Bonga - by Barry Babcock (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"This historical work is a must read for those interested in Minnesota and the nation's history!"

- Leo Soukup, co-author of Ojibwe Imprints on Northern Minnesota

Bonga: A Safe Abode in the Wilderness is the incredible story of how an African slave and family made their escape from the West Indies to the Northwoods of the Great Lakes where three generations married into the Ojibwe tribes and distinguished themselves in the fur trade, were seen with great respect by the Anishinaabeg and white-men alike, and propelled themselves into the vortex of the great events that occurred at this time in the making in the territories of the Great Lakes region and the Headwaters of the Mississippi.

They were stalwarts among men and were intimately involved in the first murder trial held decades before these territories became states. They track down escaped prisoners, open trading posts in hostile countries where others dared not set foot, and they were multilingual-known for their language skills as interpreters at almost every important treaty in what would become Minnesota. They were looked upon by the major luminaries in the territories and states as people of importance who possessed a unique ability to move back and forth among the existing cultures and political boundaries.

Unfortunately, for various reasons, namely racism, their name and deeds have fallen through the cracks of history. Bonga: A Safe Abode in the Wilderness attempts to give them the recognition these extraordinary people deserve.

Review Quotes

"This book gives us a fresh look at the role of George Bonga as a fur trader, interpreter, and a force in the early history of Minnesota. Using correspondence and historical detail, he has created a unique story of George Bonga as an Ojibwe and black man present and involved in the area's major events. Diverse personalities and the events of the time are linked to the history of this intriguing character in a way which keeps us attentively reading from page to page."

- Cecelia McKeig, author of The 1898 Battle of Sugar Point: The Last Encounter Between the U.S. Army and the Indians of North America