Chippewa Medicine Woman - a Tribute to Inspiring Women

In honor of International Women’s Day, I’m sharing an article that makes my heart sing every time I read it. It is about my great-great-grandmother, Susan Ne-quan-ah-skeek Morrison, titled, “Granny cured with roots, sturgeon oil,” written in 1975 for The Daily Journal, International Falls, MN, by a family friend.

Born in Leech Lake, MN, in 1862, her Chippewa name was Ne-quan-ah-skeek; she was a medicine woman and healer. Also known as Susan and Granny, she lived most of her life on the boundary of Minnesota and Canada, freely crossing back and forth. She married Thomas Kavanagh and together they had 10 children. Shown in the photo of the article is Susan (seated), with her husband, Tom, and my great-grandmother, Irene.

I wish the author had written an entire book about Granny, I’m dying for more stories. A well-known medicine woman, she created her own remedies from plants + roots + barks she foraged, fishing, skinning, and making oil from fish she caught. She was recognized for birthing most of the babies up and down the boundary and an avid-crafter and tailor.

The one memory that sticks out to my grandma, Velma, from her childhood was Granny moving to her tent during the warmer months while the rest of the family stayed in the house. My grandma laughed and shook her head as she told me this story, but let me tell you, those genes run deep! My grandma spent a good part of her life camping and traveling in a fifth wheel, a crazy-crafter herself. I can speak for myself, and most of my family, we all love the outdoors and are pretty crafty, too.

How Susan managed to be a healer, fish, find time for art, and raise ten children is beyond me – I wish I could ask her! She was a total badass. When I read about her it is incredibly inspiring. I can’t help but question and challenge myself, how am I giving back to this world?