Ottawas
Ottawas, or Odawa, are an Indigenous people of the Great Lakes region and one of the Anishinaabe nations. The Odawa language name is often rendered as Odawa and the group is traditionally known as traders, reflecting their historical role in regional commerce. The exonym Ottawa, used by French and English speakers, derives from their name.
Traditional Odawa territory extended along the western Great Lakes and the Ottawa River system, including parts
Language and culture: The Odawa language is an Algonquian language closely related to Ojibwe and Potawatomi.
History and modern presence: Early contact with French traders in the 17th century intensified trade and alliance-building