We are now in the month of the Crow Moon, the time when Northern American Indians designate as when the crows gather and the awakening of the sleeping bear draws near. This last month of winter is also the birth of month Founding Father James Madison. On tonight’s Sunday Nights Radio we are going to jump into the Ojibwe legend of the Crow Moon, the Sleeping Bear and her cubs, and learn about the Leelanau region in Northern Michigan. We’ll also spend some time getting acquainted with James Madison and Federalist 45.
Currently On Cultural Courage and OZFest
Crow Moon
https://www.notesfromthefrontier.com/post/native-american-moons
According to American Indian legends there are many names for the moon in the month of March. I chose the Crow Moon as on my drives up north in this late month of winter, I see more crows gathered on the side of the road.
FULL WORM MOON: March begins to see breaks in the brittle winter, the ice crust on rivers and streams begins to thaw, water trickles, the frozen earth softens, earthworms stir, and begin to shed their casts above ground. It is a welcome sign for Natives and for the birds, inviting the return of robins and other birds migrating back from warmer climes. Northern tribes knew this month as the Full Crow Moon when crows cawed gleefully the end of winter and life rising from the ground. Some tribes also called this the Full Crust Moon because snow and ice thawed in the warming sun but froze in a thin crust again at night. Others called this time Full Sap Moon, when tapping maple trees for their syrup, then boiling the sap down over roaring campfires was a busy time for some tribes.
Sleeping Bear
This Anishinaabe story involves a sleeping bear. In this legend, a giant bear called “The Great Muckwah” terrorizes villages along the Michigan coast. The bear is eventually defeated by a young maiden who uses a potion to put it to sleep gently.
Manitou Island and Leelanau History
- The name “Manitou” itself means “spirit” in several Native American languages, reflecting the islands’ spiritual importance
- Native Americans viewed the islands as sacred places, believing them to be the abode of their ancestors and the feared Great Spirit “Manitou”
- The islands were used for food gathering, ceremonies, and educating children
Origin of the Name “Leelanau”
The name “Leelanau” itself is steeped in legend. According to one account, it originates from the Anishinaabe language, meaning “land of the delightful waters.” This name aptly describes the peninsula’s abundance of lakes, rivers, and streams.
Another tale suggests that a French fur trader named Jacques DeMotte, upon discovering the peninsula in the 1600s, exclaimed “le beau sol!” meaning “the beautiful soil!” Over time, this phrase evolved into “Leelanau”.
These legends and historical accounts demonstrate the rich cultural tapestry of Leelanau County, blending Native American heritage with European settlement and the natural beauty of the Great Lakes region.
Early Settlement and Maritime Importance
- In 1838, William Burton established the first settlement on South Manitou Island, building a dock in Crescent Bay to provide cordwood for passing steamships
- The completion of the Erie Canal in 1826 made the Great Lakes the primary route for westward expansion, elevating the importance of the Manitou Passage and the islands
- South Manitou Island became a crucial deepwater harbor between Buffalo and Chicago, serving as the only shelter for ships traversing Lake Michigan
Lighthouses and Life-Saving Stations
- South Manitou Island had its first lighthouse as early as 1839, with the current lighthouse being built in 1871
- In 1854, Nicholas Pickard built the North Manitou Island Volunteer Life-Saving Station, the first of its kind on the Great Lakes
- The U.S. Life-Saving Service commissioned a Life-Saving Station on South Manitou Island in 1901
James Madison – Born in The Month Of March
Here’s a timeline of James Madison’s life, focusing on his early education, impact during the American Revolution, and contributions to the US Constitution:
- 1751, March 16: James Madison is born in Port Conway, Virginia
- 1762-1767: Madison receives his early education from Donald Robertson, studying mathematics, geography, modern and classical languages, particularly Latin
- 1769: At age 18, Madison enrolls at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University)
- 1771: Madison completes his four-year college course in just two years
- 1774: Madison begins advocating for independence from Britain
- 1776: Elected to Virginia’s Revolutionary convention, where he drafts the state’s guarantee of religious freedom
- 1780, March: Madison is sent to the Continental Congress
- 1787: Plays a pivotal role in the Federal Constitutional Convention, drafting the Virginia Plan which strengthens the central government
- 1787-1788: Co-authors the Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, particularly writing “Federalist No. 10”
- 1789, June 8: Introduces the Bill of Rights in the House of Representatives
- 1789-1791: Guides the Bill of Rights through Congress, resulting in the ratification of ten amendments on December 15, 1791
The Father Of The Constitution
https://www.montpelier.org/learn/the-life-of-james-madison/
Madison drafted a document known as the Virginia Plan, which provided the framework for the Constitution of the United States. Madison, then 36, spent the months leading up to the convention in Montpelier’s library, studying many centuries of political philosophy and histories of past attempts at republican forms of government. His plan proposed a central government with three branches that would check and balance each other, keeping any one branch from wielding too much power. No such government had ever been created before, and Madison had to use all of his diplomatic skill to argue for his position. He also had to accept compromises to ensure that the Convention would produce a Constitution that all the states could accept.
Madison’s Remedy For Federal Overreach
- Agent, not ruler: The federal government’s powers come from the Constitution, making it an agent of the states and people, not a ruler
- Danger of precedent: Allowing the federal government to violate the Constitution sets a dangerous precedent for further abuses
- Consolidation is tyranny: Twisting the general welfare clause could lead to a consolidation or centralization of power, transforming the republican system into a monarchy
- Duty bound to interpose: States are duty-bound to interpose when the federal government exercises powers not granted by the Constitution