Chiefs - Galafilm
Sitting Bull, Sioux Poundmaker, Cree Joseph Brant, Mohawk Black Hawk, Sauk Pontiac, Ottawa

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Culture Clash
It was a tragic failure of understanding. As the Superintendent of Indian affairs, Sir William Johnson pointed out; hundreds of lives could have been spared if the British had simply shown a minimum of respect for native American culture.

OTTAWA
Fought to retain control over their territory
BRITISH
Fought for King, country, and the expansion of the British Empire
Followed chiefs who led by friendly persuasion
Obeyed the King and his representatives
People belonged to extended families or clans
Everyone had a pre-defined place in a rigid social class system
Ottawa warriors were also hunters and traders for whom war was a part-time occupation
The British army was made up of career soldiers for whom war was a full-time occupation
Any warrior could become a war chief if he was a brave fighter and a skilled tactician
Generals were usually men of relatively high birth who were appointed by the Crown
Pontiac and the Ottawa saw the Europeans' gift-giving as "rent" for the use of native lands
General Amherst discontinued the French practice of giving presents to the Ottawa on grounds that it encouraged laziness
Practiced ritual cannibalism to celebrate a victory and honor the fallen enemy
Gave their enemy "presents" of smallpox contaminated blankets

"When we Indians kill meat, we eat it all up. When we dig roots, we make little holes. When we build houses, we make little holes. We shake down acorns and pine nuts. We don't chop down the trees. We only use dead wood. But the white people plow up the ground, pull down the trees, kill everything ... .How can the spirit of the earth like the White man? Everywhere the White man has touched it, it is sore."
Wintu Woman, 19th Century
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