OTTAWA INDIANS IN CANADA

THE OTTAWA MEANS TO TRADE BUY AND SELL A TERM COMMON TO THE CREEK TO TRADE, BUY OR SELL, A TERM COMMON TO THE CREE AND CHIPPEWA. THEY WERE NOTED FOR INTERTRIBAL TRADERS AND BARTERERS - WITH CORNMEAL, FURS, RUGS, TOBACCO, AND MEDICINL ROOTS. THE OTTAWA ARE CALLLED "CHENEUXCRELEUEZ" BY THE FRENCH. CHAMPLAIN VISITED THE OTTAWA IN 1616. THEY DRIED HUCKLEBERRIES FOR THE WINTER. THE MEN WERE WARRIORS , HUNTERS, AND CHIEFS. THEY WENT TO 400 LEAGUES AWAY TO TRADE. THEY MADE MATS FOR THEIR RUGS. THE WOMEN COVERED THEIR BODIES , THE MEN WERE UNCOVERED. THEY HAD FUR ROBES IN WINTER. THEY ASKED CHAMPLAIN TO AID THEM AGAINST ENEMIES ON THE SHORES OF FRESH WATER SEA, 200 LEAGUES AWAY. THE OTTAWA, KISKAKON, AND OTTAWA SINAGO WAS A SINGLE TRIBE. THE OTTAWA CLAIMED THE RIVER BELONGED TO THEM AND OTHER NATIONS MUST SEEK THEIR CONSENT TO USE IT. ALL THOSE WHO WENT TO THE FRENCH TO TRADE BORE THE NAME OTTAWA. THEY DID NOT GRASP CHRISTIANITY AND HAD LOOSE MARRIAGE TIES.

ACCORDING TO TRADITION THE OTTAWA, CHIPPEWA, AND POTAWATAMI TRIBES WERE FORMERLY ONE PEOPLE WHO CAME FROM THE NORTH. THE OTTAWA WERE LOCATED ON THE SOUTH BAY OF GEORGIAN BAY.

THE OTTAWA WERE EXPERT CANOE MAKERS AND AND WERE BETTER MERCHANTS THAN WARRIORS. THEY TOLD A FRENCH FATHER IN 1700 THAT THEY WERE DERIVED FROM 3 FAMILIES, EACH HAD 500 PERSONS. THEY HAD MANY FOLK TALES AND MYTHOLOGIES. HE THOUGHT OF THE DECENDANTS SHOULD BE CREMATED AND SCATTER THEIR ASHES.

A PORTION OF THE OTTAWA LIVED ON MANITOULLIN RIVER NEAR LAKE HURON. THE FRENCH ESTABLISHED A MISSIONIN THE LATE 1600'S CALLED SAINT SIMON. BY 1680 MOST OF THE OTTAWA JOINED THE HURONS AT MACKINAW.

ACCESSGENEOLOGY.COM