In the latter part of the 17th century the tribe consisted of 4, possibly
5, divisions. It is repeatedly stated that there were 4 bands, and no
greater number is ever mentioned, yet 5 names are given, as follows:
Kishkakon
Sinago
Keinouche
Nassauaketon
Sable
La Mothe Cadillac
says there were 4 bands:
Kiskakon
Sinago
Sable
Nassauaketon
(Verwyst, Miss. Labors, 210, 1886).
Outaoutiboy, chief of the Ottawa,
speaking at the conference with Gov. de Callidres, Sept. 3, 1700, said: "I
speak in the name of the four Outaouais nations, to wit: The Outaouaes of
the Sable, the Outaouaes Sinago, the Kiskakons, and the people of the
Fork" (Nassawaketon). In addition to these chief divisions there were
minor local bands, as Blanchard's Fork, Kajienatroene, Maskasinik,
Negaouichirinicuek, Niscak, Ommunise, Otontagan, Talon, and Thunder Bay.
Chauvignerie in 1736 distinguished the Ottawa
of Grand River, Lake Nipissing, Michilimackinac, Detroit, and Saginaw.
According to Morgan the names of the Ottawa gentes are unknown, but
Chauvignerie in 1736 mentioned the bear, otter, gray squirrel, and black
squirrel as the totems of different bands of the tribe.
According to
Charlevoix the Ottawa signed with a hare the provisional treaty concluded
at Montreal in 1700. At the great conference on the Maumee in 1793 they
signed with the otter totem. In Tanner's Narrative is given a list of 18
totems among the Ottawa and Chippewa, but there is nothing to indicate
which are Ottawa and which Chippewa.
