IDNO

P.8725.ACH1

Description

On Catalogue Card: “Es-en-ce. Little Shell.” [typed text]

Three-quarter length seated frontal portrait of Pembina Chippewa man, Ayabewaywetung or Ayabe-Way-We-Tung (He Who Rests On His Way), also known as Es 'Sence or Es-En-Ce, (Chief Little Shell) or Ais-Aince or Asa-anse (Little Clam). He wears a cotton shirt with a trade blanket wrapped as a kilt. He is adorned with a single eagle feather in his hair, brass beaded ornaments attached to fine braids on either side of his head, a bead choker neck ornament, floral beadwork collar, an Abraham Lincoln peace medal, and he holds a tomahawk.

Place

N America; United States of America; District of Columbia; Washington D.C. (North Dakota; Turtle Mountian)

Cultural Affliation

Pembina; Chippeway; Ojibwa; North Dakota

Named Person

Ayabewaywetung or Ayabe-Way-We-Tung (He Who Rests On His Way), also known as Es 'Sence or Es-En-Ce, (Chief Little Shell) or Ais-Aince or Asa-anse (Little Clam)

Photographer

Bell, Charles Milton

Collector / Expedition

Date

1874

Collection Name

Mounted Haddon Collection

Source

Bureau of American Ethnology

Format

Print Black & White Mounted

Primary Documentation

Other Information

Named Person: Es-en-ce is from the Little Shell band who fled from Canada in 1885 following the Matis resistence. Now settled in a town called Haver or Rocky Boy. [Morgan Baillargeon, JD 8/5/2007]

Named Person: Es-en-ce was the chief of the Turtle Mountain, Pembina, North Dakota. That group of people had migrated from the Great Lakes and negotiated an alliance with the Cree and Assiniboine. They had strong kinship and trade relations with the Red River and Great Lakes Matis, and a large number of Matis fled to North Dakota and were given shelter by Chief Es-en-ce. [Sherry Farrell Racette, JD 8/5/2007]

Biographical Information: “The Pembina Nation Little Shell Band of North America is made up of lineal descendants of a nomadic, aboriginal group of Indians who in 1863 were led by its great Chief, Ase-anse or Essence (hereafter "Chief Little Shell No. 3"). One of the signatories to the Red Lake/Pembina Bands Treaty/Old Crossing Treaty of October 2, 1863 was Chief Little Shell No. 3 or Ayabe-way-we-tung Chief of Pembina Ojibway. (note: the peace medal on his chest with the likeness of Abraham Lincoln who was President at that time is the exact same likeness as you can see on U.S. 1-cent coins). This Treaty acknowledged and asserted the presence and existence of The Pembina Nation Little Shell Band.  In 1874 at Washington he stated that his Father and Grandfather were Chiefs of the same Band before him. Chief Little Shell No. 3, in 1896 gave his name as AYABE-WAY-WE-TUNG "He Who Rests On His Way" (1829-1900).
The Pembina Nation Little Shell Band is not a "recognized tribe" as that term is used for Indian groups who have sought and received formal recognition by the federal government and have given up all or most of their Sovereignty and their Rights.  The Pembina Nation Little Shell Band have not given up or ceded away any of their Sovereignty or Rights. ... 
The Pembina Nation Little Shell Band as it existed in 1863 divided into two groups approximately a century ago. Some of its members were driven by poverty, hunger and government "removal policy" out of what was to become so-called North Dakota to settle permanently in Northern Montana. The Grand Council of 1863, the governing group for the Pembina Nation Little Shell Band, live primarily in so-called north central North Dakota.” [Source: Pembina Nation Little Shell Band, www.pembinanation1863.com/, JD 8/5/2007]

Related image : Same image held at the Smithsonian National Anthropological Archive with the following information:
Title: Portrait (Front) of Es-En-Ce (Little Shell) or Ais-Aince (Little Clam) or Ayabe-Way-We-Tung (He Who Rests On His Way) in Partial Native Dress with Peace Medal and Ornaments and Holding Tomahawk 1874
Contained in: Glass Negatives of Indians (Collected by the Bureau of American Ethnology) 1850s-1930s
PhyDescription: 1 007 in x 009 in photograph Black and white Glass negative
Place of creation: District of Columbia Washington
Cite as: BAE GN 00549 06147000
Culture: Chippewa
Local Number: NAA INV 06147000; OPPS NEG 00549
[Source: http://siris-archives.si.edu, JD 20/4/2007]

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Jocelyne Dudding 18/9/2008]