Sophia Endanawass

Mrs. Sophia Endanawass (nee Wacowsia) is # 1319 on the 1907 Wooster Roll where she is identified as the sister of Peter Wacowsia # 1316. Sophia's traditional name is recorded as "Madjigishigokwe" meaning "Dawn" but to understand the name and its translation more fully scrutiny and comment are required by those with expertise in the nuances of the Anishinaabemowin (spelled "Nishnaabemwin" at Sheshegwaning FN) language and Potawatomi culture.

In 1907 when Mrs. Sophia Endanawass was age 45 she was living at Sheshegwaning Reservation where she held only "partial" rights in Canada. The explanation in the Wooster Roll for "partial rights" states, "Are British subjects, and receive all rights except in money arising from the sale of surrendered part of Indian reservation under a former treaty." That statement requires scrutiny and comment by historians with expertise in treaties of the 1700's and 1800's, especially in light of 2016 constitutional consultations.

Sheshegwaning First Nation is an Anishinaabe First Nation on Manitoulin Island. Its land base is located on the Sheshegwaning 20 reserve on the North Shore of Lake Huron just north of Silverwater and across the North Channel from the Thessalon/Sprague region of the "North Shore" of Lake Huron. See associated map. http://www.sheshegwaning.org/.

Sheshegwaning is known as "Place of rattlesnakes" http://www.ourmanitoulin.com/Sheshegwaning.html .

Sheshegwaning First Nation (SFN) is located on the northern shoreline of Manitoulin Island, approximately 112 kilometers west of Little Current and closer than that to the US/Canada border at Drummond Island on the west. Accessible year-round by hard top road, the land base of Sheshegwaning is 10,124 acres. As of May, 2016 the people of Sheshegwaning are described as being of the Odawa Nation of Anishnaabek. The official languages of Sheshegwaning are Nishnaabemwin (Anishinaabemowin) and English. Sheshegwaning Edbendaagzijig (Citizens) number 419 as of April 2013, 111 of whom live on-reserve, not including permanent residents.