Miami Chief Little Turtle
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Native Chief of the Mighty Miami
Miami Chief Little Turtle was one of the last War Chiefs of the mighty tribes that lived in Indiana. He is known for being a great military strategist along with creating a confederacy of many different tribes to try to stop the encroachment of the Native Peoples lands of many generations.
It is said that Chief Little Turtle was around 6 feet tall and was known for his subtle nature along with his prudent handling of most circumstances that came into his life.
Let's find out more about this man who lived and fought for his people. He encouraged the members of his tribe to abstain from drinking the alcohol of the the white settlers and he also tried to promote new farming techniques that could be learned from these curious people with the light skin. Perhaps he saw both good and bad in the people who would eventually take the land away from his people and the other indigenous peoples who had inhabited this continent for centuries.
Image Credit: Image falls under the Public Domain License
It is said that Chief Little Turtle was around 6 feet tall and was known for his subtle nature along with his prudent handling of most circumstances that came into his life.
Let's find out more about this man who lived and fought for his people. He encouraged the members of his tribe to abstain from drinking the alcohol of the the white settlers and he also tried to promote new farming techniques that could be learned from these curious people with the light skin. Perhaps he saw both good and bad in the people who would eventually take the land away from his people and the other indigenous peoples who had inhabited this continent for centuries.
Image Credit: Image falls under the Public Domain License
Early History Of Little Turtle
Miami Chief Little Turtle was born around 1747 near Devil's Lake in what is now Whitley County, Indiana. The area is northwest of modern day Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Some sources say that he was called Little Turtle because his father was known as Turtle.
It is believed by many historians that Little Turtle's mother was a Mohican but little is known of her.
It is believed by many historians that Little Turtle's mother was a Mohican but little is known of her.
Leader Of The Miami
Little Turtle was not the main Chief or civil chief of the Miami people. Instead he was what is known as the War Chief or the chief military leader of the Miami Indians
. He gained this position around 1790 according to most historians.
Up to 1790 the Shawnee, Delaware, and other displaced natives began to gather near the Miami villages at the head of the Maumee River which is near present day Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
. He gained this position around 1790 according to most historians.Up to 1790 the Shawnee, Delaware, and other displaced natives began to gather near the Miami villages at the head of the Maumee River which is near present day Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
Little Turtle, Chief of Miami Tribe
12 in. x 16 in.
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The Miami Tribe
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Native American Confederacy
Led by Little Turtle
Chief Little Turtle, of the Miami, led a confederacy of Native Americans that defeated General Arthur St. Clair on November 3, 1791. The multitribe band of warriors were trying to keep the Americans off of the land that they had lived on for generations. The battle was fought at what was later to become Ft. Recovery which is now on the boundary line of Ohio and Indiana. Little Turtle, with the help of Blue Jacket, delivered a defeat to the U. S. Army that has since been deemed the worst defeat ever to be dealt by the indigenous peoples of North America. General St. Clair lost 602 men in the battle with another 300 wounded out of the 1300 soldiers he started with. The War Chief, Little Turtle, had 1000 warriors in his confederation of different tribes and only lost 66 men.
Although he became one of the most successful war leaders of his people and other tribes who joined with him, Little Turtle tried to keep peace for his people. The Miami Chief lost favor with the Native Americans as a whole when he signed the Treaty of Greenville in 1795. It was a very unpopular thing for him to do. The Shawnee and other tribes questioned his right to sell land to the white settlers, saying that it was not his to sell. He felt it was his land and also that it would protect further land from being taken by the white settlers. History shows us that he did in fact make the wrong decision because the Americans would eventually take all of the land.
General Harmar...
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Although he became one of the most successful war leaders of his people and other tribes who joined with him, Little Turtle tried to keep peace for his people. The Miami Chief lost favor with the Native Americans as a whole when he signed the Treaty of Greenville in 1795. It was a very unpopular thing for him to do. The Shawnee and other tribes questioned his right to sell land to the white settlers, saying that it was not his to sell. He felt it was his land and also that it would protect further land from being taken by the white settlers. History shows us that he did in fact make the wrong decision because the Americans would eventually take all of the land.
Chief Little Turtle Defends His Claim Of Ownership:
My forefather kindled the first fire at Detroit; from thence, he extended his lines to the head waters of Scioto; from thence, to its mouth; from thence, down the Ohio, to the mouth of the Wabash, and from thence to Chicago on Lake Michigan.
August 3, 1795
Miami Tribe In Indiana Today
- Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana
- OFFICIAL SITE OF THE MIAMI NATION OF INDIANS OF THE STATE OF INDIANA
“I have been the last to sign this treaty; I will be the last to break it. - Little Turtle 8-3-1795”
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Chief Little Turtle Council
Come sit in the circle of peace with Chief Little Turtle's spirit and me. Let us know you stopped by with your comments.
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WoodlandIndianEDU
Jan 14, 2012 @ 9:56 pm | delete
- Very nice lens. I especially like the noting of Little Turtle's start as a war chief,... his role as tribal chief is truly reflective of the times (American influences in Native politics and creating civil/tribal "annuity" chiefs out of war leaders). I wanted to note that Little Turtle was first hesitant to go with the Greenville Treaty (1795), and most "chiefs" of the area did sign the treaty before he did (the majority). Actually, Little Turtle gained much popularity right after the Treaty of Greenville, as he worked to secure a large annuity from that treaty for the Miami villages. The Shawnee, only about 2/3 present in the area for the treaty were not the Native American majority (as a large part left for Missouri years before including most of the famous rebel leader Tecumseh's community and his widowed mother). Annuity chiefs like Little Turtle and Black Hoof did represent the majority. Little Turtle's effective management of the Miami annuities, refusal to indulge in riches, generosity towards his own community and allies, promoting his role in the victory of St. Clair's Defeat, and asserting all the lands of the Greenville Treaty to be Miami homelands won him popularity in both Native and American circles till the Treaty of 1809. This treaty that ceded Southern Indiana lands was the actual turning point in Little Turtle's influence (and Tecumseh's)... so many who had followed annuity chiefs like Little Turtle now began to oppose them, and join Tecumseh and The Prophet's movement (epicenter now in Prophetstown, IN on the Tippecanoe). It is good to note though that the anti-American militant movement of the Shawnee brothers was not a "majority" either, even at its height of influence. Thanks again for the lens Bev : )
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BevsPaper
Jan 15, 2012 @ 10:40 am | delete
- Thank you very much for this additional information about the Miami Chief Little Turtle! I sincerely appreciate your input.
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Dave
Sep 24, 2011 @ 11:56 pm | delete
- I notice that there are 2 pictures, which appear to be 2 different people. Which one is Little
Turtle, and who is the other one?
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BevsPaper
Sep 25, 2011 @ 7:07 am | delete
- Both images are supposed to be Little Turtle and are from different artists.
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kimmanleyort
Aug 23, 2011 @ 10:30 am | delete
- Hi Bev, I'm finding new lenses about Indiana. Don't think I have this one on my Indiana lensography, so will add it. Hope you are well!
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franstan
Aug 6, 2011 @ 5:21 pm | delete
- Excellent lens.
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kylekartarn
Jun 6, 2011 @ 2:14 pm | delete
- Excellent Lense. Squid mine at squidoo.com/haida-indians
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Kimbesa
Feb 5, 2011 @ 10:43 pm | delete
- Thanks for the history...**angel blessed**!
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Wednesday_Elf
May 12, 2010 @ 6:56 am | delete
- Enjoyed your story about Chief Little Turtle. I've always been interested in Native American history and have several books about them, so always like reading and learning more.
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Miami Chief Little Turtle
Copyright for Miami Chief Little Turtle on May 11, 2010 by BevsPaper (Bev Owens).
by BevsPaper
Learn the history of Miami Chief Little Turtle.
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