List of Potawatomi ethnonyms facts for kids

The Potawatomi people are an Indigenous group in North America. Like many Native American nations, they have been known by several different names throughout history. Some of these names come from their own language, while others were given to them by other tribes or by European explorers and settlers. This article explores some of the most common and interesting names used for the Potawatomi.

Names from the Potawatomi Language (Endonyms)

Neshnabé: The Original People

Neshnabé is a name the Potawatomi use for themselves. It means "Original People." This name is very similar to "Anishinaabe," which is used by other related tribes. The plural form, meaning "Original Peoples," is Neshnabék.

Bodéwadmi: Keepers of the Fire

Another important name the Potawatomi use for themselves is Bodéwadmi. This name means "those who keep the hearth-fire." A "hearth-fire" is like a central fireplace in a home or community. In this case, it refers to the important fire of the Council of Three Fires. The Council of Three Fires was a long-standing alliance between the Potawatomi, Ojibwe, and Odawa nations. The word comes from "bodewadm," which means "to keep or tend the hearth-fire." The plural form is Bodéwadmik.

• Over time, many different spellings of "Bodéwadmi" were recorded by various groups. These include names like Patawatimes, Potawatamies, and Pottawatomies. These variations show how the name was heard and written down differently by various people throughout history.

Names Given by Others (Exonyms)

Fire Nation

The name "Fire Nation" is a simple translation of Bodéwadmi. Since "Bodéwadmi" means "keepers of the hearth-fire," it made sense for others to call them the "Fire Nation."

• Some historical records show this name as "Gens de Feu" (French for "People of Fire") or "Nation of Fire."

Lice Nation

This name might sound a bit strange! "Lice Nation" came about because the French word for "lice" (poux) sounded similar to a shortened version of Bodéwadmi. It was an accidental nickname, not meant to be offensive.

• French explorers and traders sometimes used shortened forms like "Pouës" or "Poux" for the Potawatomi.

Hybridized Names

Some names for the Potawatomi were a mix of their own name, Bodéwadmi, and the French word poux. This created new, combined names.

• Examples include "Poueatamis" and "Poutéamis."

Names from Iroquoian Tribes

Other Native American tribes, especially those from the Iroquoian language family, had their own names for the Potawatomi. These names often described something about the Potawatomi people or their customs.

• For instance, "Asistagueronon" and "Atsistaehronons" are examples of names used by Iroquoian-speaking groups like the Huron.

Other Names from Different Tribes

Many other Native American tribes had unique names for the Potawatomi. These names often had special meanings in their own languages.

• The Caddo people called them "Kúnu-hayánu," which means "watermelon people."
• The Miami people sometimes called them "Wa-hō'-na-hah," meaning "fire-makers."
• The Omaha and Kansa tribes used names like "Wáhiú¢axá" or "Wáhiúyaha."
• The Winnebago, Iowa, Oto, and Missouri tribes used names such as "Wo-rá-qĕ" or "Woraxa."

See also

• Algonquin ethnonyms
• Nipissing ethnonyms
• Ojibwa ethnonyms