The Legend of Spirit Island
Long before the white man vegan to explore the land where the present cities of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin are located, the area was a neutral hunting and fishing area of the Dakota (Sioux) and Chippewa nations.
But there were occasional battles over the rights to the land between the two nations along the banks of the St. Louis River, a stream that divided the disputed grounds and serves as the boundry between Minnesota & Wisconsin in that area.
In the last decisive battle on this river over 1,000 invading Dakotas were killed or captured. One of those captured was a young warrior who was rescued by a maiden, a daughter of a Chippewa chief.
The two lovers fled in a canoe to an island in the St. Louis River. One the following morning a pursuing irate father found the canoe and a smoldering fire. The couple had disappeared leaving two pairs of moccasins at the foot of a bed made of cedar boughs.
Some Indians believe that "Nesagia Manitou" (The Love Spirit) took them away to a hunting ground of happiness and peace. Some say that an Indian love song can still be heard on the Island at night.