On this date in 1904, Pat Gourneau was born at Turtle Mountain, rushed by sleigh to the priest for baptism, and given little chance of survival due to his premature birth.
His aunt Shyoosh, a well-known healer and midwife, created a shoebox incubator and cared for him until he could thrive. Pat later became her apprentice, learning to gather medicinal plants and gaining expert knowledge of nature, creatures, and plant ecology.
Due to epidemics and poverty on the reservation, Pat had to attend government boarding schools at Wahpeton, Fort Totten, and Haskell, where he learned skills like blacksmithing, barbering, harness and shoemaking, dairying, farming, and writing. His penmanship and ability to express himself became valuable life skills, helping him form lifelong friendships and political alliances. He also received military training and discipline.
After finishing 8th grade, Pat traveled across the country, helping his family. He and a friend worked as security in Mexico, but upon seeing U.S. Marines, they escaped under cover of night, heading north.
In East Grand Forks, MN, Pat worked for a truck farmer, learned the trade, and married the farmer’s daughter. He eventually bought land at Turtle Mountain, starting a family farm business. They lived in an 1880 oak log cabin built by fur traders. Pat’s green thumb and innovative methods attracted customers from miles around, selling produce to farmwives, grocery stores, and hotels for 23 years. Pat was known for whistling, singing, and imitating birds as he worked, and was multilingual, fluent in Spanish and Native.
As tribal Chairman, Pat improved conditions for his people. In the 1950s, when the Bureau of Indian Affairs sought to end federal recognition of the Turtle Mountain tribe, Pat fought back. With support from allies like Ed Jollie and Martin Old Dog Cross, the Termination bill was defeated. Pat had a stroke after a trip to Washington, DC, but his efforts were successful.
Pat later worked as a night watchman at the Turtle Mountain Ordnance Plant and, after retirement, promoted tribal traditions through powwows and historical booklets. He conducted ceremonies with a peace pipe passed down from his grandfather, who had used it at the 1863 Old Crossing Treaty and 1870 Fort Abercrombie Peace Treaty.
Pat’s cultural revival inspired future generations. He conducted naming ceremonies for dignitaries and wrote the History of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa and other works. His life and legacy also inspired Louise Erdrich’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Night Watchman.
Dakota Datebook by Lise Erdrich
Sources:
- Pat Gourneau Letters. Collection and recollections of Rita Erdrich.
- Pat Gourneau, History of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. Rolla, ND: Star Printing (several editions).
- Pat Gourneau, A Search for Boundary Butte. Rolla, ND: Star Printing, 1973.
- Section 3: 8th Grade North Dakota Studies.
- https://www.ndstudies.gov/gr8/content/unit-iv-modern-north-dakota-1921-present/lesson-3-building-communities/topic-6-relocation-and-termination/section-3-termination
- North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum. Collection: C - C Collection. Folder: 0000.000. Item: 3639-00001. Title: Patrick Moses "Aun-nish-e-naubay" Gourneau
- American Indian College Fund Blog: The Night Watchman. March 2, 2022.
- University of North Dakota. UND Scholarly Commons, William Langer Papers. Telegram To Senator Langer From Patrick Gourneau Requesting that Langer Assist Martin Cross on His Present Mission in Washington, DC April 24, 1956.
- https://commons.und.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1675&context=langer-papers
- North Dakota Hall of Honors: MaKoche Studios video.
- https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1973-pt10/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1973-pt10-4-1.pdf
