The Early History of Ottawa

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Focusing on the Ottawa tribe's historical significance, the book explores their pivotal role in North America's early fur trade between 1615 and 1763. Despite their relatively small population and cultural similarities to the Ojibwe and Potawatomi, the Ottawa were key intermediaries for the French, utilizing their birchbark canoes to transport furs and establish trade networks. Their strategic position and business acumen made them indispensable to the French, who relied on the Ottawa to connect with other Algonquin tribes and facilitate trade in the Great Lakes region.