The campsites in Bear Paw are named for the American Indian Tribes that at one time inhabited Wisconsin. Each tribe has its own unique history and contribution to Wisconsin culture. Hike down the trails of Bear Paw and learn a little about our Native American legacy.
Related to the Chippewa and Ottawa, the Potawattomi lived primarily in the lower peninsula of Michigan. Potawattomi found a Wisconsin home near the mouth of Green Bay, later pushing south along Lake Michigan to the Milwaukee River and eventually Chicago. As settlers moved occupied their Illinois lands a band of Prairie Potawattomi returned to Wisconsin, where some still remain in Forest County.
First known as the Housatonic Tribe, the Stockbridge earned their name from the village in New York where they were moved with Onieda in the mid eighteenth century. Native to New York the Stockbridge came to Wisconsin in 1833 when relocated to areas near Green Bay with the Munsee and Onieda. The village of Stockbridge was platted on Lake Winnebago in Calumet County for those who desired to become citizens, while others removed to a reservation in Shawano County where they live today.
The Chippewa were at one time one of the largest in the United States and Canada, holding territory the surrounding both lakes Huron and Superior. Because of their access to abundant rice, the Chippewa were often at battle with neighboring tribes having an ongoing war with the Fox and regular battles with the Sioux. In the early 1700's the Chippewa finally defeated the Fox and then proceeded to drive the Sioux west of the Mississippi. In 1815 the Chippewa made a treaty with the United States and settled on reservation land in their homelands in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota. A county, city, and major river in northern Wisconsin carry the Chippewa name.
The Munsee are natives of the Delaware River valley in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. Western settlement forced bands of this tribe to scatter, joining other tribes including the Mohawk, Stockbridge, and Chippewa and later the Shawnee and Cherokee. It was with the Stockbridge in 1839 that the Munsee first moved to Wisconsin. Munsee bands entered with the Stockbridge into common treaties and stil reside on reservation land in Shawano County.
The Iroquois were a large tribe in New York, comprised of five substantial tribes; Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, and Seneca. The tribes were known to have been largely independent and in a state of constant warfare. Iroquois are known found in Wisconsin by the presence of the Onieda Tribe.
Originally residing in Ontario, Canada, the Ottawa were only temporary residents of Wisconsin. Attacked by the Iroquiois in the 1650's the Ottawa made their way to the islands at the mouth of Green Bay, also traveling to the Black River and Lake Pepin in western Wisconsin. The Ottawa were encouraged to return to Canada and Michigan by the French decades later and remained there until settlement pushed them to reservations in the West.
Foxes share a language with the Algonquins of New York and are closely related to the Sauk and Kickapoo. Some sources place the Fox Tribe in northern Michigan and northern Wisconsin prior to a migration, but the Fox resided around Lake Winebago and along the river that bears their name. The Fox maintained a bitter war through the 1600's and 1700's with the Chippewa and their French allies. Conflict and westward expansion eventually forced the Fox to settle in Iowa where they still maintain a reservation near Tama.
The Sioux is a large family of tribes mostly inhabiting the plains states. Having their own language and culture the list of Sioux tribes is lengthy and history is storied. While Wisconsin is largely east of Sioux influence, there is documented evidence of Sioux bands along the lower Wisconsin River.
Also of Algonquin stock, the Kickapoo are close relatives to the Sauk and Fox. Like the Foxes, the Kickapoo are believed to have lived in northern Michigan, but no solid evidence exists. Kickapoo tribesmen where first discovered by the French near Portage, WI. Another band resided near the Milwaukee River until pushed into northern Illinois. In 1809 and 1819 the Kickapoo ceded their land and were relocated to Missouri and were eventually resettled in Kansas and Oklahoma (and Mexico) where they reside today. The Kickapoo River in southwestern Wisconsin is named for this tribe.
A band of the Iroquois, the Onieda were originally residents of northern New York. The Onieda have a long and mixed history of peaceful relationships and bitter wars with both Europeans and fellow tribes. In 1846, having ceded or sold most of their lands the remaining Onieda moved to reservation land west of Green Bay where they live today.
Directly translated, Menominee means 'Wild Rice Men' and speaks to their diet of rice harvested from Wisconsin lakes. The Menominee settled primarily in northeastern Wisconsin but history records Menominee bands all over the state. Menominee claimed lands from the western shore of Green Bay all the way to Lake Superior, including the land that is today Bear Paw. In 1854 the Menominee ceded all their land save a reserve on the upper Wolf River where they live today. Cities and counties in Wisconsin and Michigan bear the Menominee name as well as Oshkosh and Peshtigo named after prominent chiefs.
The Winnebago, commonly called the Ho-Chunk, share a language with the Sioux. Historically, the WInnebago occupied territory extending south from Green Bay to Lake Winnebago. These territories expanded up the Fox River into southern Wisconsin during the 1700's. A series of treaties and sicknesses drove them gradually westward to reservations in Minnesota and South Dakota, but many Winnebagos were able to remain in their old lands as the tribe moved. Today, the Winnebago name is attached to Wisconsin's largest inland lake as well as counties and cities in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Nebraska.
When explorers first encountered the Miami, they were living near Green Bay and along the Fox River. It appears that Miami may have inhabited Wisconsin prior to this, but by the early eighteenth century most of the Miami had migrated south to the bottom of Lake Michigan into present Michigan and Indiana. The Miami were known as staunch resistors to westward expansion and fought hard before eventually relocating the Oklahoma. Rivers and many communities in the Ohio River valley are named for this tribe, but Florida names owe to a different source.
Named by the French for their rough appearance, the Huron originated in Canada and along the St Lawrence River. The Huron engaged in long standing wars with the Iroquois to the south. Defeated and demoralized the Huron were pushed west to eventually occupy the islands at the mouth of Green Bay. Some splintered Hurons, traveling with Pottawattomi and Ottawa bands settled for a time in locations near the Black River and on Chequamegon Bay. The Hurons eventually followed the Ottawa back east and wound up scattered in Detroit and Sandusky, Ohio.
Relatives of the Fox and Kickapoo, Sauk directly translates 'People of the Outlet'. Ousted from Michigan by the Ottawa, the Sauk moved to inhabit Green Bay and the lower Fox River. Toward the later part of the eighteenth century, the Sauk found themselves in the lower Wisconsin River valley and portions of northwestern Illinois. A series of ill fated treaty attempts finally came to a boil when in 1832 when the Sauk, under the leadership of Chief Black Hawk, revolted against the American government in the Black Hawk War. Black Hawk lead the US Army on a bloody chase across southwestern Wisconsin, finally surrendering and abandoning all territory east of the Mississippi. Sauk migration follows closely with the Fox, to Iowa, Kansas, and finally settling in Oklahoma. The tribe's name can now be found on cities and counties throughout Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, and Minnesota.
A less popular name for the Chippewa Tribe, Ojibwa is a derivative of Ojibway meaning 'roast until puckered up'. Sometimes seen spelled Ojibwe, the Ojibwa name is still carried by some tribes and bands.
Copyright © 1999-2008 BPSC:Online
All rights reserved