Indian Totem
This land grant to Jean Batiste Celoron is written in French and dated July 15, 1796. The text records the sale of Indian land at River Rouge, Michigan (near Detroit) and was signed by representatives of the Pottawatomi Nation.
Despite their age, the clarity and detail of the Native American signatures have remained vivid, making this document very special. The totem signatures are drawings of animals that represent the names of the individuals. When such documents were first transcribed and published, the totems were usually replaced with the simple "X" mark because reproducing the totem signature on the printing presses of the period was both difficult and expensive. While little information is available about the Native American signers of this document, their detailed and unique signatures (though more than 200 years old) provide lasting evidence of both their individuality and their humanity
The Native American, who signed with their totem signature were (spelled phonetically): Wouaquinai, Nannon, Okias, Neniwvir, Taginogiwoine, and Suquianuiby. French signatures include: Pepin, A. Lescis Delisle, Joseph Chene, Batiste San Craint, Jacques Frei, Jacques Peltier, Lt. Soquom, and P. D. Bellewuz. On the reverse of the document is a note that the information was recorded