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The Council of Three Fires, also known as the People of the Three Fires, the Three Fires Confederacy, the United Nations of Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatomi Indians, or Niswi-mishkodewin in the Anishinaabe language, is a long-standing Anishinaabe alliance of the Ojibwe (or Chippewa), Ottawa (or Odawa), and Potawatomi Native American tribes and First Nations.

Originally one people, or a collection of closely related bands, the identities of Ojibwa, Ottawa, and Potawatomi developed after the Anishinaabeg reached Michilimackinac on their journey westward from the Atlantic coast.[1] Using the Midewiwin scrolls, Potawatomi elder Shup-Shewana dated the formation of the Council of Three Fires to 796 AD at Michilimackinac.[2]

In this Council, the Ojibwe were addressed as the “Older Brother,” the Odawa as the “Middle Brother,” and the Potawatomi as the “Younger Brother.” Consequently, whenever the three Anishinaabe nations are mentioned in this specific and consecutive order of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi, it is an indicator implying Council of Three Fires as well. In addition, the Ojibwa are the “keepers of the faith,” the Odawa are the “keepers of trade,” and the Potawatomi are the designated “keepers/maintainers of/for the fire” (boodawaadam), which became the basis for their name Boodewaadamii (Ojibwe spelling) or Bodéwadmi (Potawatomi spelling).

Though the Three Fires had several meeting places, Michilimackinac became the preferred meeting place due to its central location. From this place, the Council met for military and political purposes. From this site, the Council maintained relations with fellow Anishinaabeg nations, the Ozaagii (Sac), Odagaamii (Meskwaki), Omanoominii (Menominee), Wiinibiigoo (Ho-Chunk), Naadawe (Iroquois Confederacy), Nii’inaawi-Naadawe (Wyandot), Naadawensiw (Sioux), Wemitigoozhi (France), Zhaaganaashi (England) and the Gichi-mookomaan (the United States).

Through the totem-system and promotion of trade, the Council generally had a peaceful existence with its neighbours. However, occasional unresolved disputes erupted into wars. Under these conditions, the Council notably fought against the Iroquois Confederacy and the Sioux. During the Seven Years’ War, the Council fought against England; and during the Northwest Indian War and the War of 1812, they fought against the United States. After the formation of the United States of America in 1776, the Council became the core member of the Western Lakes Confederacy (also known as “Great Lakes Confederacy”), joined together with the Wyandots, Algonquins, Nipissing, Sacs, Meskwaki and others.

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For related terms, see Mackinac (disambiguation).
Michilimackinac is a name for the region mostly in the present U.S. state of Michigan around the Straits of Mackinac between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.

The Ojibwa (or Chippewa) along with Ottawa inhabitated the area at the time of European contact. The French were the first Europeans to arrive, establishing trading posts and missions. One of the oldest named “St. Ignatius” was located on the north side of the strait at Point Iroquois, near present-day St. Ignace, Michigan. This mission was established by the Jesuit Father Jacques Marquette in 1671 and the village around the mission became known as “Mackinac” or “Michilmackinac” and later as “Old Michilmackinac” or “Ancient Fort Mackinac”.

The French later established a settlement on the south side of the strait that became known as Fort Michilimackinac, near present-day Mackinaw City, Michigan.

The main fortifications defending the area were again moved to Mackinac Island and became known as Fort Mackinac.

Today, Michilimackinac is a tourist site. Old activities of the French and English are re-enacted and the archeological dig can be seen.

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The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians was formally recognized by the United States Federal government on September 27, 1975. This does not mean the tribe is new, the Sault Band has existed for hundreds of years. The first treaty with the United States in 1820 were signed by chiefs whose signatories identified them as members of the Sault Band. The tribe has lived in the Great Lakes region for a millennium.

The modern tribal organization has its roots on Sugar Island in the St. Marys River between the U.S. state of Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario. The Sault Tribe consist of more than 20 bands.

Since formal recognition in 1975, the tribe has expanded considerably and counts 31,000 members on its rolls. In 1979 a resolutions was passed allowing Mackinac Band members to enroll, thus doubling the number of members. More than 51% of today’s Sault Tribe consist of Mackinac Bands. Today some Mackinac Band members continue work on receiving their own federal recognition.

Most live off-reservation in the eastern portion of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The tribe operates six casinos under the Kewadin name and also operates Detroit’s Greektown Casino as well.

External links
Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians web site
EPA Information
2007 Constitutional Draft