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Pontiac, chief of the OTTAWA (b 1720?; d at Cahokia [Ill] 20 Apr 1769). He may have served with the French and Indian forces that defeated Maj-Gen Edward Braddock at FORT DUQUESNE (1755). He later was able to organize Indians discontented with the English regime, arranging a series of secret meetings among the SENECA and other groups. In spring 1763 he ignited hostilities, leading an alliance of OTTAWA, HURON, Potawatomis and OJIBWA against Fort Detroit and killing or taking captive a contingent of 46 English soldiers at Point Pelée. Detroit was held under siege, and the uprising spread throughout the PAYS D'EN HAUT, as Michilimackinac, Fort Sandoské, Fort St-Joseph, Fort Miami and others fell to the widening alliance.
On July 29 at Bloody Run, Pontiac's forces routed an encampment of 260 reinforcements heading for Detroit. Pontiac's direct control was limited to the warriors around Detroit, but even that group disintegrated as the Potawatomis and Huron left, and even the Ottawa deserted to winter hunting grounds. A series of peace treaties was signed in July 1765, with the prestigious Pontiac a key signatory. He insisted that the Indians were not surrendering their land by making peace. Those still hostile to the English turned against him, expelling him from his own village. He led a wandering life until murdered by a Peoria assassin.
 PontiacPontiac's War was the most successful First Nations resistance to the European invasion in our history (City of Detroit Archives).
Author
JAMES MARSH
Suggested Reading
Jane Fleischer, Pontiac, Chief of the Ottawas (1979); Howard H. Peckhorn, Pontiac and the Indian Uprising (1970).
Links to Other Sites
CHIEFS
The Galafilm documentary series CHIEFS is the saga of the great leaders, warriors, and diplomats of the First Nations whose stories form a central drama of Canada and the North American continent. The films tell the life stories of First Nations leaders Sitting Bull, Pontiac, Joseph Brant, Black Hawk, and Poundmaker.
Fort Pitt Museum
An interesting account of the horrific 18th Century battles involving the British, French and Native Americans on the site of the former Fort Duquesne (in present day Pennsylvania.)
Chief Pontiac's siege of Detroit
This nicely illustrated and compelling article about Chief Pontiac’s ill-fated siege of Fort Detroit features stories of bloody skirmishes, surreptitious spying, and shifting allegiances. From the Detroit News.
A Brief History of Michigan
Features a description of French and British exploration, settlement and interaction with local aboriginal communities in what is now the State of Michigan. From the Michigan Legislature website. A pdf file.
Four Directions Teachings
Elders and traditional teachers representing the Blackfoot, Cree, Ojibwe, Mohawk, and Mi’kmaq share teachings about their culture. Animated graphics visualize each of the oral teachings. This website also provides biographies of participants, transcripts, and extensive learning resources for students and their teachers. In English with French subtitles.
NFB: Chiefs
This series is the saga of five great First Nations chiefs -- Sitting Bull, Pontiac, Joseph Brant, Black Hawk and Poundmaker. Their stories form a central drama of the history of the North American continent. Features still photos and video clips. A National Film Board website.
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