Native American Tribe Series
Potawatomie
The Potawatomie, signifying "the place of the fire," were closely related to the Ottawa and Chippewa tribes and had a common or similar language, manners and customs. At the beginning of the 19th century, were bound by compact to support each other in peace and war. The Potawatomie were divided into two bands -- the Northern of Wisconsin and Michigan (Potawatomie of the Woods), and the Southern, of Illinois and Indiana (the Prairie Band). Their homes were scattered from Lake Superior to the southern shore of Lake Erie, and to the Illinois River, they having crowded the Miami Indians from the vicinity of Chicago.
The first treaty between the tribe and the United States government was made at Fort Harmar, Ohio, the Commandant at the fort, Arthur St. Clair, being Commissioner on the part of the United States. This, like the treaty negotiated at Greenville by General Anthony Wayne on August 3, 1795, the one negotiated at Fort Wayne by William Henry Harrison in June, 1803, and several that succeeded, was a treaty of peace and settlement of boundaries with the Potawatomie, in common with the Wyandot, Delaware, Shawnee, Ottawa, and other tribes. At the Greenville Treaty, the first annuities were paid the Potawatomie, the amount being $1,000. This treaty was signed by the chiefs of the Potawatomie of the River St. Joseph and of the Potawatomie of Huron.
During the war of 1812 with Great Britain, a portion of the tribe allied themselves with that nation, and under the leadership of Sunawe-wone, Chief of the Prairie Band, made war upon the Americans, and were engaged in the Massacre at Fort Dearborn in present-day Chicago. A treaty was made with this band at Portage des Sioux, on July 18, 1815, William Clark, Ninian Edwards and August Choteau being United States Commissioners. By the terms of this treaty, the tribe again placed themselves under the protection of the United States, were reinstated in their privileges, and solemnly agreed to preserve "perpetual peace and friendship" with the Americans. The treaty was signed by Sunawe-wone, and it is said that it was never broken by his band. The following September, a general treaty with the remainder of this tribe and others was made near Detroit, Michigan.
Today the Prairie Band of the Potawatomie continue to hold their reservation in northeast Kansas.
Mondo's NAT #465 - Potawatomie
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