Martin Tells a Story: Struggles of the Great Lakes Native Americans

By Seung Geel Hong

An old man in a senior citizens apartment building tells a story of the Great Lakes region. It involves the Asian peoples walking across the Bering Straits, landing of the Vikings in present-day Canada, the British and the French Empires in North America, Pontiac's Rebellion, and the Passenger Pigeons

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: May 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9781008926127

Book preview

Chapter 1:  Martin Stanley

Around noon on the following Tuesday, Dad tried to find Martin Stanley’s number in the telephone directory, but Martin’s name and phone number were not listed. Therefore, during the next two weeks, Dad asked several of his neighbors and co-workers concerning the whereabouts of Martin Stanley. And Dad learned that Martin was living at the north end of town near Port Huron Northern High School.

Hence, on one Thursday afternoon after work, Dad went to the senior citizens apartment building called North Port Village and entered the first of two doors at the entrance, and he went to the directory panel and pressed the buzzer that was labeled Stanley, M. And when Martin responded via the intercom, Dad introduced himself and explained that he would like to discuss Martin’s knowledge concerning the Port Huron area. Dad even offered to pay Martin for an interview.

Martin buzzed the second door so that Dad could enter the building and go to Martin’s apartment (on the eighth floor).  And as luck would have it, Martin remembered Great-Grandpa and Dad visiting him many years ago. Hence, Martin and Dad had a friendly visit and arranged for an interview on the following Saturday morning at ten o’clock.  Martin was eager to have the upcoming interview with the children, and he refused to accept any money for it.

Chapter 2:  After the Ice Age

On the following Saturday morning, Mom awoke early and prepared a hot breakfast for the family. She awakened the family at 8:00 a.m. and served them a delicious meal of pork sausage, scrambled eggs, and hash brown potatoes.

After breakfast, Dad and the children showered, dressed, and drove to Martin’s apartment, where Martin was dressed and waiting for them.

Dad shook Martin’s hand and introduced the children, whereupon Martin welcomed Dad and the children into his home; and he offered them pop and fruit juices after he had seated them.

Dad and the children politely declined the offer and looked forward to hearing Martin tell the story concerning the White Oak tree.

Dad explained:

Mr. Stanley, we’re interested in the big White Oak tree that we saw a few weeks ago. It is approximately halfway up a small rocky hill on my Uncle Henry’s property. The property is about 25 miles northwest of here, and it is in a heavily wooded area. We were . . .

Martin was pleased to see someone wanting to talk about that particular tree. He interrupted:

"Oh-yes! That property used to belong to the Jacobs Family when I was a kid, and I used to hunt on it after I grew up. As for that oak tree, we used to call it Ol’ Toughie, because it’s the only tree on that rocky hill. And that tree has survived for 200 - 300 years, possibly even longer. If you noticed, the tree is lopsided, and the trunk is badly scarred: Well, at least the trunk used to be badly scarred. Maybe the trunk has healed somewhat by now. And-oh! The lowest limb is broken off."

On hearing Martin speak so fondly about the oak tree, Dad began to feel quite relaxed, and he asked:

"That’s interesting. Can you tell us more about that tree and this area?"

Martin replied:

Sure!  Where would you like for me to start?

Larry became excited, and he couldn’t help answering for his father:

"Anywhere! But can you start when you were a kid?"

Martin chuckled and answered:

"I sure can, but I can do even better: I can start after the most-recent ice age, which ended approximately 10,000 – 11,000 years ago."

Larry now became even more excited, and he exclaimed:

"Whoa! That would be great!"

The excitement of the conversation was now becoming contagious, especially to young Cindy. She remarked:

"Yeah! That would be fanatic . . . fanstic . . . I mean . . ."

Everyone burst into laughter, and Dad commented:

"Sweetheart, I think you’re trying to say, ‘That would be fantastic.’"

Cindy now felt embarrassed, and therefore she shyly corrected her speech:

"Yeah . . . that’s what I mean: ‘That would be fantastic.’"

Hence, Martin slowly began his story:

"Well, according to most authorities, the Native Americans did not originate from this part of the world: They came from Asia. They began to migrate into present-day North America during the last ice age, possibly as early as 50,000 B.C. (some say even earlier).  It is most likely that the Asian peoples migrated to the Americas in multiple stages in groups of approximately 100 individuals, following and hunting herd-animals such as the mammoths. They entered North America via the present-day Bering Strait.

According to most experts, the sea level was considerably lower than it is now, possibly 300 - 490 feet lower: The sea level was lower because much of the seawater had frozen into huge glaciers, which had ‘locked up’ much of the oceans’ water supply. Moreover, during this period, Asia and North America were connected by a low-lying isthmus (or, a so-called land bridge). Therefore, animals and humans could simply walk across from Asia to North America via the land