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7. THE THREE FIRES: OJIBWA, ODAWA & POTAWATOMI

The three Indian tribes most commonly associated with Michigan are the Ojibwa (Chippewa), the Odawa (Ottawa) and the Potawatomi. Closely related in language and culture, these three tribes interacted with each other like members of a family. The Odawa and Potawatomi called the Ojibwa “older brothers.” The Odawa were next born and the Potawatomi were the “younger brothers.” Together, these three tribes formed the Three Fires Confederacy, a loose knit alliance that promoted their mutual interests.

The French called the older brothers of the Three Fires the Ojibwa. Translated, this means “to roast ’til puckered up,” describing the unique style of moccasin these people wore. The Ojibwa, a tribe of approximately thirty thousand people, lived along the southern shore of Lake Superior. They maintained a large fishing village at the rapids of the St. Mary’s River (present-day Sault Ste. Marie) and were renowned hunters and fishermen.