Jane Johnston Schoolcraft

Jane Johnston Schoolcraft
Bamewawagezhikaquay
('Woman of the Sound that the stars make Rushing Through the Sky')
Born(1800-01-31)January 31, 1800
DiedMay 22, 1842(1842-05-22) (aged 42)
Resting placeSt. John's Anglican Church, Ancaster, Ontario
OccupationAuthor
Known forEarly American Indian author; wrote in English and Ojibwe
SpouseHenry Rowe Schoolcraft
ChildrenWilliam Henry Schoolcraft, Jane Susan Ann Schoolcraft, John Johnston Schoolcraft
Parent(s)Mother, Ozhaguscodaywayquay, father, John Johnston
RelativesGrandfather, Waubojeeg

Jane Johnston Schoolcraft, also known as Bamewawagezhikaquay (January 31, 1800 – May 22, 1842) is one of the earliest Native American literary writers. She was of Ojibwe and Scots-Irish ancestry. Her Ojibwe name can also be written as O-bah-bahm-wawa-ge-zhe-go-qua (Obabaamwewe-giizhigokwe in modern spelling), meaning 'Woman of the Sound [that the stars make] Rushing Through the Sky', from babaam- 'place to place' or bimi- 'along', wewe- 'makes a repeated sound', giizhig 'sky', and ikwe 'woman'. She lived most of her life in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.