Pontiac: War Leader of the Ottowa
1. There are not very many sources on Pontiac’s early life. His place and date of birth are not known and 19.th century sources debate about his tribal affiliations. Most say that his mother was an Ottawa and his father an Ojibwa, although some sources argue that his father was indeed a Miami. By 1747 he had become an influential war Leader among the Ottowa and a supporter of the French Colonialists in Northern America. In the midst of the French and Indian War he continued to support the French. Although evidence to support this claim is scarce. There are some accounts that he participated in the French and Indian Victory over the Braddock Expedition in 1755.
2. After the French defeat in the War the British Colonialists where the only major power left in the Region. The Indians Continued to trade with them even though most of them had supported the French in the War. Under the Command of Jeffrey Amherst many Indian Nations, including the Ottawa, became angered and dissatisfied with the dealings they made with the British, something they were not used to from the French who viewed them as valuable trading Partners rather than inferior savages. Soon many Indian Leaders suspected that the British wanted to destroy them and take their Land, some even called for the Indians to join together and wage war upon the British. Pontiac’s stance on these proceedings is not known although it is suspected that he was among those who wanted to wage war.
In the Spring of 1763 Pontiac held a Council in which he strongly promoted a surprise attack on the British in Fort Detroit. Accompanied by a larger group of his men he visited the Fort and compared the Strength of the Garrison to his own men. He viewed the taking of the fort as something that could be accomplished.
During a Second council meeting he said:
“It is important for us, my brothers, that we exterminate from our lands this nation which seeks only to destroy us. You see as...