The Mitchigamea, Michigamea, or Michigamie were a tribe in the Illinois Confederation. Not much is known about them and their origin is uncertain. Originally they were said to be from Lake Michigan, perhaps the Chicago area. Mitchie Precinct, Monroe County in Southwestern Illinois takes its name from their transient presence nearby, north of the French Fort de Chartres in the American Bottom along the Mississippi.[1] One of their villages in the American Bottom, inhabited from 1730 until 1752, is one of the region's premier archaeological sites; it is known as the "Kolmer Site".[2]
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Illinois | |
| Languages | |
| Mitchigamea language |
The Mitchigamea are believed to have wintered in Illinois near the Tamaroas and summered in Arkansas near the Quapaw. This is based on archeological evidence, historic accounts, and historic maps. It is theorized that this pattern was designed to take advantage of a good location to conduct summer hunting and trading with the Quapaw which produced hides and meat, while then maximizing trade advantages with the French during the winter. [3]
It is suggested that the people later moved to Arkansas under pressure from the Iroquois. Their best-known chief was Agapit Chicagou. Benjamin Drake, writing in 1848, records that the Michigamie, along with the other bands in the Illinois Confederation, had been attacked by a general confederation of the Sauk, Fox, Sioux, Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatamies, along with the Cherokee and Choctawa from the south. The war continued for a great many years until the Illinois Confederation was destroyed. First hand accounts indicate that after being reduced, some of the Mitchigamea were partially absorbed by the Kaskaskia and many were absorbed by the Quapaw.[4] [5] [6]
Drake records that by 1826 only about 500 members of the Confederation remained. Drake implies that the war came about due to the cruelty of the Illini towards their prisoners, frequently burning them, and even feasting on their flesh when killed.[7]
The Jesuit Relations say: "At 5 miles from the village, I found the Tamaroa, who have taken up their winter quarters in a fine Bay, where they await the Mitchigamea, -- who are to come more than 60 leagues to winter there, and to form but one village with them."
Language
editTheir language was the Mitchigamea language.
Modern Descendants
editThe Mitchigamea do not exist as a social or ethnic group and do not have a living federally recognized tribal government. Despite this the remnants of the Illinois Confederacy which they belonged to exists today as the federally recognized Peoria Tribe of Indians.
References
edit- ^ "Mitchie. Monroe County.". Combined History of Randolph, Monroe and Perry Counties, Illinois. Philadelphia: J.L. McDonough & Co. 1883. pp. 395–397.
- ^ Brown, Margaret Kimball. National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Kolmer Site. National Park Service, n.d., 3.
- ^ Morse, Dan (1991). Arkansas Before the Americans: Origin of the Quapaw. Arkansas Archeological Survey Research Series No. 40.
- ^ Swanton, John (1946). The Indians of the Southeastern United States. Classics of Smithsonian Antrhopology.
- ^ Du Pratz, Le Page (1775). The History of Lousisiana, or of the Western Parts of Virginia and Carolina. Stan Goodman.
- ^ Temple, Wayne (1958). Indian Villages of the Illinois Country. Illinois State Museum Scientific Papers, Volume II, Part 2.
- ^ Drake, Benjamin (1848). The Life and Adventures of Black Hawk: with sketches of Keokuk, the Sac and Fox Indians, and the Late Black Hawk War. H.S, & J Applegate & Co. pp. 16–17.
External links
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