List of People From Michigan - Native American Leaders

Native American Leaders

  • Andrew Blackbird, Ottawa leader, historian and negotiator in the Treaty of 1855 (born in Harbor Springs)
  • Abraham Burnett, Potawatomi Mission Band leader and, as principal interpreter for the Baptist missionary Isaac McCoy, instrumental in their forced resettlement in the 1830s to Kansas (born in southwest Michigan)
  • Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish(or Bad Bird), Potawatomi chief (from Michigan)
  • Mecosta, Potawatomi chief for whom Mecosta County is named (born near present-day Big Rapids)
  • Nottawaseepe, Potawatomi chief poisoned by his own people for trying to convince them to accept the forced removal of 1837 (resided in western Michigan)
  • John Okemos, Ojibwa chief—for whom the city of Okemos is named and signer of the Treaty of Saginaw (born on Apple Island in present-day West Bloomfield)
  • Simon Pokagon, Potawatomi chief, fluent in Latin, Greek, English and Native American languages, graduate of Oberlin College, poet, folklorist, essayist, public speaker, cited as the most highly educated full blood Native American of the late 19th century, twice visited Abraham Lincoln and smoked a peace pipe with Ulysses S. Grant, it is from Pokagon that Western Michigan's Pokagon Potawatomi take their name (born in Berrien County, settled in Hartland)
  • Pontiac, Native American chief and war leader (born near the Detroit River)
  • Shavehead, Potawatomi chief and warrior (born in Cass County)
  • Shaw-shaw-way-nay-beece, Ojibwa chief and signer of the Treaty of 1855 (born in Isabella County)
  • Shingabawassin, Ojibwa chief (born at the mouth of the St. Marys River near Sault Sainte Marie)
  • Shoppenagon, Ojibwa chief (born in Indianfields, an Ojibwa village near Grayling)
  • Wawatam, Ojibwa chief at Michilimackinac (born near Mackinaw City)
  • Wosso (also called Owosso for whom the city of Owosso is named), chief of the Shiawassee band of Ojibwa and signer of the Treaty of Saginaw (born near present-day Owosso)

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