The story of how the Potawatomi, the Ojibwe, and Ottawa tribes formed a powerful confederacy is steeped in both creation mythology and the harsh realities of intertribal conflict. It is a tale of loss, spiritual awakening, and a conscious decision to forge a new path toward peace and unity. This is How the Potawatomi, the Ojibwe, and Ottawa united as one confederacy.
According to oral tradition, the Great Earthmaker, a powerful and benevolent creator, fashioned the world with its diverse landscapes of trees, fields, rivers, lakes, springs, hills, and valleys. The world was beautiful, but lacked human presence. Earthmaker then embarked on the task of creating human beings, each attempt resulting in a different people.
The Earthmaker’s first attempt involved scooping out a hole in a stream bank and lining it with stones to create a hearth. He built a fire and crafted a small figure from clay, placing it within the hearth to bake. Impatient, or perhaps unskilled, Earthmaker removed the figure too soon. He breathed life into it, and it walked away, but it was only half-baked, becoming the ancestor of the white people.
Undeterred, Earthmaker tried again. He fashioned another clay figure and placed it in the hearth, but this time he fell asleep under a tree. His slumber was longer than intended, and when he awoke and removed the figure, it was overbaked. He breathed life into it, and it walked away, becoming the ancestor of the black people.
Determined to succeed, Earthmaker meticulously prepared for his third attempt. He cleaned the ashes from the hearth and built a fresh fire. He carefully scooped up clay, ensuring it was free of any impurities like twigs or leaves. He crafted a small figure and placed it in the hearth, attentively watching as it baked. When the figure was perfectly done, he removed it, allowed it to cool, and breathed life into it. It walked away, baked just right, becoming the ancestor of the red people.
From these red people emerged many tribes, each with its own distinct identity and territory. Among these were the Ojibwe, the Ottawa, and the Potawatomi. Historically, these three tribes were not allies; rather, they were often engaged in conflict, with battles fought over resources, territory, and honor. This constant warfare took a heavy toll on their populations and strained their relationships.
The catalyst for change arrived in the form of profound personal loss. An Ojibwe man, a father of ten sons all raised to be warriors, watched as each of them perished in battle. Similarly, an Ottawa man suffered the same fate, losing all ten of his warrior sons. A Potawatomi man also experienced the devastating loss of his ten sons in raids. Each father was left childless, their lineages seemingly extinguished. Overwhelmed by grief and despair, they each lost their will to live, abandoning their tribes and wandering into the wilderness in search of a place to die.
The Ojibwe man journeyed westward until he was physically and emotionally exhausted. He came to a place where he intended to rest, and there he encountered a remarkable sight. A large tree stood before him, with four massive roots extending precisely in the four cardinal directions: east, south, west, and north. Each root was as long and thick as the tree was tall. The grass surrounding the tree grew lush and vibrant.
As he looked up, he observed that the tree also had four enormous branches, mirroring the roots in their directional alignment. The tree’s leaves were vibrant and healthy, and a single, thick root plunged directly into the earth, while a central branch ascended straight into the sky. Only a few leaves adorned the very tip of this upward branch. The sky around the tree was a clear, tranquil blue, and there was no wind or breeze to disturb the serene atmosphere.
The Ojibwe man, captivated by the tree’s beauty and the surrounding tranquility, felt a sense of peace he hadn’t experienced since the loss of his sons. As he sat there, he heard the sound of someone weeping. He searched around but saw no one. Finally, he spotted an old man approaching the tree from the south, consumed by grief and sorrow, mirroring his own earlier state. As the newcomer reached the spot, he too was struck by the tree’s beauty and the surrounding peace, and his weeping ceased. He noticed the remarkable features of the tree and then saw the first man, the Ojibwe, sitting at its base. He inquired about the source of the Ojibwe man’s mourning.
The Ojibwe man shared his story, recounting the loss of his ten sons in war and his subsequent decision to wander off to die. The other man, an Ottawa, responded in kind, revealing that he too had lost ten sons in battle and had sought solace in the wilderness.
As they talked, sharing their experiences and empathizing with each other’s grief, their sorrow began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of shared understanding and camaraderie. During their conversation, they heard the sound of another person crying. In the distance, they saw an old man approaching, his movements weary and his face etched with sorrow. He approached the tree from the west, stopping at the western root. He too was captivated by the tree’s beauty, and he wiped away his tears. The Ojibwe and Ottawa men asked him who he was and why he was mourning. He identified himself as a Potawatomi and explained that he mourned the loss of his ten sons in war, just as they did. He too had wandered off to die.
The three men realized that a shared tragedy had brought them to this extraordinary place. The Ojibwe man declared that it was the will of the Great Spirit that had brought them together. They walked around the tree, exploring its surroundings, and noticed the extraordinary stillness of the air. They felt that every word they spoke could be heard by the spirits. Together, they concluded that the spirits had sent them to this place to hold counsel, acknowledging that there had been too much fighting in their lives.
The Ojibwe man suggested that they return to their people. The Ottawa man agreed, stating that it was wrong for them to fight constantly, neglecting their children and causing suffering. The Potawatomi man concurred, emphasizing the senselessness of the ongoing conflict and the resulting loss of life. He proposed that they return home, end the fighting between their tribes, and live in peace.
They lit their pipes and smoked, solidifying their agreement. As they smoked and talked, the Ojibwe man, being the first to arrive at the tree, felt entitled to speak first. He proposed that their people unite as one, with the Ojibwe as the eldest brother, the Ottawa as the second brother, and the Potawatomi as the youngest brother. They all agreed.
The Ojibwe man volunteered to create a pipe and stem, which he would present to his people as a symbol of peace. He would tell them of his ten sons lost in war, but declare that he would wash away the sorrow. He would paint the stem of the pipe blue, like the sky, and this pipe would be used when making peace with other nations.
The Ottawa man pledged to do the same, reminding his people of his lost sons and urging them to cease fighting. The Potawatomi man promised to create a pipe of peace, convene a council of his people, and explain the foolishness of allowing their people to be killed.
The Ojibwe man reiterated that their spirits had brought them together to reach this agreement. They decided to meet again in ten days, bringing their tribes to the roots of the tree. At these roots, their tribes would live, each sheltered by one of the great branches. They then departed, each returning to their respective homes.
Upon his return, the Ojibwe man took tobacco and placed it in his pipe. Though not a chief, he was an old man respected for his wisdom. He presented the pipe to the Chief and declared it the pipe of peace. The Chief smoked it with him. The old man urged his people to make peace, instructing the head chiefs of different Ojibwe bands to take the pipe, tell his story, and explain that the pipe was to be used in friendship. The smoke from the tobacco would soothe and purify their hearts and maintain peace. The older people, having learned the lesson of peace through their losses, would teach the younger generation to carry on the message. The same process unfolded among the Ottawa and the Potawatomi.
Ten days later, they brought their people to the roots of the magnificent tree. Each tribe set up camp at one of the roots. The Ojibwe, Ottawa, and Potawatomi men each brought a chunk of wood, and together they started a common fire, preparing food to share. As they began cooking, they took tobacco and lit the Ojibwe man’s pipe from the shared fire.
Before offering the pipe to their chiefs, they decided to offer it to the Great Spirit who had brought them together. They pointed the pipe stem straight up into the air by the tree. Then, they pointed the stem to the east, offering it to the spirit of the east, then to the south, west, and north, offering it to the spirits of those directions. Finally, they turned the stem down toward the central root of the great tree, offering it to the spirit that keeps the earth from sinking in the water.
After this ceremony, they offered the pipe to the Ojibwe Chief, who smoked it and passed it to the braves and warriors. They all smoked. The man of the Ottawa tribe did the same, as did the Potawatomi tribe.
After this, they lived as one people, declaring that they would keep the fire burning to represent their bond with each other, and that the youngest brother, the Potawatomi, would be the keepers of the sacred fire. The Ojibwe, as the eldest brother, would be the Keepers of the Faith, and the Ottawa (Odawa), the middle brother, would become the Keepers of the Trade. And from that day forward, so it was. This marked the beginning of How the Potawatomi, the Ojibwe, and Ottawa united as one confederacy.
The three old men established rules for their people to live together, presenting them as a path that their people must follow. From the moment they met under the tree, they committed to living in peace and friendship. From that time forward, they adhered to these rules, and the three tribes lived in peace, intermarried, and became almost as one people, marking a significant chapter in How the Potawatomi, the Ojibwe, and Ottawa united as one confederacy.