On the shore of the Great Lake
rests a huge boulder, a Sacred stone. Legend has it that two
rival Indian Chiefs had many arguments often ending in blood
shed. One of the Chiefs was aggressive, constantly trespassing
on the others Tribal hunting grounds, causing constant
bickering. Again the rival Chiefs met at the boundary line,
there was no rock there at that time, but as usual another loud
argument followed. Unbeknown to the bickering Indian Chiefs, the
God, Great Manitou,
who lived on the shores of Gitchee Gumee, Lake Superior, was
finally so fed up with the continual racket by the rival Chiefs,
he picked up an enormous rock and hurled it down upon them. The
stone fell with such a great force that it made the nearby high
banks quiver for many years after. The banks were thought to be
in continuous motion by the Indians. Geologists confirm
sacredrock is of the same formation as rock found around Lake
Superior. It was said each year the Indians came to this rock
to bring sacrifices to appease the Great Manitou. The Medicine
Man would lead the Tribe to Sacredrock where he would then
choose the best dog of one of the braves. The dog was then
sacrificed in the honor of the Great Manitou. The brave whose
dog was sacrificed would lead the tribe home. This Ceremony was
said to have been seen by a lone white man who was traveling
north on the shoreline. He became frighten with what he saw
taking place at the rock before him. Fearing for his life, he
hid. He later told of his experience to an elder Indian, the
Indian was very surprised recalling that "no white man had see
that ceremony ever before". Up to the 1870's the Indians
continued to offer sacrifices of dogs upon the sacred rock, some
say blood still seeps from the rock when it has rained for many
days and nights. For many years after, Indians continued to
leave tobacco, pipes, beads and other tokens as a sacrifice.
