Nosse (Father) Baraga
(1797-1868)
Father Baraga was a Catholic Missionary who lived and worked with the Ojibwe Natives from 1831 to 1868 in the regions of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. He became Bishop in the year of 1863. He was known for his zeal and compassion for the Ojibwe during a time when they were being pressured for removal, when the fur traders were working against them and when settlers were pressing in on their regions.
Father Baraga left a legacy of care and concern for all to follow. Confirming over 1,000 persons into the Catholic Faith he became known as the snowshoe priest due to his ability to travel hundreds of miles by snowshoe to be there for another when they were in need. Learn more about this incredible missionary below and the Ojibwe Natives whom he served.
About this Site
This site parallels Father Baraga's histories and the Ojibwe's histories. It compares both sets of information to create a picture of Father Baraga and his work amongst the Ojibwe in the 1800's at the time previous to the treaties and after the treaties were created. During this period of time the Ojibwe were consistently threatened to be removed from their lands and underwent significant hardship like what transpired during the Sandy Lake Tragedy. Given that Father Baraga was the Ojibwe's pastor and was loved by the Ojibwe, he also provided last rites and heard of the stories that they shared related to their challenges. This site shares of this journey that Father Baraga went on while he worked directly amongst the Ojibwe. Father Baraga became Bishop Baraga in the year of 1863 and is considered the first Bishop of the Marquette Diocese.
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Plan Your Pilgrimage
The picture shows a rainbow behind Father Baraga's Cross located in Schroeder, MN which signifies hope for the future. This picture was taken by the author.
Father Baraga had missions around almost the entirety of Lake Superior. Plan Your Pilgrimage allows you to not only see locations where one can find Father Baraga's missions but also shrines, historical markers, museums and other landmarks where one can travel to learn more about Father Baraga as well as the Ojibwe who he worked with.
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The Jesuit Timeline
The picture shown here is a copy of the map drawn by Jesuit Father Claude Dablon in the year 1670. This historical photo can be found on the Wisconsin Historical Society website.
The Jesuit Timeline how the Jesuit Society met with the Ojibwe prior to Father Baraga's arrival in the United States in 1830. The Jesuits partially paved the way for Father Baraga's success and trust with the Ojibwe. The Jesuits worked with the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) nation from Lake Superior all the way to the gulf of St. Lawrence on the eastern side of the United States. Learn more about the histories of the Jesuits and the OJibwe by clicking on the link below.
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Books Written by Father Baraga
This picture is from the authors personal collection of Father Baraga's books
This popular page shows a list of Father Baraga's books that he wrote with the help of the Ojibwe. In addition to creating the number of missions that he created, Father Baraga wrote an extensive amount of books in addition to the largest Ojibwe dictionary ever written. Click on the link below to see these books, be taken to their original place where they were published and to learn about the books themselves.
Research Guru
The University of Notre Dame
This picture is of Notre Dame where many of Father Baraga's records are held.
This page is not for the faint of heart. This is a list obtained from the Notre Dame Archive which lists letters written to and from Father Baraga. If you are interested in obtaining any of these, an email can be written to the University of Notre Dame (email address is listed on this page) to find out what was happening with Father Baraga during this his time in the United States. Please click on the link below to learn more.
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The People of Lake Superior
This picture is John Jacob Astor was painted by John Wesley.
This page is a list of well-known people that were present around the time of Baraga's work with the Ojibwe. As an example John Jacob Astor was the first multi-millionaire in the United States. He was the president of the American Fur Company which exploited many of the Native people. Father Baraga noted many times how the corrupt organization created unnecessary challenge for the Native people to which he was opposed. Learn about others who worked in the region by clicking on the link below.
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About the Author
This picture is the Author at Father Baraga's Cross in the year 2022, two years after her initial visit.
The Author of this site first learned about Father Baraga when she stepped in front of Father Baraga's Cross in the year 2020. Although she was not raised Catholic, her Christian roots and her connection to the Ojibwe in learning of their ceremonies and traditions had her wonder about who he was and his work amongst the Ojibwe. These two vantage points gave her a non-biased approach to understanding Father Baraga's work among them. Her care for the Native people wanted her to understand the relationships between the events that transpired among the Ojibwe in the early 1800's and the work that Father Baraga did. After her research she has dedicated her life to doing Father Baraga's work and having others understand the impact that he really made.