The Ottawa Tribe, also known as the Odawa, represents a powerful and historically significant Algonquian-speaking people with a rich heritage rooted in the Great Lakes region. Renowned as adept intertribal traders and barterers, their very name, derived from the Indian word “adawe,” meaning “traders,” reflects this integral aspect of their identity. Calling themselves Nishnaabe, or “original people,” the Ottawa have demonstrated remarkable resilience and cultural tenacity throughout centuries of change and challenge.
Originally migrating from the East Coast in ancient times, the Ottawa eventually established their traditional homelands across Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, Canada. This vast territory served as the bedrock of their culture, governance, and trade networks.
Origins and Early Life of the Ottawa
The Ottawa were a crucial component of the Council of Three Fires, a venerable long-term alliance with the Ojibwe (Chippewa) and Potawatomi tribes. This powerful confederacy, bound by shared linguistic roots, customs, and cultural practices, provided a strong political and military bulwark in the Great Lakes region. Together, these allied nations fiercely defended their territories and interests against formidable adversaries, including the Iroquois Confederacy and the Dakota people. Their intricate relationships also meant they were historical adversaries of the Wyandot due to their ties with the Iroquois.
Life for the early Ottawa revolved around a seasonal cycle of hunting, fishing, gathering, and agriculture. They were skilled in woodland survival, constructing villages of bark-covered longhouses or wigwams. Their robust trading networks extended far and wide, exchanging goods like furs, corn, tobacco, and medicinal plants with neighboring tribes, solidifying their reputation as central figures in regional commerce.
First European Contact and the Fur Trade Era
The year 1615 marked the Ottawa‘s first documented contact with Europeans, specifically with French explorer Samuel de Champlain near the mouth of the French River. Champlain’s observations painted a vivid picture of the Ottawa at that time, noting their traditional attire, extensive tattooing, and unique weaponry. His accounts highlight their distinct cultural practices prior to significant European influence.
With the establishment of the New France (Canada) colony, the Ottawa quickly became indispensable partners in the burgeoning fur trade. Their established trading expertise and strategic location made them vital intermediaries between French merchants and other Indigenous nations. This alliance deepened significantly when French colonists built Fort Detroit in Michigan in 1701, establishing a key trading post. Many Ottawa bands relocated closer to this hub, gradually expanding their presence south of the Great Lakes into the Midwest, further cementing their role in the evolving colonial economy.
Era of Conflict and Resistance
The introduction of European goods, particularly firearms, dramatically altered the traditional balance of power among Indigenous tribes. The mid-17th century saw the Ottawa, alongside other Algonquian tribes, engaged in fierce disputes with the powerful Mohawk, who were expanding westward from New York. This period of intense competition in the fur trade had disastrous consequences, leading to widespread displacement and even the extermination of some Iroquoian peoples like the Erie. Compounding these conflicts were devastating infectious diseases brought by Europeans, which decimated Indigenous populations far more severely than warfare.
The French and Indian War and Pontiac’s Rebellion
In the mid-18th century, the Ottawa aligned with their French trading partners against the British during the French and Indian War (1754-1763). They actively participated in raids against Anglo-American colonists, fighting to protect their lands and their alliance with the French. However, the Treaty of Paris, which concluded the war, shifted vast territories from French to British control, fueling widespread fear and resentment among Native American tribes.
This shift ignited a pivotal moment in Ottawa history: Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763-1766). Led by the charismatic Ottawa Chief Pontiac, a formidable confederacy of tribes including the Ojibwa, Potawatomi, Huron, Miami, Wea, Kickapoo, Mascouten, Piankashaw, Delaware, Shawnee, and Seneca, united to resist British expansion. They feared losing their French allies and faced an overwhelming influx of colonists settling on their ancestral lands. The rebellion began dramatically in May 1763 with the Ottawa attack on Fort Detroit. The unified tribes subsequently raided British settlements across the Ohio Country and western Pennsylvania, destroying nine out of eleven British forts in the Great Lakes region and capturing or killing over 600 people by late 1763. Though the British military launched counter-offensives in 1764, forcing many tribes to surrender, Chief Pontiac himself did not formally yield until July 1766, a testament to his resolve.
The Northwest Indian War and Continued Struggle
Despite Pontiac’s eventual surrender, the relentless westward expansion of American colonists continued to fuel conflict. During the American Revolution, the Ottawa once again allied with the British, hoping to stem the tide of American encroachment. However, their efforts proved insufficient to halt the inevitable.
Following the Revolutionary War, the Shawnee led a new confederacy, including the Council of Three Fires, Wyandot, Lenape, and Mingo, to oppose U.S. occupation of the Northwest Territory. This conflict, known as the Northwest Indian War (1785-1795), saw regional tribes fighting a series of battles against the United States, with clandestine support from the British. A decisive defeat came at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in August 1794, where General Anthony Wayne’s forces overcame the confederacy. The defeated tribes, including the Ottawa, were subsequently compelled to cede vast territories, including much of present-day Ohio, in the Treaty of Greenville in 1795.
Forced Removals and Resilience
The early 19th century brought increasing pressure from the United States government. In 1807, the Detroit Ottawa, along with their Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Wyandot allies, were coerced into signing the Treaty of Detroit, surrendering extensive lands in southeastern Michigan and northwest Ohio. This forced many Ottawa bands to relocate northward within Michigan.
The passage of the Indian Removal Act of 1830 intensified the displacement. By 1831, the U.S. government had arranged for the Ottawa to cede all remaining reserves. In 1833, their last lands in Ohio were relinquished under duress. A significant forced removal occurred in 1837, pushing the Ottawa west of the Mississippi River, first to Iowa and then to Kansas. The journey and resettlement were devastating; nearly half of the relocated Ottawa population perished within five years of arriving in Kansas.
Despite these hardships, the Ottawa demonstrated remarkable adaptability. In 1862, they were allotted 74,000 acres of land, which they used and sold to fund the establishment of a Baptist school for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. This educational institution eventually evolved into the University of Ottawa, which remains active today, a lasting testament to their commitment to education and self-determination.
The removals continued. In 1867, the Ottawa sold their Kansas lands and moved to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. By this time, their population had dwindled to approximately 200 individuals. There, they entered into an agreement with the Shawnee tribe, purchasing about 14,863 acres to establish a new reservation.
Modern Recognition and Enduring Legacy
While many Ottawa faced successive displacements, a considerable number, particularly Roman Catholic members, eventually returned to their ancestral homelands in Ontario, Canada, preserving their deep cultural ties to the Great Lakes region.
In a regrettable chapter of U.S. policy, the Oklahoma Ottawa were unilaterally terminated by the U.S. government in 1956, stripping them of their federal recognition. However, through persistent advocacy and legal battles, the Ottawa fought back and successfully regained federal recognition in 1978, affirming their sovereign status and rights.
Today, the Ottawa Tribe thrives, a testament to their enduring spirit and rich cultural heritage. More than 10,000 Ottawa reside in the United States, primarily in Michigan and Oklahoma, while several thousand more live in Ontario, Canada. Their contemporary presence is marked by active tribal governments and communities dedicated to preserving their language, traditions, and way of life.
Federally recognized Ottawa governments in the United States include:
- Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan
- Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan
- Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan
- Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma
In Canada, recognized Ottawa First Nations include:
- M’Chigeeng First Nation, Ontario
- Sheshegwaning First Nation, Ontario
- Walpole Island First Nation, located on the unceded territory of Walpole Island between Ontario and Michigan
- Wiikwemkoong First Nation, located on the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Reserve, Ontario
- Zhiibaahaasing First Nation, Ontario
The story of the Ottawa is one of a vibrant people who, despite immense challenges and profound historical changes, have maintained their identity, adapted, and continue to contribute significantly to the cultural mosaic of North America. Their legacy as skilled traders, fierce defenders of their lands, and resilient communities remains an important part of Indigenous history.
