Native Americans of The Detroit Area



Obviously, the land which is now Michigan, has been here millions of years. 300 hundred million years ago, this area was swamp land and the plants of swamp, decay to form coal. The time period of about 265 million years ago was that of the glaciers. Glaciers tore hills, filled valleys, and brought great quantities of sand and gravel. When the ice melted, water formed lakes and streams, and gravel cut out valleys. But under it all, are our current natural resources; salt, coal, sandstone, and limestone, among others.
About 2.5 million years ago, Central Michigan was made up of coral reefs and shallow salt seas which eventually dried leaving salt beds and the coral turned to limestone. Western Wayne County is known for its salt beds under the rock, dirt, and clay in many areas.
During what is called the Missian Period, the seas filled with fine mud, which is now used to make potters' clay. Sand beaches became sand stone, which we now quarry near Napolean, Michigan.

The origin of the first occupants of this region has been debated for many years. Several writers believe that those Native Americans here, when the white man arrived, were descendants of the lost tribes of Isreal, and they believe in this theory for a couple of reasons. Cadillac, founder of Detroit wrote a lengthy memorial that is still held in the French archives, stating that the "Indian are decendants of the Hebrew race." He founded this on the fact that many native customs were remarkable similar to those of the Hebrew.
Other researchers indicate that the first comers were from Asia, they made their way by the Aleutian Islands or Behring's Strait to Alaska, and from there, southward to Mexico and South American, afterwards spreading north over the American Continent.
Still others believe these natives are decendants of the Aztec race. Humboldt, for example, stated that the name Aztecas, means "People of the Lake"; and there is no place in the United States that has as many lakes as there are in Michigan. He also found that unique bronze artifacts were found in Central America, and also in China, the picture-writings of the two countries are in many cases similiar, or exactly the same.

But what of the surrounding areas of Detroit ?


Various Western States have located Native American "burial mounds"; in their size, form, and content, they are remarkable similar to those found in the Springwells Township. Four mounds were discovered by French settlers in Springwells. One of the four, remained inside the gounds of Fort Wayneuntil the early 1900s. The second was on the property of the Copper Smelting Works, a third was located in the center of the two. They were circular in form, from 30 - 70 feet in diameter, and vary from 3 - 10 feet in height. Two parallel embankments, about 4 feet high, led to them.
In 1837, one of these mounds was opened, and later in 1876, the mound inside of Fort Wayne was opened. Both were found to contain numerous skeletons, arrow-heads, pots of earthenware or vases. The Fort Wayne mound contained an iron vessel, capable of holding 2 or 3 gallons, and several pounds of what appeared to be a sort of paint.
The Great Mound of the Rouge River, was about a half mile from Fort Wayne (on the west side of Detroit), and was originally probably 300 feet long and 200 feet wide. Henry Gillman explored the mounds in 1876 and found stone axes, fragments of pottery, arrow-heads, and human skeletons.
A member of the Cicotte family recorded that a old Native American man had told him, that the mounds were erected as forts during a time when the tribes were fighting. Native American tradition links these mounds to the Tuetle Indians, who preceded the Wyandotts. The name Tuetle is believed to be an interpetation of the Tuteloes, a tribe that once migrated from Virginia as far north as Susquehanna; but it is now believed that some came as far north as Detroit. Gillman wrote a manuscript of these findings called Mound Builders and Platycnemism in Michigan in 1873.
The name Michigan is derived from two Chippewa words, "Mitchaw" meaning great and "Sagiegan" meaning lake, errgo Great Lake. Of the more modern tribes who lived in this region, the Algonquin appear to be the earliest. They counted among their numbers in the northwest, the tribes of Ottawas, Menominees, Sacs, Foxes, and Chippewas. There were also tribes of the Miamis, Potowatamies, Winnebagoes and the Ouendats, or Wyandotts.
The Wyandotts came to this vicinity about 1680 and excelled in technology from the other tribes. From time to time the Iroquois also appeared. This nation was originally composed of the Onondagas, Cayugas, Senecas, Oneidas, and the Mohawks. In 1714 the Tuscaroras of North Carolina united with them and they became known as the Six Nations. They claimed all of the area of Michigan, and between them and the Algonquins warfare was frequent. The Iroquis did appear to be enemies of all the tribes at or near Detroit in 1649 they drove the Algonquins from this region. The Iroquis were also unfriendly to the French but did services for the English during the French and English war. French residents had recorded that they witnessed the Iroquis actually eat the flesh of persons slain in battle in 1756. Such records are found in diaries, letters, and church records now held in the Library of Parlimaent at Ottawa and Provicedial Registrar at Quebec, Canada.
It was settlement policy of the French to induce as many friendly Native Americans as possible to settle near the forts. In 1703, Cadillac urged the Ottawa to move to Detroit. There are records of several Miamis already settled here and on June 28, 1703, 30 Huron arrived from Mackinaw and errected their homes near the fort. The Ottawa settlement was located where current day Windsor, Canada stands, and the Huron settlement was directly across from the Cass Farm, on the Canadian side of the river. By 1705, Cadillac, persuaded about 200 Native Americans to settle in their vicinity.

A translation of a French Colonial Memoir, written in 1707 described the Native American life in part, as follows: "The village of the Pottowaties adjoins the fort; they lodge partly under apaquois, which are made of mat-grass. The women do all the work. The men belonging to that nation are well clothed. Their entire occupation is hunting, and dress; they make use of a great deal of vermilion, and in winter wear buffalo robes richly painted, in the summer either blue or red cloth. They play a good deal of la crosse. Their bat is a sort of little racket and the ball with which they play is made of very heavy wood. When playing they are entirely naked, except a breech cloth, and moccasins on their feet. Their body is completely painted with all sorts of colors. They often play village against village, the Poux against the Outaoues or the Huron, and lay heavy stakes.
The women cultivate Indian corn, beans, peas, squashes, and mellons, which come up very fine. The women and girls dance at night; adorn themselves considerably, grease their hair, put on a white shift, paint their cheeks with vermilion, and wear whatever wampum they possess. Four or five girls sing and beat time with the drums and sisiquoi, and the women keep time and do not lose a step; it is very entertaining, and lasts almost the entire night.
The Huron, are also near, perhaps an eighth of a league from the French fort. This is the most industrious nation that can be seen. They scarcely ever dance, and are always at work; some grow wheat, they grow large amounts of Indian corn, peas and beans. They construct their huts entirely of bark, very strong and solid, very lofty and very long, and arched like arbors.
The Outaoues are on the opposite of the river, over against the French fort; they have a picket fort. Their cabins resemble somewhat those of the Hurons, all of bark, but not so clean nor so well made as those of the Huron. They are well dressed and very laborious,in both their agriculture and hunting. Their dances, juggleries, games of ball and of bowl, are the same as those of the Poux."
Cadillac described the Ottawas dress as ornamental a little stone suspended from their nose; and the name Ottawa signified, "the nation with a hole in their nose."
The French gave nicknames to most of the tribes in this region. They Wyandotts were designated as Hurons because of their fierce aspect, comparing them to a wild boar. The Chippewas were called Sauteurs; from their residence near Sault Ste. Marie; the Menominees were called Folles Avoines, from wild rice, one of their principal food articles. The name Potowatamie was abbreviated to Poux.
All the tribes known to the Americas, north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River held their council meetings at the village of the Wyandotts, near the mouth of the Detroit River. At various times, nearly all noted Native American chiefs have visited Fort Detroit. Pontiac, Tecumseh, his brother, The Prophet and John Logan, a Cayuga cheif. In 1736, there were 500 Native American warriors at Detroit - 200 from the Huron and Ottawa tribes each and 100 from the Potowatamies.
Several grants for land claims on the west side of Detroit were made by Native Americans and approved by local authorities, however, none became valid. In 1763 the King's Proclaimation expressly forbid such grants and therefore were unlawful. By English and American laws, all the Native American purchases must be made with the consent of the Government, which assumed to own the title. Among the few Native American grants one, by the Potowatamies granted property to Isadore Chene and Robert Navarre, to keep in order the resting places of their dead.
The French trusted the Native Americans almost without fear, there were no locks placed on storehouses, and the Native American's came and went as they pleased. Under English and American rule, the Native Americans were welcomed inside the stockade during the day, but at night all were turned out except those who were entertaining with private persons.
Even after this region was surrended, the English Government sought the favor of the Native Americans by annual gifts; year by year up until 1836 thousands of various tribes gathered in Detroit, Sandwich, and Mulden to recieve gifts. The disbursing of gifts was handled by "Indian Agents". Under British rule, in an account book of the Macombs shows Duperon Baby was paid ten shillings a day for servies as Indian Agent from October 10, 1778 to December 24, 1780. Under an Act of Virginia on August 1, 1780, John Dodge was appointed. He was replaced by the Act of 1805, which organized the Territory of Michigan, and the Governor was appointed as Superintendent of Indian Affairs, which continued until the Act of June 30, 1834.

The Native American lands were gradually extinguised, as to say, the titles of land were taken in most cases, they were tricked cheated or stolen in various ways. The Iroquois conveyed their title in 1784; TheWyandott January 1, 1785; the Chippewas on August 3, 1795; the Ottawas and some smaller tribes on November 17, 1807.
In 1815, the whole number of Native Americans in Michigan was about 40,000; in 1825 nearly 30,000; in 1880 there were only 10,141.




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