PUTNAM — On Sunday, May 10, Gary Wiskigeamatyuk, a fifth great-grandson of Chief Senachwine, came to Putnam County to visit his ancestor’s gravesite. Wiskigeamatyuk was a guest of Dick and Nancy Gillfillan on Lake Senachwine, according to a press release from Connie Swanson of Henry

Wiskigeamatyuk displayed the ball head war club of Senachwine, who died in 1831 and was buried in Putnam. The war club was usually worn at the side and was marked with sketches of various battles and other significant designs of native history.

After years of his family moving from one reservation to another, Wiskigeamatyuk was born on a Prairie Band reservation in Jackson County, Kan. He told of the many injustices of the Native Americans in the early days as the territory was being settled. Some of his ancestors even fought in several wars though they were not considered citizens of the U.S. until many years later. He spoke of the many languages that once were spoken among the many nations and how few are actually spoken today.

Senachwine was well-respected and was responsible for his tribe not going along with Chief Black Hawk to bring war down upon the white settlers. He was the last major Potawatomi Chief to live in this area. The Sons of the American Revolution placed a bronze plaque on the memorial stone in 1937 with Senachwine’s speech pleading to Black Hawk for peace. Tom Ashby, state president of the S.A.R., and members of the Daughters of the American Revolution also attended the gathering.

Wiskigeamatyuk went to the George Wheeler farm in Putnam where he viewed the family collection of George Wheeler. The nearby hilltop overlooking Senachwine Valley is believed to be the gravesite of Senachwine. Wiskigeamatyuk paid his respects and offered prayers by burning tobacco leaves and sweet grass, a custom of his people.