| An Anthropology Report of the Eel River Tribe of Indiana The Eel River Tribe was never very large. Croghan ( an early contact) referred to the Eel River village in 1765 as “small” and in 1778 the Eel River Indians themselves told Hamilton that their “small numbers did not allow them to send off warriors” to help re-take Vincennes. In 1788, Hamertrack estimated the Eel River had 150 warriors, which made their total population maybe about 600 in all. In 1851 there were 16 Eel River Indians (known) living in Indiana, and three women who had married into the Western Miami and were living west of the Mississippi. Making a total of 19 (known) Eel River People. The relatively small size of the Eel River Tribe, plus the fact that living along the Wabash River between two larger groups, The Miamis, and the Wea and that we resembled these two groups in language and culture might have also accounted for three early observers having identified the Eel River, mistakenly as “Miami.” ( by Croghan and Hamilton) and as “Weschtenoos [Wea]” ( by Heckwelder). They did not understand that the Eel Rivers were, a group separate and independent from either the Miami or Wea . Here began the confusion. Anthropological Report of the Miamis Wea and Eel River Indians Vol. 1. Chapter 4, pp. 171-179: Drs. Ermine Wheeler- Voegelin, Emily J. Blasingham, Dorothy R. Libby Little Turtle was the chief and headman of the Eel River Tribe prior to the signing of the 1805 Treaty which was intended to combine them, along with the Wea tribe, into the larger Miami tribe. To the government, it only made sense. The small numbers of the Wea and Eel Rivers and because they lived in the general vicinity of one another, spoke a similar language, dressed and appeared to share a similar ancestry had caused this union. There had been some marriage between the trio and this also added to the conclusion of grouping them together as one collective tribe called, Miami. Later this would add to them and the Wea, being considered only clan groups of the Miami. Little Turtle was a great war chief and had led a confederacy force of Woodland tribes against the Americans in decisive victories. His victories are still regarded as some of the most lopsided defeats inflicted against any American force even today. To say the least, he (Little Turtle) had earned the respect as a leader and statesmen and would be the logical choice as war chief for the new collective Miami. Still he was Eel River. His appointment was also intended to further blend the three groups, honor the leaders of the smaller tribes, as they were forced by treaty to formally join. With the execution and signatures on this treaty, Little Turtle would be forever associated as a Miami and would be forgotten over the generations that he was in fact an Eel River Chief and more. Little Turtle Speaks: “I am no Miami, I am only their interpreter” Nearly all historians agree that Little Turtle was a fine orator and can recall many of his speeches at meetings. However; his meeting at the council held July 10th, 1805, before combining the Eel River and Wea with the Miami, is almost never discussed. Here he said quite clearly "I am no Miami, I am only their interpreter." Little Turtle, the head Chief of the Eel Rivers passed the headman duties and responsibilities to Charley ‘Katunga’ after this council meeting held in July 1805. National Archives, RG 107. Old Army, H-325(2) . Signed J.J. [John Johnston] Enc. With letter of William Henry Harrison to Henry Dearborn Vincennes, July 10, 1805 (continued). Minutes of a council meeting held with the Delaware, Eel River, Miami July, 1805. Little Turtle made this statement because, not until after that meeting by Aug. 21st a treaty was then signed with the intention of combining the three groups under the united name "Miamis". This collective, Miami tribe would make it easier to enter into treaties, cede lands, pay annuities by dealing with one common group. In reality it only caused additional confusion and clouded the rolls of clear leadership and the rights of all. TREATY WITH THE DELAWARES, ETC., 1805. Aug. 21, 1805. | 7 Stat., 91. | Proclamation, Apr. 24. 1806. (Kappler Indian Laws and Treaties) This letter from the minutes of the council meeting, was recorded July 10th, before the Treaty on August. 21st. At that time Little Turtle was speaking the truth. He was no Miami and was only interpreting for them on their behalf and at that time he was only considered an Eel River Chief. The treaty following this council meeting was completed in August. Only then was Little Turtle to be considered a member of the new Miami collective. However; his roots did not change, he was still Eel River and trough his mother also relative to The Delaware.{CC. Trowbridge, National Archive etc} Vague accounts are all that exist on Little Turtle’s parents. Most historians do agree that his mother was a Mohegan woman. She had been transplanted to the West and there was treated as any other adopted tribal person. She had encountered a Trader who was injured in the leg while in a conflict near the Wea along the Wabash River. She had helped him to safety by carrying or dragging him to the nearest friendly village. Here he was nursed back to health to almost a complete recovery. He was so grateful, but now without possessions, he could only admire her courage and repeat his admiration and thanks to her. His feeling grew so strong for her that it was said he had thought of her as his own daughter and considered her as such. CC Trowbridge interview / Allen Co Library Microfilm Dept. 1826 "LeGros" We do not debate that Little Turtle was a honorable and historically, a great leader of his time. We do however feel obligated to tell this accounts and that of the tiny Eel River Tribe that has sometimes been overshadowed in history and by popularly embellished stories. At this point in history the Eel Rivers were without doubt separate and apart from all others. Why We are called The Eel Rivers One of the most common told errors is how we became known as The Eel River Tribe. Many historians have claimed it is because we lived along the Eel River near modern day Logansport IN. In reality the river got its name because we lived on it and we were already called the Eel River or Sometimes "Snakefish" or "Missassago" Tribe. John McClurg, a member of the army at St. Clair’s defeat, said this of the chief of the Eel River Tribe: “The leader of the Indian army at the time of St. Clair’s defeat was a chief of Missassago tribe, known by the name of Little Turtle. Notwithstanding his name, he was at least 6 ft. tall. His aspect was harsh, sour and forbidding, and his person during the action was arrayed in the very extremity of Indian finery, having at least $20 worth of silver descending from his nose and ears.” Another man who saw him after the battle described him as this:: “His dress consisted of moccasins, a blue petticoat that came halfway down his thighs, and a European waistcoat and cutout. His head was bound with an Indian cap that hung halfway down his back and was almost entirely filled with plain silver brooches to the number of 200. He had two earrings to each ear; the upper part of each being formed of three silver medals about the size of a dollar, the lower part of quarter dollars, which extended more than 12 inches from his nose; one over his breast and the other over his back. He also had three very large nose jewels of silver that were curiously painted.” Note: Missassago: is the Algonquian word for rattle snake, timber rattler, they are often nearly black in color with underdeveloped rattles. Some often appear similar to black~snakes or eel~fish... snake~fish. Even more important is the relationship to the early French in the area. They had realized that some of our members were different, something other than many they had encountered. They called us a"l'Anguille, or snakes in the grass. They had also recognized that some of our numbers were deserters from long forgotten armies. Englishmen without leave. Hamilton’s Journal is taken from Henry Hamilton and George Rogers Clark in the American Revolution with the unpublished journal of Lieut. Gov. Henry Hamilton, edited by John D. Barnhart and published by R. E. Banta, Crawfordsville, Indiana, 1951. http://www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/ihb/resources/hamiltonfootnotes.html Page 206 “The Isle of Garlic,” or l’isle a l’ail, is located approximately four miles above Delphi, Indiana, or some ten miles above the mouth of Tippecanoe River" .Also from Hamilton’s Journal . . . . pp. 162 Riviere a L’Anguille is the Eel River of Indiana. See Hamilton’s entries for November 19, 21, and 24. pp. 197 Riviere à l’Anguille is the modern Eel River Anguille: to begin a thing at the wrong end, there is a snake in the grass. [Cassell’s pp35] Anguillie’re: Eel Pond [Cassell’s pp. 35] Anglais: (I) English: British, filer, a l’anglais, to slip away, to take French leave; Anglais: Englishman, The English, the English Language [Cassell’s pp. 34] Some of the leaders were men of origin that over time had become L'Anguile, Absentees from another place and time. The French recognized this and this factor may also added to the lack of contact with early contacts within the region and avoiding contact with many. The Journal of the Proceedings” Ft. Wayne IN “Indian Treaties” held on September 30th 1809. Excerpt reads as follows: “The governor (Wm. H. Harrison) requested that all the chiefs present would speak in their turn, and called upon the principal chief of the Eel River tribe who was an old friend of his who had served with him in General Wayne’s Army. He demanded to know what his objections were to the treaty. He (the Eel River chief) drew out the treaty of Grousland. ‘Father . .’” see treaty with the date Sept. 30th 1809; Kappler's Indian Laws and Treaties Vol I. / Charley is this “Principal Chief”] Indiana Historical Markers Many arguments can be made that the Eel River are part of other groups both now and historically. The history as it is written would favor this. Remember however: "A Mistake in history can be written, copied and told time and time again until it appears to be an historical truth...but it is still a mistake." Historical Markets and many other items in the mainstream also misreport the Eel River Tribe. Photo of historical villagS of Peter Cornstalk and his Snakefish, Eel River. It reads: Chief Cornstalk’s Village “Chief Peter Cornstalk’s Village of Snakefish (Eel River) Tribe of Miami Indians was located three miles from here along Cornstalk Creek. Wigwams and Indian burial ground were near the little Harshbarger family cemetery. In Indians lived at peace with settlers moving here in the 1800s.” Indiana Cemetery Marker Eel River Tribe of Miamis at Thorntown. Other items also reflect inaccurate and misreported information. |
| Who ? The Eel River Tribe of Indians appeared in history during the 18th century. From the beginning, the reports of who we were and how we came to be called The Eel Rivers have been misunderstood. We were reduced, according to some, to a small number and could not send many warriors to the conflicts in the Ohio Valley. At their head was a famous figure who many history books have reported as a Miami War Chief. His name was Little Turtle. In 1748 Little Turtle’s parents were located near Pickawillany, Ohio. Life was relatively good with trade with the few trappers and settlers who lived and visited the area. The western migration of the bulk of European immigrants into the interior of America had not yet begun, but it was coming. The French occupied and controlled much of the regional hunting and trapping, to support the demand of fur, both in North America and abroad. The Spanish still occupied the most southern region, Florida. Most of the country had yet to be surveyed or even explored. Forests were thick and rivers clear enough to drink from and all game flourished. Species not seen in generations were also in abundance. Animals such as the woodland bison, bear, elk and eagle were as commonly seen as were the people of the Woodland tribes. Life was still innocent and good. Men evaluated one another on his word and reputation as a hunter and the color of a man’s skin did not always indicate his intent or his character. Trouble with the white haired grandfathers of England was building. Not only among their transplanted and newly born subjects, but also within the tribes of the region. Promises between men were giving way to the ambitions of countries and the impact would leave death, destruction and the disappearance of a many people. |
| LONGHOUSE Open to all with a good heart. Algonquian and their related tribes all believe in the “Great Spirit” or “Manitou.” The “Great Spirit” was considered the supreme being, and lived in everything |
“We have been pushed westward and off our lands for so long that the graves of our grandfathers are no longer known to us. Without our old ones our stories fade and our history now too grows dim.” |
| Little Turtle “The leader of the Indian army at the time of St. Clair’s defeat was a chief of Missassago tribe, known by the name of Little Turtle. |
| Ours is not to change the past but leave a record for our future. Ours is not to confuse others but share all that we know to be true. Ours is not to destroy, but rather build that which will last beyond our days. Ours is not to alter others stories but to preserve our own. Our path will be hard and some may fall but for those who can endure and for those who will prevail,our memory, our history, our Tribe will live in the hearts of our grand-children's children. ~ Five Trees |
When the last of us shall have perished, and the memory of our tribe shall become a myth among men, these shores shall swarm with the invisible dead of our tribe . . . When your children’s children think themselves alone in the fields, the stores, upon the highways, or in the silence of the pathless woods, they will not be alone. ~Modified from: Seattle (Dwabish) |
| John McClurg, a member of the army at St. Clair’s defeat, said this of the chief of the Eel River Tribe: “The leader of the Indian army at the time of St. Clair’s defeat was a chief of Missassago tribe, known by the name of Little Turtle. Notwithstanding his name, he was at least 6 ft. tall. His aspect was harsh, sour and forbidding, and his person during the action was arrayed in the very extremity of Indian finery, having at least $20 worth of silver descending from his nose and ears.”“His dress consisted of moccasins, a blue petticoat that came halfway down his thighs, and a European waistcoat and cutout. His head was bound with an Indian cap that hung halfway down his back and was almost entirely filled with plain silver brooches to the number of 200. He had two earrings to each ear; the upper part of each being formed of three silver medals about the size of a dollar, the lower part of quarter dollars, which extended more than 12 inches from his nose; one over his breast and the other over his back. He also had three very large nose jewels of silver that were curiously painted.” Note: Missassago: is the Algonquian word for rattle snake, timber rattler, they are often nearly black in color with underdeveloped rattles. Some often appear similar to black~snakes or eel~fish...snake~fish. |





















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