T O M W H I T E C LO U D

“BLUE WINDS DANCING”

WHO IS TOM WHITECLOUD?

• Born in New York City, 1912

• Spent part of his youth on the Chippewa

reservation in Wisconsin

• Worked various jobs

• Decided to pursue a career in medicine

• Studied at University of New Mexico and at the

University of Redlands in California

• Went on to study medicine at Tulane University

in New Orleans

• Devoted himself to improving the health of

Native Americans

• Helped found the American Association of

Indian Physicians

CHIPPEWA / OJIBWA CULTURE

• Live in groups or “bands”

• Live a sedentary lifestyle

• Fishing, hunting

• Typical dwelling: wigwam

• OR a domed or pointed lodge

• Made of birch, juniper bark, and willow saplings

• Developed a form of pictorial writing

recorded on rock

• Crafted the dream catcher

• Belief that spirits guided them through life

LAC DU FLAMBEAU TRIBE

LAC DU FLAMBEAU

• Inhabited area since 1745 when

Chief Keeshkemun led the band to

the area

• Acquired the name Lac du

Flambeau from its gathering

practice of harvesting fish at night

by torchlight

• Lac du Flambeau = Lake of the

Torches

• Given this name by French traders

who visited the area

THE GREAT DEPRESSION

• Severe economic depression in

the decade preceding World War II

• Originated after the stock market

crash, October 29th, 1929

• Surest way to become rich became

the quickest path to bankruptcy

• Placed millions of Americans out

of work

THE GREAT DEPRESSION

• Dust Bowl

• Great plains hit hard with a drought and dust storms

• Usually headed to California, seeking agricultural jobs

• Called derogatory names such as “Okies” or “Arkies”

(coming from Oklahoma or Arkansas)

• “Riding the rails”

• Illegal, yet cheap transportation

• Works Progress Administration

• Part of Roosevelt’s “New Deal” plan

• Attempt to help curb unemployment by hiring people

for various projects

• Employed millions of men (many of whom were

unskilled) to complete jobs such as construction of

public roads and buildings