Spot Omudis

Omundis was a White Earth Chippewa (Ojibwe) man from the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa band

The Pillager Band of Chippewa Indians (or simply the Pillagers; Makandwewininiwag in the Ojibwe language) are a historical band of Chippewa (Ojibwe) who settled at the headwaters of the Mississippi River in present-day Minnesota. Their name "Pillagers" is a translation of Makandwewininiwag, which literally means "Pillaging Men", or having no land.
The Pillagers at the time had several sub-bands, identified by location. These included the following:

Northern Bands

• Red Cedar (Cass) Lake Band of Chippewa Indians - "where there are many red cedar"
• Turtle Portage Band of Chippewa Indians, located about Turtle River and Turtle Lake, between Leech Lake and Red Lake.
• Lake Winnibigoshish Band of Chippewa Indians

Eastern Bands

• Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
• Bear Island (on Leech Lake)
• Boy Lake
• Pine Point (on Leech Lake)
• Pillager (Makandwewininiwag)
• Upper Crow Wing River
• Wing River

Western Bands

• Otter Tail Lake Band of Chippewa Indians
• Otter Tail River
• Red Cedar Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa who was amalgamated with the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.
• Turtle Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa who was amalgamated with the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

Biography:
O-mud-iz (aka Omudis), was a Chippewa Indian who lived on the White Earth Reservation and was of the Otter Tail Pillager band of Chippewa. He was born c. 1890 to a Chippewa father Ke wash ah 'k....' and a Chippewa mother Ne guan e bib ais e quay, probably on the White Earth Reservation.

According to Carla Joinson in her book Vanished in Hiawatha, Omudis (as he has become known) was admitted to the Canton Asylum on June 30, 1905, this date is questionable without further documentation. Census records show him listed in the reservation census in 1905, as well as 1906 and 1907. (Curator Note: it should be pointed out that some Indian Agents included asylum patient inmates in the local census with the annotation "at Canton S.D., to be included here in a local census is not unusual.)
Omudis was diagnosed on entry with Imbecility, demented, epileptic, and kleptomania (Imbecility is a mental affection that can occur in children. It can also be defined as a general deficiency of mental power and imbecility of act and word. Dementia is a mental enfeeblement that can affect judgment, memory, feeling, and volition and is not limited to the aged. Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder that causes recurrent seizures, which are brief episodes of involuntary movement. Seizures occur when groups of nerve cells in the brain send abnormal electrical signals, which can temporarily disrupt normal brain function. Kleptomania is a mental health disorder that causes an irresistible urge to steal items that are usually of little value and not needed for personal use or financial gain. Kleptomania is classified as an impulse control disorder.)

"Spot Omudis, a Chippewa, who was characterized as an imbecile and mischievous, was also an epileptic. One night Omudis had a frightening seizure so violent he fell from his bed. He thrashed and jerked on the floor, which probably woke another patient, James Two Crows.

When Two Crows found him, Omudis lay face down in a pool of blood..."

In the letter dated February 17, 1934, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Dr. L.L. Culp advises that Omudis (male) was committed from White Earth, Minnesota, died in the Canton Asylum on June 2, 1920, and was buried in the Canton Hiawatha Cemetery tier 1 plot 74.

His profile is part of the The Canton Asylum One Place Study.

Research Notes:
-No clue where the supposed given name Spot came from, it is used by Carla Joinson twice without citation.
-Chippewa Indian bands (10) of the White Earth Reservation, of which Omundis could have been a member:

• White Earth Mississippi Chippewa
• Pembina Chippewa
• Gull Lake Chippewa
• Removal Mille Lac Chippewa
• Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa
• Removal Fon du Lac Chippewa
• Removal Cass and Winnibagoshish Chippewa
• Removal White Oak Point Chippewa
• Removal Leech Lake Pillager Chippewa
• Mille Lac Chippewa

-The 1904 census was typed so Indian names were spelled, this census spelling was used in the tree.
-Omudiz was in the Indian census from 1891 through 1920, the years of his life. the ages in those years match notes in Carla Joinson, ie 18 years old in 1909
__________
Sources:

1891 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll650unit/page/n701/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 480/819, line 501 (Omudiz age 1), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1892 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll650unit/page/n701/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 702/819, line 491 (Omudiz age 2), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1893 - No census

1894 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll651unit/page/n232/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 233/567, line 547 (Omudiz age 4), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1895 Jun 29 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll651unit/page/n396/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 397/567, line 544 (Omudiz age 5), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1896 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll653unit/page/n192/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 283/735, line 554 (Omudiz age 6), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1897 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll652unit/page/n563/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 564/735, line 558 (Omudiz age 7), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1898 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll653unit/page/n192/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 193/727, line 573 (Omudiz age 8), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1899 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll653unit/page/n369/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 370/727, line 583 (Omudiz age 8), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1900 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll653unit/page/n685/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 686/727, line 595 (Omudiz age 10), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1901 Sep 1 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll654unit/page/n180/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 181/725, line 602 (Omudiz age 11), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1902 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll654unit/page/n303/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 304/725, line 571 (Omudiz age 12), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1903 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll654unit/page/n479/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 480/725, line 563 (Omudiz age 13), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1904 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll654unit/page/n574/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 575/725, line 563 (O mud iz age 14), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota (Typed!)

1905 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll655unit/page/n113/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 114/869, line 595 (O-mud-iz age 15), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1906 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll655unit/page/n283/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 284/869, line 579 (O-mud-iz age 16, elder sister has disappeared), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1907 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll655unit/page/n366/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 367/869, line 586 (O-mud-ig age 17), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1908 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll655unit/page/n511/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 512/869, line 584 (O-mud-ig age 18), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1909 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll655unit/page/n679/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 680/869, line 598 (O-mud-ig age 19), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1910 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll656unit/page/n203/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 204/731, line 597 (O-mud-ig age 20), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1911 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll656unit/page/n462/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 463/731, line 598 (O-mud-ig age 21), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1912 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll657unit/page/n88/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 89/718, line 623 (O-mud-ig age 22), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1913 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll657unit/page/n429/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 430/718, line 630 (O mud iz born 1890), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1914 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll658unit/page/n96/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 97/871 line 641 (O mud iz born 1890), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1915 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll658unit/page/n668/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 669/871 line 652 (O mud iz born 1890), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1916 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll659unit/page/n97/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 98/845 line 663 (O mud iz born 1890), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1917 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll659unit/page/n534/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 535/845 line 664 (O mud iz born 1890), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1918 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll660unit/page/n91/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 92/857 line 584 (O mud iz born 1890), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1919 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll660unit/page/n517/mode/.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 518/857 line 597 (O mud iz born 1890), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1920 Jan 30 - "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6J7-FFV : Sun Mar 10 22:26:48 UTC 2024), Entry for Omudis, 1920, pg. 652/1130, line 51 (age 28), census of the Asylum for Insane Indians Canton SD. Canton Township, Lincoln County, South Dakota

1920 May 26 - "South Dakota, Grave Registration Records, 1940-1941", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CYZP-7JW2 : Fri Mar 08 15:25:15 UTC 2024), Entry for Omudis
Name Omudis
Sex Male
Age 30 years
Birth Year (Estimated) 1890
Death Date 26 May 1920
Event Type Burial
Event Place Presho, Lyman, South Dakota, United States
Cemetery Indian Asylum

1920 Jun 5 - Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14494276/omudis-unknown: accessed May 8, 2024), memorial page for Omudis Unknown (unknown–5 Jun 1920), Find a Grave Memorial ID 14494276, citing Hiawatha Asylum Cemetery, Canton, Lincoln County, South Dakota, USA; Maintained by Graveaddiction (contributor 46528400).

1920 Jun 5 - Hilton, M. (Ed.). (2023, July 10). Hiawatha Asylum for Insane Indians Historical Marker. Historical Marker. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=183486 Photo by Ruth VanSteenwyk, July 10, 2023, courtesy of HMdb.org

Edward Hedges 5-21-20 · Omudis 6-5-20 · Guy Crow Neck 7-29-20

1920 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, https://archive.org/details/indiancensusroll661unit/page/n97/mode/1.... Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. 98/956, line 597 (O-mud-iz Note: died June 1, 1920), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota

1921 Jun 30 - “Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [Microform].” Internet Archive, Washington : National Archives and Records Service, 1965, Accessed 29 Feb. 2024, pg. xx/xx, line xxx (O-mud-iz has disappeared from the census), census of the Otter Tail Pillager Chippewa Indians, White Earth Agency, Minnesota