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.
Nosse (Father) Baraga
(1797-1868)
Father Baraga has gone international!
On "All Saints Day" (November 1, 2025) Father Baraga has officially gone international! This website now has the ability to be changed from English to Slovenian, Spanish (Mexico) or French (Canada)! This toggle can be found above and to the right of "follow this site".
Thank you to all of our international friends who have continued these efforts of reconciliation! We are grateful for you and all the work that you have done! This site works to continue this journey with you...side by side.
All Children Matter
September 30 is the annual Orange Shirt Day which remembers the histories of the boarding schools and is worn on this day to recognized Truth and Reconciliation.
The boarding school legacy began only one year after Father Baraga's passing. If Father Baraga were around during the time of the boarding schools he would have advocated on behalf of the Native populations to ensure their welfare.
This orange shirt shows your support for Truth & Healing which speaks about how to share awareness and create healing for what transpired with the Native populations. Please also feel free to donate to help the Native populations with what transpired during the boarding schools and advocate for the survival of their cultures and language
This picture was taken at Father Baraga's Cross in Schroeder, MN.
Parallels between our Current Events and Baraga's Histories
Nothing reminds me more of the histories that I am learning about in which Father Baraga was a part than these times in the United States. Fort Wilkins was a military fort created specifically to allow for the European miners to come to the region after the 1842 treaty was passed. Father Baraga walked back and forth between that Fort and the mission he established in L'Anse in 1843 in order to send his mail and also to give mass with the settlers of that region. The military was used frequently against the Native populations which was what was seen in the Black Hawk wars of 1832 when Father Baraga was working on Beaver Island where the ships would have passed.
In 1862 there was a Dakota uprising and six years before Father Baraga's passing. Father Pierz, Father Baraga's constituent, at that time worked with the Ojibwe chiefs to ensure that Ojibwe would not participate in that uprising. A military fort was even added next to Father Baraga's church in Sault Ste Marie. So it is hard for me, as a person that researches these histories, to not see the parallels of what is happening now to what happened during that timeframe and to not think about Baraga and what he would have done to calm the Ojibwe during that timeframe.
It is important to note that the Native populations were able to remain on their lands because they acted wisely in working with the United States government at that time. The government wanted them to move west. They wanted to stay and the government was more than willing to create of show of force' against any uprising. In fact, the Potawatomi near the southern end of Lake Michigan were forcefully removed from that region in the year 1838, just five years after Father Baraga worked near them in that region. They were shackled moved west during the same timeframe as the Trail of Tears. So the Native populations...and Father Baraga...learned early on that the situation, in order for the Natives to remain on their land, it would have to be done in a peaceful and yet strategic manner. They did so....and they were able to remain on their lands.
As much as we would like to believe that this is the first time our country has seen violence and inhumane treatment against those within our countries walls, this in fact is not the case. Father Baraga seen this frequently when it came to the treatment against the Native populations...and it's one of the reasons the Catholic faith was so warmly welcomed by the Native populations. He worked with them to ensure that they would be cared for. He saw it and he worked with them to ensure that they would remain peaceful during that timeframe. Please note that the famous Chief...Chief Buffalo of Madeline Island...became a Catholic near the end of his life. This confirmation took place after the Ojibwe had signed the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe, which officially granted them the ability to stay on their land. He chose this because of Baraga's example. This act of recognition shows the lengths that Baraga would go through to ensure that the issues that were important to them also became important to him.
To learn more about some of these histories, please feel free to go to my Youtube Channel. Please note that I am not a public speaker. I was chosen to do this work and have these histories explored after being on a life journey that has helped me see the parallels in these histories between the different people. Each video is about 5-10 minutes long and helps a person to see what all transpired during that timeframe. It gives glimpses into the Ojibwe life. It gives glimpses into Baraga's work. It gives glimpses into the events that transpired at that time with the government. It also gives glimpses into the differences between Baraga and the boarding schools, and the level of trust that the Native populations gave to the Catholic populations at that time.
Please forgive any stumbling you may hear. I am working to provide everyone with an understanding of these histories while simultaneously working with my own misgivings in speech. Pretend I'm like Moses...called to the work, but crying to God that I do not feel capable of such a call. But that's what it is to say 'yes' to what God has called you to do. Sometimes I believe He doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called. In this way I am doing all that I can do to work past my own inadequacies in order to have these histories reach a broader audience. Thank you for providing the much needed grace. I do these walk and talks mostly during my morning walk with my pups on my 22 acres. It's some of the little time that I have, but also gives a glimpse into Baraga's work. Walking was not unfamiliar for him...neither was the snow or the woods.
Popular Page
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.
As of January of 2025 the plan your pilgrimage page has been completely updated! Please feel free to stop by to see the latest updates which include a description pop-up when you click on the site, new icons that show you the site type, and driving directions which can be found with a link on the upper right hand side of the pop-up description. It was all created to be able to have the plan your pilgrimage page become more user friendly on the mobile and desktop versions. Feel free to explore!
Research Guru
Father Baraga's Timeline
This is a page that I use as a reference often. This page shows the comparison between what was happening with Father Baraga and what was taking place with the Ojibwe on the right. It builds a context to his missions by seeing directly what the Ojibwe were going through during his missions and the milestones that he made along the way.
Popular Page
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.
New Release
About the Author
This picture is the Author at Father Baraga's Cross in the year 2022, two years after her initial visit.
Many may wonder why I do this work. What is my motivation? Many are surprised when they find out I was not raised Catholic and I am not Native. They wonder what reason would there be for me to create an entire website about a Catholic Priest named Father Baraga and his connection to the Ojibwe Natives? Learn about how much this work means to me and my reasons for pursuing it. You'll be surprised when you find out the incredible miracles behind this journey.