; she had relied on Maggie, who was confident and friendly. But she couldn’t live without Charlie! Reality hit like a blow to her stomach. Her future looked bleak.
She put her fist into her mouth to keep from screaming. What have I done? What if Charlie doesn’t come back? What if I never see him again?
At break of dawn, she crept out of the tipi and ran down to the lake, shivering in the coolness. Staring out at the lake until her eyes burned, she prayed for Charlie to come back. Pacing the shore, rubbing the goose bumps on her arms, she desperately waited. Minutes ticked by. Hours. Overcome with despair, pulling her knees to her chest, she put her head down and sobbed. He wasn’t coming back.
What would the rest of her life be like without Charlie?
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About the Book
Gold! The discovery of gold in the rocks on Rainy Lake in 1893 shattered the peace of a remote Ojibwe village in northern Minnesota. Newspapers enthusiastically raved about the gold strike and about the beauty of Rainy Lake, calling it “one of the loveliest of northern lakes.” The Rainy Lake tribes face the challenges of a booming population and a changing culture.
They also face the challenge of changing lake levels when a dam is built to power King Ed’s paper mill. Summer visitors falling in love with the majestic beauty of the unspoiled wilderness begin building fancy houses on land that had been freely accessed by the Ojibwe people.
Authentic newspaper articles chronicle the history of Dove Island and the lives of two young Ojibwe girls trying to survive between two cultures. Maggie Sha Sha, the granddaughter of King Billy, chief of the Black Bay tribe, is outgoing and adventurous. Her friend Little Star is quiet and shy. When one friend marries and moves to Duluth, Minnesota, they keep their friendship alive through letters and newspaper clippings.
The majestic beauty of Rainy Lake, as well as the outdoor activities, continue to attract generations of both summer and winter visitors.
About the Author
Author Phyllis Karsnia lives on Dove Island on Rainy Lake, the historic water highway of the French voyageurs that is now part of Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota. “I believe Dove Island Spirits pushed me to write about these early inhabitants so they wouldn’t be forgotten,” she says.