Three Fires. They were the Ojibwe, the Ottawa, and the Potawatomi.

They
shared a common culture: similar language, housing, food, trade, and
customs. They spoke a similar Algonquian language.

Ojibwa Tribe:

The Chippewa Indians, also known as the Ojibway or Ojibwe, lived mainly in Michigan,
Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Ontario. They speak a form of the Algonquian
language and were closely related to the Ottawa and Potawatomi Indians. The
Chippewas were allies of the French and French traders often married Chippewa
women. Chippewa warriors fought with the French against the British in the French and
Indian War.. The Ojibwa tribe lived in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, expanding towards
the lower Peninsula along the Eastern border of the state settling in Saginaw,
Michigan.The Ojibwe (said to mean "Puckered Moccasin People"), also known as the
Chippewa. Ojibway bands lived in different environments, so they didn't all eat the
same types of foods. Woodland Chippewas were mostly farming people, harvesting
wild rice and corn, fishing, hunting small game, and gathering nuts and fruit..They
were primarily hunters and fishermen, as the climate of the UP was too cool for farming.
A few bands of Ojibwe lived in southern Michigan, where they subsisted principally by
hunting, though all had summer residences, where they raised min-dor-min (corn),
potatoes, turnips, beans, and sometimes squashes, pumpkins, and melons.Beadwork
and basket-weaving are complicated art forms which you would not be able to learn in
time. We recommend trying your hand at making a dreamcatcher. Dreamcatchers are a
traditional Ojibwe craft made by children and parents as mobiles for babies. They are
often said to ensure good dreams, though their Ojibwe name, asabikeshiinh, just means
"little web." Traditionally dreamcatchers were made out of bent twigs and some sinew
thread.

The manufacture of sugar was one of the principal Indian industries. They produced
large quantities of this article, and of good quality. Having completed its manufacture
for the year, they packed it in mokoks (vessels or packages neatly made of birch-bark)
and buried it in the ground, where it was kept in good condition for future use or sale.
Their sugar-making resources were, of course, almost unlimited, for groves of maple
abounded everywhere.

Once a year, soon after sugar-making, nearly all the Indians of the interior
repaired to Kepayshowink (the great camping-ground) which was where Saginaw now
stands. They went there for the purpose of engaging in a grand jubilee of one or two
weeks’ duration engaging in dances, games, and feats of strength. Many an inveterate
Indian feud reached a bloody termination on the "great camping ground" at Saginaw.
 There are many Ojibway legends and fairy tales. Storytelling is very
important to the Ojibway Indian culture. Many traditional Ojibway stories
taught important lessons to children, while others were just for fun.
Ojibwa Story:

Story:
The Ojibwe man walked and walked, and eventually he came to a huge tree. The tree had four long
roots stretching to the north, east, south, and west, and four huge branches that extended in the
same directions. The tree also had one huge root that ran straight toward the center of the earth, and
its center limb ran straight up into the sky. The tree was so beautiful, and the view from under it was
so tranquil, that the man forgot his sorrow, and eventually he was happy.
As the Ojibwe man sat under the tree, he saw another man approaching in the distance. This
newcomer was crying as he walked toward the tree, but eventually he saw the tree’s beauty and
stopped under it. The Ojibwe man said, “I lost ten sons in war and was so heartbroken that I
wandered away to die, until I came to this tree. Why have you come here?” The newcomer, an
Ottawa, said, “I too lost ten sons in war, and I lost myself in grief until I came to this place”. The two
men sat and talked of their troubles.
As the two men talked, a third approached weeping. The first two watched as this third came to the
tree. When they asked, the third man, a Potawatomi, told how he had lost ten sons in war and had
walked in grief until he came to this beautiful place.
The three men talked and realized that their sons had died fighting in the same wars. They concluded
that the Great Spirit had brought them together to this tranquil place, where they could hear the
spirits speak. They agreed that there had been too much fighting between their tribes, and too much
grief. They resolved to go back to their tribes and get them to live in peace. They made three pipes,
and each took a pipe of tobacco home to his people as a symbol of peace.
Ten days later, the three old men led their people to the great tree. Each man brought wood from
which they built a fire together, and they cooked food from each tribe. They filled a pipe and offered
its smoke to the Great Spirit above, to the spirits of the four directions, and then downward to the
spirit that keeps the earth from sinking into the water. The tribes each smoked from the pipe of peace
and ate of the common meal, and their chiefs agreed that they should live in peace. The three old men
agreed to a set of rules to preserve the peace and to guide their peoples. This is how the Potawatomi,
the Ojibwe, and Ottawa came to live in peace and to intermarry, as one people.
 Ottawa Tribe:
Ottawa also known as the Odawa is pronounced "AH-ta-wa," the same as
the city in Canada (which was named after them.) It is spelled Odawa in
their native language, and it means "traders." because they had long been
known as intertribal traders and barterers.The Ottawa people call
themselves Anishinabe in their own language, which means 'original
person.' They are a Algonquian-speaking tribe who originally lived on the
East Coast and migrated into Michigan, Ohio and southern Canada. They
lived along the west coast of Michigan bordering Lake Michigan. They lived
near The Upper Peninsula, all the way down towards Holland, and Grand
Rapids.Most Ottawa people speak English, but some of them also speak
their native Odawa language. Odawa is usually considered a dialect of the
Ojibwe language. Odawa and Ojibwa speakers have different accents, just
like American and Canadian English speakers. Their name is from the
Indian word “adawe” meaning “traders” The Ottawa tribe hunted muskrat,
grouse, porcupine, rabbit, wolf, squirrel, otter, marten and mink. They had
a lot of meat to eat. They traded for some corn and farmed little of corn,
beans, and squash.Ottawa Indian foods included cornbread and soups.
They traded for some corn and farmed little of corn, beans, and squash.
The Ottawa's were the only tribe to live in Teepees, thus demonstrating
their innovation and revolutionary strategies for survival. Ottawa Children
do the same things any children do--play with each other, go to school and
help around the house. Many Ottawa children like to go hunting and fishing
with their fathers. In the past, Indian kids had more chores and less time to
play, just like early colonial children. But they did have dolls and toys to
play with, and older boys liked to play lacrosse.
Pontiac was the most famous chief of the Ottawa Indians. In 1763 he led a
number of Indian tribes in an attempt to drive the British from their lands.
They took nine out of eleven British forts in the Great Lakes region. The
Indians could not defeat the strong British forts at Detroit (Fort Detroit)
and Pittsburgh (Fort Pitt). Pontiac's War came to an end after Colonel
Henry Bouquet led a large army from Fort Pitt into Ohio forcing the Indians
to make peace. The Ottawa were vary spiritual one of the spirits they
believed in was the Spirit Gitchi-Manitou,
Original Ottawa story how plants and beans grow:
Long ago the Ahnishnahbe believed plants and animals had spirits that gave them the
power of speech and of reasoning. The corn and bean story is such a story. Corn was a tall,
slender and very handsome plant. He stood in a choice section of the garden. Most of the
time Corn was happy to look at his beautiful surroundings, like the sunrise and sunset. He
loved to watch the animals as they scurried about their business. Sometimes he'd feel a
little sad, although he didn't know why.

One evening as he watched the sunset changed from orange to red to purple, he noticed
two butterflies fluttering around each other. He noticed how they brushed each other's
wings as they flew by. Suddenly, Corn knew what brought his occasional sadness. He
missed the closeness and companionship of a family. He sang the song of loneliness as the
sun slipped below the horizon.

As the morning sun awakened the world, Corn saw that the Squash Maiden had made her
way towards him. She told him she had heard his song and came to offer her
companionship. Corn immediately saw their differences and explained, "Megwetch. You
are a beautiful plant, but we cannot grow together. You must wander all over the ground
while I must stand in one place. Your broad leaves block the sun from the young ones
beneath you. I grow tall and thin to share the sunlight."

The slender Bean heard this and planted herself next to Corn. Her slender threadlike vines
spread out as if to feel for something to lean on. She touched Corn and wrapped herself
around the stalk. They grew tall together. They knew this was the union that was meant to
be. They promised to be together forever.

So that the promise of Corn and Bean will never be broken, the Ahnishnahbe always plant
beans next to corn to this day.
 Potawatomi Tribe:

Potawatomi is pronounced "Poh-tuh-WAH-toh-mee." It means "fire

keepers." That refers to their traditional role in the Council of the Three
Fires (an alliance with their Ojibwe and Odawa neighbors.) Potawatomi was
not originally a written language, so you may sometimes see it spelled
Potowatomi or Pottawatomie instead.Most Potawatomi people speak
English, but some people, especially elders, also speak their native
Potawatomi language. Potawatomi is a musical language that has
complicated verbs with many parts. To travel and hunt the Potawatomi
Indian tribe used birchbark canoes (made of birch bark stretched over a
wooden frame) and dugout canoes (made from hollowed-out logs).
The Potawatomi Indians were farming people. Potawatomi women planted
and harvested corn, beans, squash, and tobacco, as well as gathering wild
rice and berries. The men hunted deer, elk, and wild birds and caught fish.
The Potawatomis also tapped trees for maple syrup as Michigan people do
today.Potawatomi women were farmers and did most of the child care and
cooking. Potawatomi men were hunters and sometimes went to war to
protect their families. Both Potowatomi men and women practiced
story-telling, artwork and music, and traditional medicine. Unlike some
tribes, the chief of a Potawatomi village could be either a man or a woman.
There were two types of dwellings used by the Potawatomis: dome-shaped
houses called wigwams, and rectangular lodges with bark covering.
Potawatomi villages usually included a sweat lodge, meat-drying huts, and a
ballfield. Today, Native Americans only build a wigwam or lodge for fun or
for ritual purposes, not for shelter. Most Potawatomis live in modern
houses and apartment buildings, just like you!The Potawatomis are original
residents of the eastern woodlands and prairie regions, particularly what is
now Western Michigan where we live. As more Indian tribes were forced
westward into the Michigan and Wisconsin area, many Potawatomi people
migrated into other parts of the Midwest. Spirituality and religion were
important parts of Potawatomi life, and some people continue to practice
traditional beliefs today.

Potawatomi Story:
Thunder Mountain
Now regarding the Thunder Mountain in the western part of Marinette
County: Thunder is a large bird like an Eagle, only much larger. And when
this bird was created it was made to have power in order to defend us from
the great serpents, who wanted to kill and eat the human race. It was also to
moisten the earth for vegetation. Thunderers, we call these great birds. One
of them is called Chequah. And the mountain we call Bikwaki, so Thunder
Mountain is Chequah Bikwaki.

Many, many years have gone by since the Hill received its name. In the
beginning of its Indian history the Thunderbirds used to make their nests
here and sit on their two eggs until their young were hatched. Some Indians
many years ago in the summer time visited the Hill and were surprised to
find several pairs of young Thunders. It was always the custom with Indians
to offer tobacco for friendship and safety.

And later on in another visit by the Indians a pond was discovered on the
top of the Hill. And it was dangerous. The Serpent who lives under the Hill
had caused this to be so that he could sun himself when the sky was clear.
And on a sunny clear day he was sunning, probably asleep, when a lone
Thunder discovered him and decided to catch him alive and carry him off.
So the Thunder came down from the sky and caught the Serpent. The
Thunder would carry him high. The Serpent, struggling, would carry the
Thunder back down on the pond.

At that time an Indian hunter who was passing happened to look to the top
of the Hill and to his surprise saw the two struggling, and went up to
witness the great fight. He was noticed by them, and the Thunderbird spoke
and said, "My friend, help me, and shoot the Serpent with your arrow, and I
will make you a great man!" The Serpent also spoke and said, "Help me, and
shoot the Thunder, and I'll promise you my friendship to the end of all
time!" The Indian did not know which one to help, so he shut his eyes and
shot an arrow toward the fighters and shot the Thunder. That shot
weakened the Thunder and he fell down and was taken under the Hill as a
prisoner. The Thunderbird is still there, and the Hill is called Chequah
Bikwaki. Whenever there is going to be a thunderstorm lightning is seen
flashing from the Thunder Mountain.

English (Français) Potawatomi words

One (Un) Ngod

Two (Deux) Nish

Three (Trois) Nswe

Four (Quatre) Nyaw

Five (Cinq) NyanIn

Man (Homme) NIne

Woman (Femme) Kwé

Dog (Chien) Numosh

Sun (Soleil) Kizes

Moon (Lune) Tpukizes

Water (Eau) Mbish

White (Blanc) Wab

Yellow (Jaune) Wisaw

Red (Rouge) Mésko

Black (Noir) Mukte