Maude Kegg
Encyclopedia
Maude Kegg was an Ojibwa
writer, folk artist, and cultural interpreter. She was a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
, located in east-central Minnesota.
Manoominike-giizis (or "Ricing Moon"), which occurs in August, in 1904 in Crow Wing County, Minnesota
, to Charles Mitchell, a member of the non-Removable Mille Lacs Indians
of the Adik-doodem
, and his wife, Nancy Pine.
Due to the death of her mother either in childbirth or soon afterwards, Maude Mitchell was raised by her father and her maternal grandmother, Margaret Pine, (also known in Ojibwe as Aakogwan).
Maude chose her own birthdate as August 26 since the exact date of her birth was not known.
honored Maude by declaring August 26, 1986, as "Maude Kegg Day" for the State of Minnesota. In 1990, she was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship
from the National Endowment for the Arts
in recognition of her work.
Ojibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
writer, folk artist, and cultural interpreter. She was a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe , also known as the Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians or the Mille Lacs Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, is an Ojibwa tribe located in Minnesota. The tribe boasts 3,942 tribal members as of July, 2007...
, located in east-central Minnesota.
Background
She was born as Maude Ellen Mitchell during theManoominike-giizis (or "Ricing Moon"), which occurs in August, in 1904 in Crow Wing County, Minnesota
Crow Wing County, Minnesota
Crow Wing County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 62,500. Its county seat is Brainerd.-Geography:...
, to Charles Mitchell, a member of the non-Removable Mille Lacs Indians
Mille Lacs Indians
The Mille Lacs Indians are a Band of Indians formed from the unification of the Mille Lacs Band of Mississippi Chippewa with the Mille Lacs Band of Mdewakanton Sioux...
of the Adik-doodem
Anishinaabe clan system
The Anishinaabe, like most Algonquian-speaking groups in North America, base their system of kinship on patrilineal clans or totems. The Anishinaabe word for clan was borrowed into English as totem. The clans, based mainly on animals, were instrumental in traditional occupations, inter-tribal...
, and his wife, Nancy Pine.
Due to the death of her mother either in childbirth or soon afterwards, Maude Mitchell was raised by her father and her maternal grandmother, Margaret Pine, (also known in Ojibwe as Aakogwan).
Maude chose her own birthdate as August 26 since the exact date of her birth was not known.
Marriage
She married Martin Kegg in 1920 in a traditional Indian manner, and, again in 1922 in a church or religious ceremony.Honors
Minnesota Governor Rudy PerpichRudy Perpich
Rudolph George "Rudy" Perpich, Sr. was an American politician and the longest-serving governor of Minnesota. A member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, he served as the 34th and 36th Governor of Minnesota from December 29, 1976 to January 4, 1979, and from January 3, 1983, to January 7, 1991...
honored Maude by declaring August 26, 1986, as "Maude Kegg Day" for the State of Minnesota. In 1990, she was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship
National Heritage Fellowship
The National Heritage Fellowship is a lifetime honor presented to master folk and traditional artists by the National Endowment for the Arts. Similar to Japan's Living National Treasure award, the Fellowship is the United States' highest honor in the folk and traditional arts...
from the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
in recognition of her work.
Source
- "Native American Authors Project: Maude Mitchell Kegg (Naawakamigookwe, Middle of the Earth), 1904-1996", URL accessed 08/02/06
- Buffalohead, Roger and Priscilla. Against the Tide of American History: The Story of Mille Lacs Anishinabe. Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (Cass Lake, MinnesotaCass Lake, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 860 people, 331 households, and 192 families residing in the city. The population density was 753.2 people per square mile . There were 384 housing units at an average density of 336.3 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 30.12% White, 64.42%...
: 1985).
External links
- Example of Maude Kegg's beadwork
- "Kegg's legacy lies in cultural appreciation", The Minnesota Daily
- "Maude Kegg, Naawakamigookwe", Voices from the Gaps: Women Writers of Color
- "1990 National Heritage Fellow", Lifetime Honors: National Endowment for the Arts