First Inhabitants of the Great Lakes Region

In this essay, the author

• Opines that the last and most recent group of native americans to inhabit the great lakes region were the late indians.
• Analyzes the quaternary period, specifically the holocene epoch from 8000 b.c. to present; the last 10,000 years.
• Argues that the paleo-indians were a nomadic tribe, constantly on the move as land and environmental conditions changed.
• Explains that the aqua-plano hunters and gatherers used lancets or pointed, double-edged blades. they inhabited the area in a nomadic fashion, moving and settling temporarily wherever fish or mammals became available.
• Describes the borea-archaic as an advanced group of hunters and gatherers who used wood from the southern deciduous forest to their advantage.
• Explains that the old copper tribe relied heavily on hunting caribou, deer, elk, and bison for survival.
• Explains that the red ochers were co-occupants with the old copper tribe and used copper to construct flint points, awls, celts and ceremonial blades.
• Explains that the early woodlands migrated from southern illinois along the illinois river until reaching the western shores of lake michigan. the hopewell indians were famous for building elaborate burial mounds over the dead using pottery.
• Explains that the late woodland period is rather complex because it was the time of european exploration and settlement in the 17th century.
• Explains that the late woodland indians came from southern locations along the mississippi valley and great plains. a warm climatic spell around 1000 a.d. favored this as the commencement of the late woodland tribal groups.
• States that historians claim that upper great lake indians traded their goods with their adjacent neighbors and with the algonquin nation further south.
• Explains that the miami occupied the western portion of michigan and their main village was situated along the banks of the "kankakee river, which rises in northern indiana and flows westward through northern illinois."
• Explains that the fox tribe was an english nickname for the meshkwakihug tribe which stood for "red earth people." the chippewa were considered their worst enemies.
• Explains that the chippewa were experts in constructing birch bark canoes and sailed throughout lake superior for fishing and trapping purposes.
• Explains that the huron tribe originated in the 17th century when they were first spotted by a frenchman. they were neutral in their relationship with adjacent tribes, though at times settled at points further east.
• Explains that the hurons' battle tactics were no match for the iroquoians who developed a sophisticated firearm weaponry system and bartering with french explorers further upstream.
• Describes the last inhabitants of the great lakes region to be discussed in this essay, the "winnebago" which stands for "people of filthy water."
• Explains that the winnebagos migrated from the dakotas to the mississippi river valley, along with siouan tribes, and used the convenience of water travel to their advantage.
• Concludes that the arrival and settlement of indo-european immigrants into the great lakes region of north america dramatically altered the population and life expectancy of indigenous life.
• Concludes that indian life in north america was altered if not completely destroyed of its dignity, prosperity, and self-worth since the arrival of the white man.