OTTAWA, An important Algon quian tribe originally living about the upper Ottawa River, Canada, and carrying on an active trade by water between the Eastern tribes and those of the lakes. They were the allies and friends of the French and the Huron, by which they incurred the hatred of the Iroquois. After the dispersion of the Huron, about 1645, the Iro quois turned against the Ottawa, who were com pelled to abandon their country and seek refuge on Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron. After a short stay there they removed, about 1660, to La Pointe (Wis.). on the south shore of Lake Su perior, where the Huron had already preceded them. Here the Jesuits resumed their mission work, but a few years later the two tribes were again driven out by the Sioux. the Huron retir ing to Mackinaw, while the Ottawa returned to Manitoulin Island. Within the next fifty years they had spread over the whole of Lower Michi gan and into adjacent parts of Ohio and Illinois, besides holding Manitoulin and some territory on the Canadian side of Lake Huron. They
took an active part on the French side in all the colonial wars, including that headed by Pontiac, who was himself of that tribe. They joined the English side against the Americans in the Revo lution and War of 1812. Several smaller bands have been removed to the West, but the great body of those in the United States are still living in small settlements scattered over Lower Michi gan. having no regular reservation. Those in Canada are all within Ontario Province.
In their general characteristics the Ottawa closely resemble the Ojibwa, and according to tradition these two tribes and the Potawatami formed one body before their westward migration. The number of their clans is disputed. but the principal one seems to have been the Otter. Owing to their being scattered in numerous small bands over a large territory, intermixed with other tribes, no reliable estimate of their sepa rate population has ever been made. but it is probably at present about 5000.