The Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan is a federally recognized Native American tribe with a rich and complex history deeply intertwined with the Great Lakes region. Officially recognized by the United States government on August 23, 1999, the tribe identifies as a body of mixed-blood Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatomi peoples. Their ancestry traces back to the prominent Potawatomi Chief, Match-e-be-nash-she-wish, a figure who played a significant role in the tribe’s interactions with the burgeoning United States.
Identity and Nomenclature
The official tribal name, Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan, reflects this heritage. The term "Pottawatomi" itself holds significant meaning. Derived from Bode’wadmi, it translates to "Firekeepers," a testament to the tribe’s traditional role within the Council of Three Fires Confederacy, where they were responsible for maintaining the sacred flame. The common name, Potawatomi, also carries the meaning "Keeper of the Fire".
Throughout history, the tribe has been known by various names, reflecting its evolving identity and interactions with different cultures. Formerly known as the Gun Lake Band of Grand River Ottawa Indians, and the United Nation of Chippewa, Ottawa and Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan, Inc., the tribe is also commonly referred to as the Gun Lake Band, Gun Lake Tribe, or Gun Lake Potawatomi. These alternate names underscore the interconnectedness of the Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatomi peoples, who share linguistic and cultural roots. The term Chippewa, along with its various spellings (Chipewa, Chipawa), is also used, reflecting the Anishinaabe identity that unites these groups.
Contact Information and Governance
The tribal headquarters are located at 2872 Mission Drive, Shelbyville, MI 49344. They can be reached by phone at (269) 397-1780, and by fax at (269)397-1781. Further contact details and information about the tribal council can be found via a contact form on their official website: www.mbpi.org.
The tribe operates under a constitution that defines its governance structure. The governing body consists of a tribal council, comprised of three council members, along with executive officers. These officers include a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer, who are responsible for the day-to-day administration and representation of the Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan.
Historical Territory and Migration
The traditional territory of the Chippewa, Ottawa and Potawatomi people encompasses a vast expanse of the Great Lakes region. Oral traditions speak of a time when they resided near a great sea, referred to as the Land of the Dawn (Waabanakiing). It is theorized that they lived as far away as the Atlantic near the gulf of the St. Lawrence, but more than likely it was Hudson Bay. According to their pictograph engraved scroll written on birchbark that records their migration, which began more than 600 years ago.
Driven by changing climatic conditions and the pursuit of resources, the Chippewa migrated south to the eastern side of Lake Huron. Over time, they expanded westward, southward, and eastward, driven by the fur trade and conflicts with the Iroquois Confederacy.
By the early 1700s, the Chippewa had established control over much of present-day Michigan and southern Ontario. The fur trade with the French further propelled their westward expansion, leading to conflicts with the Dakota Sioux in 1737. Over the subsequent century, the Chippewa were able to push the Sioux out of northern Minnesota and Wisconsin.
By 1800, Chippewa people inhabited a vast territory spanning Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. This extensive land control is unparalleled by any other tribe. Today, Canada recognizes over 130 Ojibwe First Nations in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, while the United States federally recognizes 22 Chippewa groups.
Cultural Affiliations and Confederacy
The Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatomi peoples share a common cultural heritage and are historically linked through the Council of Three Fires Confederacy. This alliance, formed centuries ago, served as a mechanism for political and military cooperation among the three tribes. The Potawatomi, as the "Firekeepers," held a central role in maintaining the confederacy’s traditions and unity.
Treaties and Land Cessions
The Chippewa have a long history of treaty-making with European powers and the United States government. They have signed 51 treaties with the U.S. government, more than any other tribe, as well as over 30 treaties with the French, British, and Canadians. These treaties often involved land cessions and agreements regarding resource rights.
Chief Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish himself played a key role in several significant treaties. He signed the Treaty of Greenville in 1795, which established peace and defined boundaries between the United States and various Native American tribes. He also signed the Treaty of Chicago in 1821, which marked the first land cession to the U.S. government that directly affected his Band. Under the terms of the 1821 Treaty, the Tribe retained a three-square-mile reservation located at present day downtown Kalamazoo.
However, the Treaty of St. Joseph in 1827, signed by Potawatomi tribes, resulted in the cession of rights to the Kalamazoo reserve granted under the 1821 treaty. Neither payment nor land was ever provided to the Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band and this began a period of constant movement north in an effort to avoid forced removal out west.
Reservation and Land Base
Today, the Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Reservation is located south of the city of Wayland, Michigan. The reservation encompasses 147 acres and serves as the tribal headquarters.
Population and Enrollment
Estimates of the Ojibwe population at the time of European contact vary widely due to the dispersed nature of the bands. It has been suggested that there were 35,000 in 1600, but there were probably two to three times as many. The British said there were about 25-30,000 Ojibwe in 1764, but the the Americans in 1843 listed 30,000 in just the United States. The 1910 census (low-point for most tribes) gave 21000 in the United States and 25,000 in Canada – total 46,000. By 1970 this had increased to almost 90,000. Today, collectively, there are 130,000 Ojibwe in United States and 60,000 in Canada. The 190,000 total represents only enrolled Ojibwe and does not include Canadian Métis, many of whom have Ojibwe blood. If these were added, the Ojibwe would be the largest Native American group north of Mexico.
As of 2009, the tribe’s enrollment is open only to babies born to current tribal members.
Language and Cultural Revitalization
The Ojibwe language, known as Anishinaabemowin or Ojibwemowin, is a vital part of the tribe’s cultural identity. It is the fourth-most spoken Native language in North America, after Navajo, Cree, and Inuktitut. The Chippewa dialect, also known as Southwestern Ojibwa, is one of the major dialects within the Ojibwe language continuum.
Recognizing the importance of language preservation, the tribe has been actively involved in language revitalization efforts. These initiatives aim to promote the use of Anishinaabemowin among tribal members and ensure its transmission to future generations.
Economic Development
The Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan has pursued economic development opportunities to support its members and strengthen its self-sufficiency. The primary tribal enterprise today is the Gun Lake Casino, which provides employment opportunities and generates revenue for tribal programs and services.
Cultural Heritage and Traditions
The tribe maintains strong connections to its cultural heritage and traditions. The oral tradition of the Ojibwa tells of the five original clans – Crane, Catfish, Loon, Bear, and Marten – traveling west from the Atlantic Ocean, through the Great Lakes and into what are now Minnesota, Ontario, and Manitoba. The Midewiwin Society is well respected as the keeper of detailed and complex scrolls of events, oral history, songs, maps, memories, stories, geometry, and mathematics.
The Chippewa are known for their birch bark containers and intricate beadwork, usually with floral patterns. The tribe provides cultural workshops on traditional practices, such as cradle fire from flint, tapping and processing maple sugar, creating basswood and hemp dogbane cordage, snowsnakes or zhoshke’nayabo, and black ash basketry.
The Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan continues to thrive as a sovereign nation, committed to preserving its cultural heritage, promoting the well-being of its members, and exercising its inherent rights as a Native American tribe.