Winamac facts for kids

Winamac was a name used by several important Potawatomi leaders and warriors starting in the late 1600s. The name comes from a man called Wilamet. In 1681, he was chosen to help connect New France (which was what Canada was called then) with the Native American tribes around Lake Michigan.

The Potawatomi tribe adopted Wilamet. His original name meant "Catfish" in his native Eastern Algonquian language. This name soon changed to "Winamac," which also means "Catfish" in the Potawatomi language. You might see the name spelled in different ways, like Winnemac, Winamek, or Winnemeg.

The name Winamac became important for members of the Fish clan within the Potawatomi tribe. In 1701, a Winamac (likely Wilamet himself) was a chief of Potawatomi villages along the St. Joseph River in what is now Michigan. Another Winamac helped end the Fox Wars in the 1730s. Later, during the War of 1812, two different men named Winamac were important. One fought against the United States, and the other was an ally. People often get these two confused!

Wilamet: The First Winamac

In 1681, a group of Native Americans from New England traveled west with French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. One of these Natives was Wilamet. La Salle chose him to be a link between New France and the tribes near Lake Michigan.

The Potawatomis adopted Wilamet. His name meant "Catfish" in his first language. Over time, his name changed to "Winamac," which means the same thing in the Potawatomi language. The French soon recognized him as a "chief" of the Potawatomi villages along the St. Joseph River in Michigan.

Wilamet was not a traditional Potawatomi leader. Instead, the French appointed him as a "chief." This was common in the Franco-Indian alliance. The French would pick certain leaders to work with them. This created a new type of chief, often called an "alliance chief."

Wilamet helped La Salle promote French ideas and reduce the influence of the Iroquois tribe in the Lake Michigan area. In 1694, a man named Ouilamek, probably Wilamet, led 30 Potawatomis with Cadillac against the Iroquois. In 1701, Wilamet and Onanghisse, another Potawatomi alliance chief, represented their people at the Treaty of Montreal. This treaty ended a war with the Iroquois.

During the Fox Wars (1712–1733), a Wilamek was a leader of the Fish clan of the St. Joseph Potawatomis. Some historians believe this was the same Wilamet from the 1701 treaty. In 1719, Wilamek traveled to Montreal to try and make peace with the Meskwaki tribe. The next year, his son was captured by the Meskwakis but was later set free.

Winamacs During the War of 1812

During the War of 1812, Native American tribes like the Potawatomis had to choose sides. Some wanted to fight against the growing United States, while others wanted to make peace. Two men named Winamac were important during this time. One was against the United States, and the other supported them. Because of this, people often mix them up. Historians sometimes call them the "anti-American" Winamac and the "pro-American" Winamac.

Anti-American Winamac

The "anti-American" Winamac first appears in history in 1810. His group stole horses from settlers in Illinois. When the settlers chased them, the Potawatomis attacked, killing four men. The governor demanded that the Potawatomis hand over the attackers. However, Chief Gomo said the attackers had gone to Prophetstown. This was the main place for the anti-American movement led by the Shawnee Prophet and his brother Tecumseh.

In 1811, Winamac, along with chiefs Shabbona and Waubonsie, led the Potawatomi fighters against the Americans at the Battle of Tippecanoe near Prophetstown.

Winamac also helped plan the siege of Fort Wayne in 1812. In late August, he gathered a war party. They tried to trick the fort's captain into letting them in, but it didn't work. On August 28, 1812, they killed a clerk who left the fort. They then fired at the fort and its buildings. On September 4, Winamac approached the fort under a truce flag. He saw that the fort was weak. The next day, two soldiers were killed outside. Later, Winamac and a small group tried to enter the fort to attack the commander, but they were heavily guarded. The biggest fight of the siege happened on September 6, but the fort couldn't be taken. On September 11, help arrived for the fort, and the siege ended.

After the siege, Winamac worked as a scout for the British. On November 22, 1812, Winamac's scouting party captured several Native Americans, including Shawnee chief Logan, who was a U.S. ally. Winamac was killed in a gunfight when Logan and his friends escaped. Logan later died from his wounds.

Pro-American Winamac

The "pro-American" Winamac was a chief from the Tippecanoe Potawatomi tribe. Starting in 1807, he, along with Five Medals and Topinabee, asked the American government for help with farming. However, the equipment sent was not used much because only these chiefs were interested, not their people.

In 1807, President Monroe wanted more Native American land. A meeting was held at Fort Wayne in September. Winamac led the Potawatomi group. When other chiefs and the Miami tribe refused to give up land, Winamac convinced them to agree. They agreed to give up about 3 million acres (12,000 km²), but none of it was Potawatomi land. Winamac and the Potawatomi received a good share of the payment for these lands.

After the Fort Wayne Treaty, many tribes became unhappy, and more warriors joined the movement at Prophetstown. Winamac gave information to Governor Harrison about what was happening there. Harrison invited the Prophet to Washington. In June, Tecumseh met with Harrison and called Winamac a "black dog" for supporting the Americans.

During the winter of 1811-1812, Potawatomi groups attacked settlements in Indiana and Illinois. To stop this, meetings were held. Winamac and Five Medals told American agents that only a few anti-American warriors were causing trouble. However, because of the influence of pro-British chiefs, Winamac and Five Medals refused to go to Washington. Tecumseh, the Shawnee leader, blamed Winamac and Five Medals for not controlling their warriors.

When Governor Harrison marched north to Prophetstown in November 1811, Winamac went with him. Winamac went ahead to talk with the Prophet but missed Harrison on his way back. On November 6, Harrison's troops camped for the night. The next day, the Native American confederacy surrounded the troops. Potawatomi leaders like Shabbona, Waubansee, and Winamac were there. The defeat of the Native American confederacy scattered the tribes. Even after this, attacks on settlements continued. Winamac, despite supporting the Americans, was warned to stay away from settlements for his own safety.

When the war between the United States and England began, Winamac continued to support the Americans. He went to villages near Lake Peoria to find warriors accused of attacking settlements, but he was laughed at and left without success. Winamac was the one who carried orders from Detroit to Fort Dearborn (Chicago) for them to leave because an attack was coming. On August 9, Winamac told Commander Heald they needed to leave that day. On August 13, 13 Miami Indians arrived as an escort. On August 15, Mad Sturgeon and Blackbird led a Potawatomi ambush of over 500 warriors against 62 soldiers and 27 civilians near Lake Michigan. Fifty-three Americans died that day, and fifteen Native Americans died. Fort Dearborn fell on August 15, 1812, followed by Mackinac and the siege of Detroit, which surrendered on August 16.

In September 1817, Winamac and Metea represented the eastern Potawatomis at the treaty of Fort Meigs. They sold lands in Ohio and south-central Michigan to the United States. Winamac died in 1821.

Places Named After Winamac

• Winnemac (fictional state), a made-up state in the United States, created by writer Sinclair Lewis.
• Winnemac Avenue and Winnemac Park on the north side of Chicago, Illinois.
• Win-E-Mac School District in northwestern Minnesota.
• Winamac, Indiana.
• Winamac Drive, Pocono Lake, PA.