My name is Methoataske which means "turtle laying eggs". I am 14 years old and belong to the Shawnee tribe. It is late spring 1831 and we are now embarking on our trip out west having sold our lands. Catahecassa, Black Hoof, our Chief has died. Our tribe is headed to the Mississippi River basin. This is what I know of my people From the stories that have been passed down through the generations.
The Shawnee have migrated from South Carolina to Ohio over many, many years. Stories told by our elders give tales of when our people had kinships with the Cherokee, and how they became our enemies, pushing us to move further west. At one time we lived peaceful lives with them both in South Carolina and in Tennessee. Our tribe has been known for the being great warriors. It has been told that our warriors were used as a barrier against the attacks of the Catawaba, our enemy. There was a quarrel with the Chickasaw and they along with the Cherokee drove our people out.
[...] Retrieved from http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/biographical/catahecassa_principa l_chief_sahwa nee.htm Female Native American Names. (n. d.). Retrieved from http://www.20000- names.com/female_native_american_names_2.htm Shawnee Indian Chiefs and Leaders. (n. d.). Retrieved from http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/tribes/shawnee/shawneechiefs.htm Shawnee Indian Tribe History . (n. d. Retrieved from http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/tribes/shawnee/shawneehist.htm The Shawnee in the War of 1812. (n. d.). [...]
[...] After the outbreak of the war of 1812, Tecumseh led his warriors to support of the British. He was given a regular commission as a brigadier general. Under his command were some 2,000 warriors and allied tribes. During the bloody battle which ensued, the allied British and Indians were completely defeated by Harrison. Tecumseh knowing he was dying took off his soldiers clothing and put on his deerskin so he could died in proper attire. Tenskawatawa or Lalawéthika, his original name, was known in his early years for stupidity and intoxication. [...]
[...] Now we are on our way to rejoin the rest of the Shawnee who have already headed out west. It will be exciting to see friends and family again. I am nervous though as I was born here and been here in Ohio all my life. My mother says it will be ok and that I will have my woman ceremony soon then I will be able to marry and I hope to find a good warrior to protect me and all the children we will have. References Catahecassa, Principal Chief of the Shawanee. (n. d.). [...]
[...] It has been said that the Shawnee killed more of the English nation than any other tribe. The Delawares and their allies had settled with the Munsee on the Delaware at the mouth of Lehigh River in Pennsylvania. The Shawnee were given permission to settle on there by The Colonial government so long as we made peace with Iroquois. Because of all this banding of tribes during this time we Shawnee call the Delawares our grandfathers. After some years, the tribes move to Wyoming Valley on the Susquehanna and made their village on the bank. [...]
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