Ottawa Tribes

Brief History
The history of the Ottawa Indians places them, at the first contact with Europeans, in what was to become Ontario, Canada in the 1600s. They are usually associated with Manitoulin Island and the shores of Georgian Bay in Lake Huron, in what is now the Province of Ontario.

Many of the Ottawa migrated south and west and settled in what became Michigan in the 1700s and by the early 1800s the Three Fires Confederacy (which include the Ottawa, Chippewa, and Potawatomi) occupied much of that area. In 1836, the Ottawa ceded nearly two-thirds of their land to the United States and in 1837, Michigan was created from that cession.

In 1855, the Ottawa signed another treaty with the U.S. government at which time reserves were created in Leelanau and Antrim Counties. The Bureau of Indian Affairs considered the tribe "terminated" with the signing of that treaty and they were not considered an official tribe from 1855 to 1980. After several petitions for recognition over nearly 50 years, the Bureau of Indian Affairs again officially recognized the tribe in 1980.

Another group of Ottawa Indians lived in northwestern Ohio and participated in the War of 1812 under the leadership of Pontiac, who was a well-known chief of the tribe. They were a party to the Treaty of Greenville, signed on August 3, 1795 in Indiana. Some members of this part of the Ottawa Nation were removed to Kansas and later to Oklahoma.

Tribal Headquarters
Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa &amp; Chippewa Indians 2605 N West Bay Shore Dr Peshawbestown MI 49682-9275 (866) 534-7750 (231) 534-7750

Little River Band of the Ottawa 375 River Street Manistee, MI 49660 Phone: 231-723-8288 Toll Free: 1-888-723-8288 Fax: 231-723-8020

Records
Some early records of members of the Ottawa Tribe are included in the records of the Mackinac Agency now in the Great Lakes Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in Chicago.

Since the tribe was not officially recognized for over 100 years, some documents pertaining to those with Ottawa blood are a part of the county records where they resided.

The following records of the Ottawa have been transcribed and are available online:


 * 1836 census of Mixed-Blood Ottawas and Chippewas of Michigan


 * 1853 annuity paid to heads of families and individuals of the Ottawa Tribe at the Michigan Agency


 * 1908 census roll of persons and their descendants who were on the roll of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians in 1870 and who were living on March 4, 1907, as enumerated by Horace B. Durant. It is also called the Durant Roll.


 * Additions to the Durant Roll, 1909 and later.

Agency Records

Correspondence and Census

Vital Records


 * Quapaw Agency (M595) birth and death 1924-1932 FHL Film: 581408

Important Web Sites
History of the Tribe

Grand Traverse Band -- History of the Ottawa Tribe

Handbook of American Indians by Frederick Webb Hodge -- History of the Ottawa Tribe

Native American Nations -- History and links to Ottawa History

Ohio History Central -- History of the Ottawa Indians in Ohio's online encyclopedia of history

Eighteen page History of the Ottawa Tribe

Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma Official Website

Tribe and Band Government Web Sites

 * Grand River Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians government offices at Peshawbestown, Michigan
 * Little River Band at Manistee, Michigan