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MICHIGAN AS A PROVINCE 1 - 5
These great races were divided into many groups of tribes and these again were subdivided into almost innumerable families. The names which they gave themselves and the names given to them by the French sometimes lead to confusion of idenity. Thus the tribes which called themselves Wyandots were called by the French Hurons and the latter name is commonly used. One. of the subdivisions of this group was that known as Ojib-was or Chippewas. Their hereditary seat was at Sault Ste Marie and from this circumstance the French named them Saulteurs. This tribe, with the Ottawas, ceded Michilimackinac and certain dependencies, which cession forms the basis of titles in that section of the state. It should be borne in mind that these tribes were usually moving about from one place to another. While they might, and actually did, dwell for a greater or less period in some particular locality or region, there was nothing very permanent in their residence. Their claim applied to the place where they dwelt when the European came into contact with them, and their cession of that claim was good for their release of it only. Fortuntely for the white man, it was not likely to be disputed. From our first knowledge of affairs here there was
war on between the Hurons and the Iroquois. The latter finally drove their foes out of the St. Lawrence region. They even pursued them to the northern lake regions and slaughtered them with relentless fury. Living upon the Manitoulin Islands, a range of islands of considerable extent stretching between Georgian bay and Lake Huron proper, were the Ottawas who later had their home at Michilimackinac and at Point St. Ignace. These two tribes were the common foes of the Iroquois. They were fairly well matched in respect to intelligence, physical vigor, courage and resources. There was no great disparity in numbers. But there was a certain bearing of personal pride and self-reliance in the Iroquois, and a spirit which never quailed in the face of disaster.
MICHIGAN
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