Student Reading 6.1: Ohio s Historic American Indians The American Indian groups living in Ohio, during the 1600s and 1700s were known as the Historic Indians because they lived in the period following European contact. European settlers recorded some of their encounters with these groups in diaries, journals, and other sources that tell us about the native people. Six different groups of American Indians settled in Ohio. Each group was part of a tribe. A tribe is a group of people who share culture, leaders, language and lifestyle. They were: the Shawnee, Delaware, Ottawa, Miami, Ohio Seneca, and Wyandot. Although each tribe was part of a different group, they had many similarities. They all used the natural resources around them to live, and make various goods for trading. 1
(This map, published in 1918, shows where the American Indian groups and towns were located in Ohio. Courtesy of the Ohio History Connection Archives Library.) 2
The Algonquian Tribes The Algonquian tribes were the Delaware, Ottawa, Shawnee, Seneca and Miami. The Delaware tribe settled in eastern Ohio near the Muskingum River. They originally came from Pennsylvania and fled westward when the settlers came. They lived in wigwams, dome-shaped homes, made from bending birch bark tree branches into a frame. The frame was then covered with animal skins (deer) and furs. They built canoes for transportation and grew corn, beans, squash, and tobacco. The men hunted and fished, while the women raised the children, harvested crops, and gathered nuts and berries. The Ottawa settled in Ohio in the 1740s along the Maumee River. They came from Canada to hunt animals for fur. The Ottawa lived in wigwams. The Ottawa women harvested crops of corn, beans, and squash, and collected sap from maple trees. The men hunted birds, rabbits, and other forest animals, and fished and gathered wild rice. The Ottawa were known as a trading tribe by 3
European settlers. They traded fur with European settlers for guns and cooking utensils, and traded woven mats with other tribes for pottery. The Shawnee tribe lived in villages in southern Ohio near the Ohio River. The women worked in the fields and planted corn, beans, and squash. They also (This color illustration depicts a Shawnee individual holding a spear. Courtesy of the Ohio History Connection.) cared for the children. The men were warriors and hunted deer, bear, ducks, turkeys, and other animals. Their clothing was made from deerskin, which they decorated with shells and feathers. Two major Shawnee festivals were the Green Corn Dance (where they celebrated the ripening of crops) and the Fall Bread Dance (where they celebrated a successful fall harvest). 4
The Miami settled in the Maumee Valley. They hunted deer, bear, moose, and beaver, and fished and planted corn. They lived in wigwams and were known to bury their dead under piles of logs. Both the men and women pierced their nose, ears, and decorated their bodies with tattoos. The Miami became known as fierce warriors. The Iroquoian Tribes By 1650, the Iroquois began to push their way into the Ohio Country between the Great Lakes and the Ohio River. They defeated and drove out various groups of American Indian (Brewett was a Celebrated Miami Chief. Courtesy of the Ohio History Connection Archives Library.) groups living in the area because they wanted more land for hunting and trapping beaver and deer. The Iroquois traded furs and other goods with both the Dutch and English. 5
The Ohio Seneca left the Iroquois homeland in the state of New York by 1750 for the Ohio Country. Upon arriving in Ohio, they joined the Cayuga nation, who lived along the Sandusky River. By the early 1770s, they had moved to central Ohio, and had villages along the Scioto River. The Wyandot moved from Canada in the mid-1700s into northern Ohio. They settled near the Sandusky River. They lived in longhouses and wore (This spoon or ladle was made around 1830 by the Wyandot. Courtesy of the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution (14/9600).) buckskin clothing. The Wyandot had women leaders in their clans who chose Wyandot chiefs. Wyandot men used fishing nets in lakes, and rivers. The men also hunted deer, beavers, foxes, and other forest animals. Women took care of the children and crops corn, beans, and squash. They also gathered nuts and fruits. Many tribes began to trade with Europeans as their settlements grew. They traded animal skins and furs for cloth, glass, 6
metal tools and weapons. As fur trading increased, so did the demand for fur which caused conflicts between American Indians over hunting lands. 7
Reading Comprehension Questions Name 1. List the names of Ohio s Historic American Indian Tribes. 2. What does the word tribe mean? 3. Explain (1) difference between Algonquian Tribes and the Iroquoian Tribes. 8