Catherine Park

Mrs. Catherine Park is # 1373 on the 1907 Wooster Roll where she is identified as the daughter of Mrs. Lizette Jacob # 1366. Catherine's traditional name is recorded as "Kabegishigokwe" meaning "All day woman" but to gain fuller and more accurate understanding the name and translation require scrutiny and comment by those with expertise in nuances of the Anishinaabemowin language and Potawatomi culture.

Mrs. Catherine Pahwakodado is # 1401 on the Wooster Roll and undoubtedly is the same person as Mrs. Catherine Park # 1373. Both Catherines are is identified as the daughters of Mrs. Lizette Jacob # 1366 but are reported to be 5 years apart in age. Both live at the small community of West Bay, Manitoulin Island as of 1907. Catherine Park has a traditional name but Mrs. Catherine Pahwakodado does not have a traditional name recorded. Both Catherines have children whose names more or less match. The surname Park is not common and likely is an abbreviation of Pahwakodado. More research is required on the Park/Pahwakodado file.

Put another way, Lizette Jacob # 1366 (age 60 in 1907) has entries for two separate daughters named Catherine. One daughter, age 43 in 1907, is recorded as Catherine Pahwakodado # 1401 and the other daughter , age 38 in 1907, is recorded as Catherine Park # 1373. Potawatomi people sometimes truncated their surnames so "Park", an uncommon name among the Potawatomi, seems to be an abbreviated form of "Pahwakodado". Catherine Park's children have the same names as Catherine Pahwakodado's children. Tillie Park, age 18 # 1374 seems to be the same person as Mrs. Therese Tabassige, age 20 # 1405. Louie Park, age 16 # 1375 seems to be the same person as Louie Pahwakodado, age 15 # 1402. Annie Park, age 14 # 1376 seems to be the same person as Ann Pahwakodado, age 13 # 1403. Lizzie Park, age 12 # 1377 seems to be the same person as Elizabeth Pahwakodado, age 9 # 1404. For the purposes of the Geni database Catherine Park and Catherine Pahwakodado are assumed to be the same person so only one entry is made.

In 1907 when Mrs. Catherine Park was age 38 she was living at West Bay, Manitoulin Island where she held full rights in Canada. (In 1907 when Mrs. Catherine Pahwakodado was age 43 she was living at West Bay, Manitoulin Island where she held full rights in Canada.)

In modern times West Bay First Nation, a predominantly Ojibway community but with members of Potawatomi ancestry, now has its original name "M'Chigeeng" http://www.mchigeeng.ca/. M'Chigeeng also is the location of the Ojibway Cultural Foundation http://www.ojibweculture.ca/. Among other aspects of the leadership of this foundation is a focus on the Anishinaabemowin language, including an annual conference in Sudbury, Ontario drawing speakers, researchers and participants from widely dispersed places in Canada and the USA, mostly from the Great Lakes region. See http://www.ojibweculture.ca/anishinaabewin-conference/