Students Research During the First Week
Michigan's Native Americans
People of the Three Fires
While Michigan was home to many Native American tribes, three important tribes were known as the Three Fires. They were the Ojibwe, the Ottawa, and the Potawatomi. They shared a common culture: similar language, housing, food, trade, and customs. Other tribes to inhabit Michigan include: Fox and Sauk, Kickapoo, Menominee, Miami, and Huron.
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The people of these tribes simply called themselves "the people or original people," and were considered of the Anishabeg culture. They spoke a similar Algonquian language.
Research Project Topics
Clothing
Breechcloths and Leggings Ojibwe and Ottawa clothing (be careful of the date and tribe) Ojibwe moccasin photo |
Ojibwe (Ojibwa, Ojibway, Chippewa)The Ojibwe- click here to see Mrs. Black's fact sheet
Name probably comes from the Algonquian word, "puckering," probably referring to their moccasin style. One of the largest, and most powerful nations. Clothing Men's Clothing Ojibwe Indian Fact Sheet Transportation Information on snowshoes, toboggons and dogs Native American Inventions Click here to read information on Ojibwe housing. Photo inside a winter wigwam Photo inside a summer wigwam Inside our wigwam- description Ojibwe online spoken dictionary Ojibwe Counting Numbers Ojibwe Animal Words Ojibwe Body Parts Words Ojibwe Color Words Click here and here for the directions on how the Chippewa might have made a birch bark container. Click here to see how the Ojibwe collected sap to make maple sugar. |
Ottawa (Odawa)The Ottawa- click here to see Mrs. Black's fact sheet
Click here to go to the Ottawa fact page. Housing Click here to view the steps in the building of a wigwam Click here to see variations on the wigwam, along with other Native American home types Natural Resources Click here to see a cut-away picture of a birch bark canoe. Click here to see plants and their uses in making twine and thread. Click here to see what stones were used for arrowheads and spear points. Click here for a variety of stone tools. These tools are specific to New England, but similar tools were used by the Three Fires. Click here to see what Indians of the Great Lakes might have eaten. Take a virtual tour of an Eastern Woodland scene. Native American stone arrow point photos Different types of stone tools |
PotawatomiThe Potawatomi- Click here to see Mrs. Black's fact sheet
Click here to go to the Potawatomi fact page. Potawatomi language spoken aloud Tools- click here to see tools used by the Potawatomi, as well as other tribes. Natural Resources Click here to see how cattail mats are made. Click here to see how to make a doll of cattails. Click here to see how Native Americans made their own rope or cordage. Click here to go to the virtual coloring book. Color scenes of: at the wigwam, making pottery, fishing. Click here for an interactive road map. Find out if our current roads follow any Native American trails. |
The Three Fires
The Three Fires from The Mitten by Michigan History Magazine
Detroit Historical Society Legends and Information
Meta Web File of various Three Fires information, including...
building a wigwam
tending the garden
making stone tools
grinding corn and nuts
catching fish in a net from a canoe
cooking food gathered
making pots
playing hoop and dart game
picking cherries for bread
learning to shoot arrows
Detroit Historical Society Legends and Information
Meta Web File of various Three Fires information, including...
building a wigwam
tending the garden
making stone tools
grinding corn and nuts
catching fish in a net from a canoe
cooking food gathered
making pots
playing hoop and dart game
picking cherries for bread
learning to shoot arrows
Words that Came from the Algonquian Language
State NamesConnecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Missouri, and Wyoming
North American Animalscaribou, wapiti, moose, chipmunk, raccoon, muskrat, opossum, woodchuck, terrapin, skunk
Food Disheshominy, pemmican, succotash, pone
Native American Place Names |
City NamesOttawa, Saskatoon, Milwaukee, Manhattan, Nantucket, Chesapeake, Olathe, Kennebunkport to name just a few
Plantshickory, pecan, persimmon, tamarack, sqush
Cultural Termsmoccasin, wigwam, tomahawk, sachem, papoose, powow, totem, caucus, tobaggan
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Native American Language Map of the United States
Click here to view the map.