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When the last of us shall have perished, and the memory of our tribe
shall become a myth among men, these shores shall swarm
with the invisible dead of our tribe . . .   When  your children’s children
think themselves alone in the fields, the stores, upon the highways,
or in the silence of the pathless woods, they will not be alone.
                  ~Modified from: Seattle (Dwabish)
An Anthropology Report
of the Eel River Tribe of Indiana

The Eel River Tribe was never very large. Croghan ( an early contact) referred to the Eel River village in 1765 as “small” and in
1778 the Eel River Indians themselves told Hamilton that their “small numbers did not allow them to send off warriors” to help re-
take Vincennes. In 1788, Hamertrack estimated the Eel River had 150 warriors, which made their total population maybe about
600 in all. In 1851 there were 16 Eel River Indians (known) living in Indiana, and three women who had married into the Western
Miami and were living west of the Mississippi. Making a total of 19 (known) Eel River People.

The relatively small size of the Eel River Tribe, plus the fact that living along  the Wabash River between two larger groups, The
Miamis, and the Wea and that we resembled these two groups in language and culture might have also accounted for three early
observers having identified the Eel River, mistakenly as “Miami.” ( by Croghan and Hamilton) and as “Weschtenoos [Wea]” ( by
Heckwelder). They did not understand that the Eel Rivers were, a group separate and independent from either the Miami or Wea .
Here began the confusion.
Anthropological Report of the Miamis Wea and Eel River Indians Vol. 1. Chapter 4, pp. 171-179: Drs. Ermine Wheeler- Voegelin, Emily J. Blasingham, Dorothy R.
Libby

Little Turtle was the chief and headman of the Eel River Tribe prior to the signing of the 1805 Treaty which was intended to
combine them, along with the Wea tribe, into the larger Miami tribe. To the government, it only made sense. The small numbers of
the Wea and Eel Rivers and because they lived in the general vicinity of one another, spoke a similar language, dressed and
appeared to share a similar ancestry had caused this union.  There had been some marriage between the trio and this also added to
the conclusion of grouping them together as one collective tribe called, Miami. Later this would add to them and the Wea, being
considered only clan groups of the Miami.

Little Turtle was a great war chief and had led a confederacy force of Woodland tribes against the Americans in decisive victories.  
His victories are still regarded as some of the most lopsided defeats inflicted against any American force even today. To say the
least, he (Little Turtle) had earned the respect as a leader and statesmen and would be the logical choice as war chief for the new
collective Miami. Still he was Eel River.   His appointment was also intended to further blend the three groups, honor the leaders of
the smaller tribes, as they were forced by treaty to formally join. With the execution and signatures on this treaty, Little Turtle
would be forever associated as a Miami and would be forgotten over the generations that he was in fact an Eel River Chief and
more.

Little Turtle Speaks:

“I am no Miami, I am only their interpreter”
Nearly all historians agree that Little Turtle was a fine orator and can recall many of his speeches at meetings.
However; his meeting at the council held July 10th, 1805, before combining the Eel River and Wea with the Miami, is
almost never discussed. Here he said quite clearly "I am no Miami, I am only their interpreter."   

Little Turtle, the head Chief of the Eel Rivers passed the headman duties and responsibilities to Charley ‘Katunga’ after this council
meeting held in July 1805.
National Archives, RG 107. Old Army, H-325(2) . Signed J.J. [John Johnston] Enc. With letter of William Henry Harrison to Henry Dearborn Vincennes, July
10, 1805 (continued). Minutes of a council meeting held with the Delaware, Eel River, Miami    July, 1805.
Little Turtle made this statement because, not until after that meeting by Aug. 21st a treaty was then signed with the intention of
combining the three groups under the united name "Miamis".  This collective, Miami tribe would make it easier to enter into treaties,
cede lands, pay annuities by dealing with one common group. In reality it only caused additional confusion and clouded the rolls of
clear leadership and the rights of all.
TREATY WITH THE DELAWARES, ETC., 1805.
Aug. 21, 1805. | 7 Stat., 91. | Proclamation, Apr. 24. 1806. (Kappler Indian Laws and Treaties)

This letter from the minutes of the council meeting, was recorded  July 10th, before the Treaty on August. 21st.  At that time Little
Turtle was speaking the truth. He was no Miami and was only interpreting for them on their behalf and at that time he was only
considered an Eel River Chief.
The treaty following this council meeting  was completed in August. Only then was Little Turtle to be considered a member of the
new Miami collective. However; his roots did not change, he was still Eel River and trough his mother also relative to The
Delaware.{CC. Trowbridge, National Archive etc}
Vague accounts are all that exist on Little Turtle’s parents. Most historians do agree that his mother was a Mohegan woman. She
had been transplanted to the West and there was treated as any other adopted tribal person. She had encountered a Trader who
was  injured in the leg while in a conflict near the Wea along the Wabash River. She had helped him to safety by carrying or
dragging him to the nearest friendly village. Here he was nursed back to health to almost a complete recovery. He was so grateful,
but now without possessions, he could only admire her courage and repeat his admiration and thanks to her. His feeling grew so
strong for her that it was said he had thought of her as his own daughter and considered her as such.
CC Trowbridge interview / Allen Co Library Microfilm Dept. 1826 "LeGros"

We do not debate that Little Turtle was a honorable and historically, a great leader of his time. We do however feel obligated to tell this
accounts and that of the tiny Eel River Tribe that has sometimes been overshadowed in history and by popularly embellished stories. At
this point in history the Eel Rivers were without doubt separate and apart from all others.

Why We are called The Eel Rivers
One of the most common told errors is how we became known as The Eel River Tribe. Many historians have claimed it is because we
lived along the Eel River near modern day Logansport IN. In reality the river got its name because we lived on it and we were already
called the Eel River or Sometimes "Snakefish" or "Missassago" Tribe.  
John McClurg, a member of the army at St. Clair’s defeat, said this of the chief of the Eel River Tribe: “The leader of the Indian army at
the time of St. Clair’s defeat was a chief of Missassago tribe, known by the name of Little Turtle. Notwithstanding his name, he was at
least 6 ft. tall. His aspect was harsh, sour and forbidding, and his person during the action was arrayed in the very extremity of Indian
finery, having at least $20 worth of silver descending from his nose and ears.”
Another man who saw him after the battle described him as this:: “His dress consisted of moccasins, a blue petticoat that came halfway
down his thighs, and a European waistcoat and cutout. His head was bound with an Indian cap that hung halfway down his back and was
almost entirely filled with plain silver brooches to the number of 200. He had two earrings to each ear; the upper part of each being
formed of three silver medals about the size of a dollar, the lower part of quarter dollars, which extended more than 12 inches from his
nose; one over his breast and the other over his back. He also had three very large nose jewels of silver that were curiously painted.”
Note: Missassago: is the Algonquian word for rattle snake, timber rattler, they are often nearly black in color with underdeveloped rattles. Some often
appear similar to black~snakes or eel~fish...snake~fish.

Even more important is the relationship to the early French in the area. They had realized that some of our members were different,
something other than many they had encountered. They called us a"l'Anguille, or snakes in the grass. They had also recognized that some
of our numbers were deserters from long forgotten armies. Englishmen without leave.
Hamilton’s Journal is taken from Henry Hamilton and George Rogers Clark in the American Revolution with the unpublished journal of
Lieut. Gov. Henry Hamilton, edited by John D. Barnhart and published by R. E. Banta, Crawfordsville, Indiana, 1951. http://www.statelib.
lib.in.us/www/ihb/resources/hamiltonfootnotes.html

Page 206
“The Isle of Garlic,” or l’isle a l’ail, is located approximately four miles above Delphi, Indiana, or some ten miles above the mouth of
Tippecanoe River"
.Also from Hamilton’s Journal . . . .
pp. 162
Riviere a L’Anguille is the Eel River of Indiana. See Hamilton’s entries for November 19, 21, and 24.
pp. 197
Riviere à l’Anguille is the modern Eel River Anguille: to begin a thing at the wrong end, there is a snake in the grass. [Cassell’s
pp35] Anguillie’re: Eel Pond [Cassell’s pp. 35] Anglais: (I) English: British, filer, a l’anglais, to slip away, to take French leave;
Anglais: Englishman, The English, the English Language [Cassell’s pp. 34] Some of the leaders were men of origin that over time had
become L'Anguile, Absentees from another place and time. The French recognized this and this factor may also added to the lack of
contact with early contacts within the region and avoiding contact with many.  

The Journal of the Proceedings” Ft. Wayne IN “Indian Treaties” held on September 30th 1809.
Excerpt reads as follows:
“The governor (Wm. H. Harrison) requested that all the chiefs present would speak in their turn, and called upon the
principal chief of the Eel River tribe who was an old friend of his who had served with him in General Wayne’s Army.
He demanded to know what his objections were to the treaty. He (the Eel River chief) drew out the treaty of Grousland.
‘Father . .’”
see treaty  with the date Sept. 30th 1809; Kappler's Indian Laws and Treaties Vol I. / Charley is this “Principal Chief”]

Indiana Historical Markers
Many arguments can be made that the Eel River are part of other groups both now and historically. The history as it is written
would favor this. Remember however: "A Mistake in history can be written, copied  and told time and time again until it
appears to be an historical truth...but it is still a mistake."

Historical Markets and many other items in the mainstream also misreport the Eel River Tribe.

Photo of historical village
of Peter Cornstalk and his Snakefish, Eel
River. It reads:
Chief Cornstalk’s Village
“Chief Peter Cornstalk’s Village
of Snakefish (Eel River) Tribe
of Miami Indians
was located three miles from here
along Cornstalk Creek.
Wigwams and Indian burial
ground were near the little
Harshbarger family cemetery.
In Indians lived at peace with
settlers moving here in the 1800s.”

Indiana Cemetery Marker
Eel River Tribe of Miamis at Thorntown.
Other items also reflect inaccurate
and misreported information.

Our struggle to restore our heritage will not be easy. We have the support from many and to them we say Mishneyway...Great Thanks!
Every step is worth taking and every inch is worth gaining. How appropriately is it, that on the day the Treaty was
finished that blended our history, people and leaders into the Miami Collective...we also claimed our independence 203
years to the day. On August 21 2006, we were granted our Corporate status as the Eel River Tribe of Indiana Inc. To
some this might be considered only a corporate playing field, but to us it was a huge step on the road back.   Ironically, as
of today, there are no Federally recognized Tribes in Indiana, a land which took it's name from " The Land of the
Indians". There are only individual people from Federal Tribes outside of the State.  We have entered into the recognition
and acknowledgement process and with the Creator and our Ancestors watching over us, we just might be the first to
achieve this.  We are grateful and we are Thankful for all of your letters of support. We will continue to collect them and
as always you may continue to send them to the link or e-mail address listed below.  Our Scholarship, Hardship, Elders
support Funds and Cultural preservation Funds are now in place and are open to our members and sponsored people
form all other tribes.
If you would like to  apply or would like additional information on these programs please fill out the request section on
our contact page or e-mail us at the address below.
For additional information and history: go to Amazon.com search Eel River Tribe of Indiana (new Revised Edition) Or
L'Anguiles~ Snakes in the Grass..For Family and Honor. These books vary in price from the many book sellers and
sites that carry them. Thank You!


NOTE: All sales from these books go to fund Scholarships for
extended Education and are open to all members of the
Eel River Tribe and to All other applicants.
No tribal affiliation is required to apply. For information please visit
our service page.

READ MORE OF OUR HISTORY HERE!

Lands Ceded by Eel Rivers, Miami and Wea

Restoring Lost History PART I

Restoring Lost History PART II

Treaties with the Eel Rivers

Eel Rivers and The Tippecanoe Potawatomi Take charge

The Forks of the Wabash

Eel River Town, Logansport and More.

Indiana past, present and future.
Who are we?
The Eel River Tribe of Indians appeared in  history during the 18th century. From the beginning, the reports of who we were and
how we came to be called The Eel Rivers have been  misunderstood. We were reduced, according to some, to a small number and
could not send many warriors to the conflicts in the Ohio Valley. At their head was a famous figure who many history books have
reported as a Miami War Chief. His name was Little Turtle.

In 1748 Little Turtle’s parents were located near Pickawillany, Ohio. Life was relatively good with trade with the few trappers and
settlers who lived and visited the area. The western migration of the bulk of European immigrants into the  interior of America had
not yet begun, but it was coming.

The French occupied and controlled much of the regional hunting and trapping, to support the demand of fur, both in North
America and abroad. The Spanish still occupied the most southern region, Florida. Most of the country had yet to be surveyed or
even explored. Forests were thick and rivers clear enough to drink from and all game flourished. Species not seen in generations  
were also in abundance. Animals such as the woodland bison, bear, elk and eagle were as commonly seen as were the people of
the Woodland tribes. Life was still innocent and good. Men evaluated one another on his word and reputation as a hunter and the
color of a man’s skin did not always indicate his intent or his character.

Trouble with the white haired grandfathers of England was building. Not only among their transplanted and newly born subjects, but
also within the tribes of the region. Promises between men were giving way to the ambitions of countries and the impact would leave
death, destruction and the disappearance of a many people.
Hosting by Yahoo! Web Hosting
“ A mistake can be
made . . . written
down, copied,
rewritten, published,
repeated time and
time again . . . but it is
still a mistake”



CLICK IMAGES TO
VIEW CLIPS BELOW
LONGHOUSE
Open to all with a
good heart.
Algonquian and their
related tribes all
believe in the “Great
Spirit” or “Manitou.”
The “Great Spirit” was
considered the
supreme being, and
lived in everything

“We have been pushed
westward and off our
lands for so long that
the graves of our
grandfathers are no
longer known to us.
Without our old ones
our stories fade and
our history now too
grows dim.”
Little Turtle
“The leader of the
Indian army at the
time of St. Clair’s
defeat was a chief of
Missassago tribe,
known by the name of
Little Turtle.
STILL HERE
A Pictorial of Indiana's
Native American People
2010
NEWLY
RELEASED
Nov, is Native American
Month in Indiana and this
years Edition will be out soon.
Reserve your copy today!
Please contact us for your copy
or visit the link below.

ORDER YOUR
RESERVED COPY
TODAY
Ours is not to change the past but leave a record for our future.
Ours is not to confuse others but share all that we know to be true.
Ours is not to destroy, but rather build that which will last beyond our days.
Ours is not to alter others stories but to preserve our own.
Our path will be hard and some may fall but for those who can endure and for those who will
prevail,our memory, our history, our Tribe will live in the hearts of our grand-children's children.   
                                                                                   ~ Five Trees   
Cover Photo of our Book.
Many things have happened in our struggle to
be heard. The photo above is of a home that
burned near our homelands. In the flames
appeared a face that lingered for more then an
hour, just as you see it above. The home was
completely destroyed and fell into the flames.
More then 40 people witnessed this and still
talk of the day they saw the face in the flames.
To us it inspires and lets us know everything is
possible when you believe. Our Ancestors are
still with us.  
NOTICE:
The Above links are forever changing as we receive your comments , requests and information. We try to
update, correct or make these additions as soon as possible. If a link does not open we are sorry and should
complete all changes soon. Please check back . Thank You!
This photo movie is of the Eel
River Tribe of Indiana, and the
photos were taken by Patricia
Murphy at France park, in
May 2008. The audio comes
from 8000 Drums event March
21, 2009 at Dunwoody Park

VIEW VIDEO HERE







See and Listen to         
2009 HOST DRUM:
THUNDER NATION
HERE






Recorded and posted by
Ron Pinson

Weengushk Singers
Black River Powwow &
Historical Gathering 2009









Canoe a thon Slide Show










GRAND ENTRY 2009
CROOKED CREEK SINGERS
EEL RIVER POWWOW
Logansport 2009
John McClurg, a member of the army at St. Clair’s defeat, said this of the chief of the Eel River Tribe:
“The leader of the Indian army at the time of St. Clair’s defeat was a chief of Missassago tribe, known by the
name of Little Turtle. Notwithstanding his name, he was at least 6 ft. tall. His aspect was harsh, sour and
forbidding, and his person during the action was arrayed in the very extremity of Indian finery, having at
least $20 worth of silver descending from his nose and ears.”“His dress consisted of moccasins, a blue
petticoat that came halfway down his thighs, and a European waistcoat and cutout. His head was bound
with an Indian cap that hung halfway down his back and was almost entirely filled with plain silver
brooches to the number of 200. He had two earrings to each ear; the upper part of each being formed of
three silver medals about the size of a dollar, the lower part of quarter dollars, which extended more than
12 inches from his nose; one over his breast and the other over his back. He also had three very large nose
jewels of silver that were curiously painted.”

Note: Missassago: is the Algonquian word for rattle snake, timber rattler, they are often nearly black in color with  underdeveloped
rattles. Some often appear similar to black~snakes or eel~fish...snake~fish.
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