The Mitten A Publication of Michigan History magazine SEPTEMBER 2001 THETHREE FIRES he three tribes most French arrived in the Great commonly associated Lakes the Odawa had around Twith Michigan are 3,000 people. the Ojibway (Chippewa), the The Potawatomi were Odawa (Ottawa) and the called “the people of the place Potawatomi. These three of the fire.” They were some tribes were like members of of Michigan’s earliest farm- a family. The Ojibway were ers. The Potawatomi grew the “older brothers.” The squash, corn, melons, beans Odawa were the next born and tobacco. Their villages and the Potawatomi were were larger and more perma- the “younger brothers.” traders. They also made excel- nent than those of the These three tribes formed the lent bark canoes that helped Ojibway and Odawa. There Three Fires Confederacy, also them trade all over North were about 4,000 Pota- known as the Anishinabek. America. The Odawa lived watomi living in Michigan A confederacy is a loose-knit along the eastern shores of during the mid-1600s. alliance that promotes Lake Michigan. When the common interests. Ojibway means “to This painting shows Native Americans roast ‘til puckered up” and living near present-day Sault Ste. describes the unique style Marie. The bark-covered houses shown of moccasins these Native here are called wigwams. Americans wore. The Ojibway, a tribe of around 30,000 peo- ple, lived along the southern shores of Lake Superior and western Lake Huron. The Ojibway were excellent hunters and fishermen. Odawa means “to trade.” The Odawa were skilled Royal Ontario Museum n the mid-1600s, corn, beans and nine Native squash in gardens. IAmerican tribes Native They also hunted. lived in the Great Lakes Men and boys used area. They totaled American traps and snares, as around 100,000 people. well as bows and The largest tribe was the arrows, to take Huron, who lived in the Life bear, moose, deer, region between Lakes wolf and fox. Erie, Ontario and Huron. Americans did not live in Michigan Native Ameri- Tribes living in the area that tepees. Most lived in dome- cans did not wear feathered is now Michigan included the shaped houses called wig- headdresses. They wore their Three Fires: the Ojibway, the wams. Saplings were stuck hair long. Sometimes they Odawa and the Potawatomi. into the ground and tied braided their hair. In the Other area tribes were the together to create a frame. summer, Native Americans Menominee, the Sac (also Sheets of bark taken from wore only a breechcloth Sauk), the Fox, the large trees were placed over and moccasins. During cold Winnebago and the Miami. the saplings. When a family weather both men Each tribe was and women wore different, but they all fur hats, moc- shared three beliefs: 1) casins, leggings Spirits were more pow- and shirts. erful than men; 2) Women also wore Nature—the land, knee-length deer- animals and plants— skin skirts. belonged to everyone Today, many and 3) No one had the places in Michi- right to run another gan have Native person’s life. American Everyone living in an names. The Indian village worked. Michigan of Archives State word Michigan The birch-bark canoe Women and girls did most moved to a new comes from an was a remarkable of the chores. They tanned place, they rolled invention. The canoe Indian language. (softened) animal skins, wove up the bark cover- was strong, water- “Michi” means fishnets, chopped wood, grew ing and took it with proof and lightweight. great; “gane” crops and cooked. Men and them. They left the means lake or boys hunted and fished. They sapling framework behind. water. But Native Americans made bows and arrows, traps, Michigan Indians gave Michigan more than wooden tools and canoes. obtained food in many ways. names. They taught Unlike Native Americans From the forests and lakes Michigan’s first white people who lived on the Great they gathered berries, nuts how to live in the wilderness, Plains, Michigan Native and wild rice. They grew make canoes and hunt. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE THREE FIRES t The MUSEUM OF OJIBWA CULTURE in downtown St. Ignace has exhibits on the Native American ways of life. The museum’s resident Chippewa artist, Ron Paquin, demonstrates how he makes birch-bark canoes and baskets. For information, write to 566 North State Street, St. Ignace, MI 49781. Telephone (906) 643-9380 or visit on-line at www.stignace.com/attractions/ojibwa. The MICHIGAN HISTORICAL CENTER offers exhibits on Darryl Meredith Native Americans in the Great Lakes area. On display are arrow- heads, trade goods and a birch-bark canoe. The museum is located at 717 West Allegan, Lansing, MI 48918. Telephone (517) 373-3559, TDD: (800) 827-7007 or visit on-line at www.sos.state.mi.us/history. The Creation of Places Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan with Native American names he people of the Three lake. The mother bear MICHIGAN = great lake Fires had many stories taught her cubs to be CHEBOYGAN = Chippewa water about how the world thankful to the Great KALAMAZOO = reflecting river T was created by the Manitou for all things. ISHPEMING = heaven Great Manitou, or Great One summer night MUNISING = island in a lake Spirit. One of the stories is there was a big thunder- PETOSKEY = rising sun about how North and South storm. Lightning set the ESCANABA = flat rock Manitou Islands and Sleeping forest on fire. The mother Bear Dunes were made. bear gathered her cubs and A mother bear and her jumped into the lake to escape two cubs lived peacefully on the flames. All through the slept, the Great Manitou whis- the western shore of Lake night they swam toward the pered to her. “Because you Michigan. They ate berries distant shore, away from the always remembered me with and fish and drank from the fire. The cubs grew tired. thanks, I will take you to the First, the younger one Land of the Spirits. Your cubs sank beneath the are already there.” waves, then the older The Great Manitou creat- cub disappeared. ed two islands to honor the The mother brave bear cubs. He called bear could not them North and South save them. She Manitou Islands. The Great made it to Manitou then covered the shore and fell mother bear with a blanket of into a deep sleep white sand. Today she rests on the beach. As she under Sleeping Bear Dunes. What Did You Learn? BONUS: 1. What does the word Potawatomi mean? a. people of the place of the fire Which Native b. growers of corn American group was c. big lake known as skilled traders? 2. What did Native American women and girls do? a. Potawatomi a. make bows and arrows b. Menominee b. tan animal skins c. Odawa c. catch fish Vocabulary 3. Most Native Americans in Michigan lived in WORDS houses called ____________________. 9 4. The _________________ Indians lived in southern Great Plains: Prairie land in Michigan and were good farmers. the middle United States breechcloth: Square leather pieces worn over the front Q M C H K E B A N H S I N A N N T E Z S Find the and back of the hip area following * J P D O I M O T A W A T O P V A O J W F leggings: Leather pants NATIVE N W N D H F M I O X P T O W B H F Z A I AMERICAN alliance: People joined words together in purpose or beliefs J J Q A A W K S J S I H L N S D P U U Y ANISHNABEK saplings: Young trees Q G C W G C X M I P T Q X W E L U T Z U OJIBWAY W U H A P H W Q B V D H O P S S N G N F ODAWA The Mitten is produced by the staff of Michigan History magazine, which is part of the Michigan Historical POTAWATOMI Center. The Michigan Historical Center is part of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Dedicated to B I Y C A N O E W R Y N I R P J G O M L enhancing the quality of life in Michigan, the department THREEFIRES also includes the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Library of Michigan, the Michigan Film Office, and the W S J M Q A S G A P S S Q G B W N J K D CANOE Michigan Council of Arts and Cultural Affairs. SNOWSHOE For more information, Z H J I K S K G Y N M O C C A S I N J S contact Michigan History at MOCCASIN (517) 373-3703 or visit us on-line at www.sos.state.mi.us/history/mag N R T H R E E F I R E S V D O G C A Z H .