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The Potawatomis: Keepers of the Fire
The Potawatomi Indians were the dominant tribe in the region of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and southern Michigan during the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Active participants in the fur trade, and close friends with many French fur traders and government leaders, the Potawatomis remained loyal to New France throughout the colonial period, resisting the lure of the inexpensive British trade goods that enticed some of their neighbors into alliances with the British. During the colonial wars Potawatomi warriors journeyed far to the south and east to fight alongside their French allies against Braddock in Pennsylvania and other British forces in New York.
As French fortunes in the Old Northwest declined, the Potawatomis reluctantly shifted their allegiance to the British Crown, fighting against the Americans during the Revolution, during Tecumseh’s uprising, and during the War of 1812.
The advancing tide of white settlement in the Potawatomi lands after the wars brought many problems for the tribe. Resisting attempts to convert them into farmers, they took on the life-style of their old friends, the French traders. Raids into western territories by more warlike members of the tribe brought strong military reaction from the United States government and from white settlers in the new territories. Finally, after great pressure by government officials, the Potawatomis were forced to cede their homelands to the United States in exchange for government annuities. Although many of the treaties were fraudulent, government agents forced the tribe to move west of the Mississippi, often with much turmoil and suffering.
This volume, the first scholarly history of the Potawatomis and their influence in the Old Northwest, is an important contribution to American Indian history. Many of the tribe’s leaders, long forgotten, such as Main Poc, Siggenauk, Onanghisse, Five Medals, and Billy Caldwell, played key roles in the development of Indian-white relations in the Great Lakes region. The Potawatomi experience also sheds light on the development of later United States policy toward Indians of many other tribes.
As French fortunes in the Old Northwest declined, the Potawatomis reluctantly shifted their allegiance to the British Crown, fighting against the Americans during the Revolution, during Tecumseh’s uprising, and during the War of 1812.
The advancing tide of white settlement in the Potawatomi lands after the wars brought many problems for the tribe. Resisting attempts to convert them into farmers, they took on the life-style of their old friends, the French traders. Raids into western territories by more warlike members of the tribe brought strong military reaction from the United States government and from white settlers in the new territories. Finally, after great pressure by government officials, the Potawatomis were forced to cede their homelands to the United States in exchange for government annuities. Although many of the treaties were fraudulent, government agents forced the tribe to move west of the Mississippi, often with much turmoil and suffering.
This volume, the first scholarly history of the Potawatomis and their influence in the Old Northwest, is an important contribution to American Indian history. Many of the tribe’s leaders, long forgotten, such as Main Poc, Siggenauk, Onanghisse, Five Medals, and Billy Caldwell, played key roles in the development of Indian-white relations in the Great Lakes region. The Potawatomi experience also sheds light on the development of later United States policy toward Indians of many other tribes.
362 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
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About the author
R. David Edmunds
26 books5 followersA specialist in the history of Native American people and the American West, R. David Edmunds is Professor Emeritus of American History at the University of Texas in Dallas. The author or editor of ten books and over one hundred essays, articles, and other shorter publications, Edmunds' major works have been awarded the Francis Parkman Prize, the Ohioana Prize for Biography, and the Alfred Heggoy Prize of the French Colonial Historical Society. Edmunds has written extensively upon Native American-White relations in the 18th and 19th centuries, and has served as a consultant in the production of over a dozen films or documentaries produced for PBS, the History Channel and commercial television. Edmunds has held advisory positions with numerous museums and federal agencies, and has served as an advisor to the Smithsonian Institution, The Ford Foundation, the Social Science Research Council, the National Park Service, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the ACT and LSAT testing services and The Newberry Library. During 1990-91 he served as the Acting Director of the D'Arcy McNickle Center for the History of the American Indian at the Newberry Library. He has taught at the University of Wyoming, Texas Christian University, The University of California at Berkeley, U.C.L.A. and Indiana University.
Edmunds is the past-president of both the American Society of Ethnohistory (2002-03) and the Western History Association (2006-07). In 1998, he received the Award of Merit from the American Indian Historians Association, and in 2007 he received the Jeff Dykes Award for contributions to Western History from Westerners International. Edmunds serves as a "Distinguished Lecturer" for the Organization of American Historians. His current research focuses upon the history of Native American identity, Native Americans on the Great Plains and Native American biography.
Edmunds is the past-president of both the American Society of Ethnohistory (2002-03) and the Western History Association (2006-07). In 1998, he received the Award of Merit from the American Indian Historians Association, and in 2007 he received the Jeff Dykes Award for contributions to Western History from Westerners International. Edmunds serves as a "Distinguished Lecturer" for the Organization of American Historians. His current research focuses upon the history of Native American identity, Native Americans on the Great Plains and Native American biography.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 9, 2010
The story of the Midwest Potawatomis -- a people who hosted intertribal councils (they kept the “councils of fire”) and were known for their role as peacemakers -- is the story of a people who, like all Native Americans, were diminished and ultimately betrayed by Europeans and Americans.
David Edmunds’ book presents a detailed history of the Potawatomi, focusing on the groups found in Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan and later, Illinois. Edmunds begins his narrative with the chapter “Forging the French Alliance,” which relates the Potawatomi’s first encounter with white men – French traders – and also describes the early and idyllic Potawatomi lifestyle as observed by these traders. The Potawatomis forged strong economic and personal bonds with the French, yet these friendly ties began to diminish the Potawatomi way of life as they began to over-trap – and engage in additional skirmishes with neighboring tribes -- in order to support their growing dependence on European goods.
Edmunds relates that when the French were overwhelmed by the British in the New World, the Potawatomis tried to unite with other Native Americans and turned to the British for goods and friendship. But the British only used them to fight the encroaching Americans, who, when they became the last white men standing, proved to be the final demise of a people who had completely lost their way of life and economic independence.
By no means did the Potawatomi give up without a fight. Although Edmund’s narrative repeatedly shows that the Potawatomi were generally inclined to find a way to peace, when the blatant lies involved in the American treaties became overwhelmingly apparent, the Potawatomis fought for their land. In order to control the “unruly” natives in the Chicago area more efficiently, the Americans built Ft. Dearborn. It didn’t work and the frightened whites, promised safe passage out of the fort by the Potawatomis, were instead slaughtered by them in the famed Ft. Dearborn Massacre. But even during this violent encounter, the Potawatomis revealed their generous natures as several rescued whites from the massacre.
Ultimately it became obvious that the fight against the settlers was in vain and the Potawatomis sold more and more of their land in order to survive. The Potawatomi sided with the Americans during the Black Hawk War, providing scouts and warriors. Yet this loyalty was completely forgotten in the push to rid the Midwest of any and all Native Americans and the Potawatomi were forced to move west.
Edmunds’ meticulously researched book contains a myriad of details regarding every alliance of the Potawatomi (white and native), every treaty, and every battle in which they took part during their known history from the 17th century through the 19th. As someone who resides in the same Chicago suburb which once housed a Potawatomi village and eager for information on the area’s first locals, I often wished that Edmunds had included more history on the Chicago-area Potawatomi. The reason for this omission may be that the Chicago Potawatomi were generally peaceable and their history – except for the Ft. Dearborn Massacre – somewhat uneventful. But I was surprised that the book didn’t even mention the final ritual dance performed through the streets of downtown Chicago by representatives of all the Midwest Potawatomis after they’d signed the treaty that forced them to move west, the dance that terrified white Chicagoans who completely misunderstood its purpose and meaning.
Still, Edmunds doesn’t seem to miss much else and his book, which the University of Oklahoma Press claims to be “the first scholarly history of the Potawatomis,” is an enlightening and engaging read.
(This review also appears at BookPleasures.com).
David Edmunds’ book presents a detailed history of the Potawatomi, focusing on the groups found in Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan and later, Illinois. Edmunds begins his narrative with the chapter “Forging the French Alliance,” which relates the Potawatomi’s first encounter with white men – French traders – and also describes the early and idyllic Potawatomi lifestyle as observed by these traders. The Potawatomis forged strong economic and personal bonds with the French, yet these friendly ties began to diminish the Potawatomi way of life as they began to over-trap – and engage in additional skirmishes with neighboring tribes -- in order to support their growing dependence on European goods.
Edmunds relates that when the French were overwhelmed by the British in the New World, the Potawatomis tried to unite with other Native Americans and turned to the British for goods and friendship. But the British only used them to fight the encroaching Americans, who, when they became the last white men standing, proved to be the final demise of a people who had completely lost their way of life and economic independence.
By no means did the Potawatomi give up without a fight. Although Edmund’s narrative repeatedly shows that the Potawatomi were generally inclined to find a way to peace, when the blatant lies involved in the American treaties became overwhelmingly apparent, the Potawatomis fought for their land. In order to control the “unruly” natives in the Chicago area more efficiently, the Americans built Ft. Dearborn. It didn’t work and the frightened whites, promised safe passage out of the fort by the Potawatomis, were instead slaughtered by them in the famed Ft. Dearborn Massacre. But even during this violent encounter, the Potawatomis revealed their generous natures as several rescued whites from the massacre.
Ultimately it became obvious that the fight against the settlers was in vain and the Potawatomis sold more and more of their land in order to survive. The Potawatomi sided with the Americans during the Black Hawk War, providing scouts and warriors. Yet this loyalty was completely forgotten in the push to rid the Midwest of any and all Native Americans and the Potawatomi were forced to move west.
Edmunds’ meticulously researched book contains a myriad of details regarding every alliance of the Potawatomi (white and native), every treaty, and every battle in which they took part during their known history from the 17th century through the 19th. As someone who resides in the same Chicago suburb which once housed a Potawatomi village and eager for information on the area’s first locals, I often wished that Edmunds had included more history on the Chicago-area Potawatomi. The reason for this omission may be that the Chicago Potawatomi were generally peaceable and their history – except for the Ft. Dearborn Massacre – somewhat uneventful. But I was surprised that the book didn’t even mention the final ritual dance performed through the streets of downtown Chicago by representatives of all the Midwest Potawatomis after they’d signed the treaty that forced them to move west, the dance that terrified white Chicagoans who completely misunderstood its purpose and meaning.
Still, Edmunds doesn’t seem to miss much else and his book, which the University of Oklahoma Press claims to be “the first scholarly history of the Potawatomis,” is an enlightening and engaging read.
(This review also appears at BookPleasures.com).
May 11, 2020
Written by a non-native historian in 1978, this book offers a comprehensive account of the Potawatomi nation. Though it is full of detail, dates, and names, it is a compelling read and highly recommended to any student of the battles for the northeastern woodlands of North America.
March 27, 2021
The Potawatomis ranged throughout the US upper midwest in the 1700s and early 1800s initially interacting with French and British explorers and traders. As the US became independent from the British and began a western settlement movement, the Potawatomis became embroiled in the conflicting desires of the whites seeking territorial control of what was then referred to as the northwest territories. Mr. Edmonds conducted detailed research of these events, describing the battles, naming the native chiefs, citing dates and places of significant events in the lands that would become states ranging from Ohio and Kentucky westward to Wisconsin and Illinois. Ultimately, the US government sought and facilitated their removal to areas now known as Iowa, Missouri and Kansas. Edmond cites the mismanagement, greed and ineptitude of individuals involved in the removal of individuals from their native homeland. For those interested in Midwest history, native Americans, and the conflicting issues associated with this transition, this book is an excellent read.
April 18, 2024
It's a valuable book. But, today, the perspective seems quite dated and out of touch. To my reading, its aim seemed to be "comprehensive summary of everything contemporaneous Europeans wrote about the Potawatomi". Through about 1840. There's rather little context added beyond a summary of European journals, etc. There's almost nothing from the Potawatomi perspective.
December 12, 2017
Not an easy read. Well documented true story of the native Americans in Illinois and what is known as the old Northwest.
August 1, 2019
Edmunds' The Potawatomis: Keepers of the Fire is exceptionally well researched and presented as a timeline from ancient history to the removal period ending in the 1840s. Published in 1978, it remains as one of the only comprehensive written histories of the Potawatomi tribe.
Edmunds' provides a fact-based presentation of the Potawatomi using contemporary source material and rarely inserts his own commentary regarding the people, places, and events. In other words, he allows the reader interpret the consequences of historical events rather than inserting his own personal biases in recounting the tribe's history.
Overall, the quality is writing is excellent, though there are points in the book when the amount of detail/facts being presented considerably slows the flow of the story. I referred to the Notes section of the book many times. Given that much of the source material provided in the Notes has been scanned and uploaded to the Internet, the reader can verify Edmunds' interpretation of facts and dig much deeper into most historical events covered in the book.
If the book were to be republished, I would strongly recommend the addition of several more maps. Some locations are presented in such an overly broad context that I sometimes became unsure of exactly the location being referred to by Edmunds (e.g., the St. Joseph Valley - Is that within present day Michigan and Indiana, or simply Michigan?). Also, there are other sources available that show the migration routes of the Potawatomis during the removal period (circa 1828 to early 1840s); including maps of these routes would have provided clearer context to Edmunds' written word. Regardless, the book is very much worth reading for those interested in Potawatomi history or history of Native Americans in the Old Northwest.
Edmunds' provides a fact-based presentation of the Potawatomi using contemporary source material and rarely inserts his own commentary regarding the people, places, and events. In other words, he allows the reader interpret the consequences of historical events rather than inserting his own personal biases in recounting the tribe's history.
Overall, the quality is writing is excellent, though there are points in the book when the amount of detail/facts being presented considerably slows the flow of the story. I referred to the Notes section of the book many times. Given that much of the source material provided in the Notes has been scanned and uploaded to the Internet, the reader can verify Edmunds' interpretation of facts and dig much deeper into most historical events covered in the book.
If the book were to be republished, I would strongly recommend the addition of several more maps. Some locations are presented in such an overly broad context that I sometimes became unsure of exactly the location being referred to by Edmunds (e.g., the St. Joseph Valley - Is that within present day Michigan and Indiana, or simply Michigan?). Also, there are other sources available that show the migration routes of the Potawatomis during the removal period (circa 1828 to early 1840s); including maps of these routes would have provided clearer context to Edmunds' written word. Regardless, the book is very much worth reading for those interested in Potawatomi history or history of Native Americans in the Old Northwest.
November 27, 2011
A lot of good information on how the Potawtomis lost their land, or should I say, were taken advantage of their weaknesses and desperation. Was infomative and enjoyable but was a bit slow for me in the middle.
April 23, 2015
Very well written. The author has successfully produced a readable, understandable history of the Potawatomis from the French era through the removal period. Well worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews