But the Ottawa nation of Indians are always considered as the oldest
and most expert on the warpath and wise councilors; and consequently
every tribe of Indians far and near, even as far as the Manitoba
country, out north, deposited their pipe of peace with the head chief
of the Ottawa nation as a pledge of continual peace and friendship.
Every pipe of peace contained a short friendly address which must be
committed to memory by every speaker in the council of the Ottawas. If
there was ever any outbreak among these tribes who deposited their pipe
of peace with the head chief of the Ottawa nation, a general council
would be called by the chiefs of the Ottawas, and the pipe of peace
belonging to the tribe who caused the trouble would be lighted up, and
the short address contained in the pipe would be repeated in the
council by one of the speakers. When the cause of the outbreak or
trouble was ascertained, then reconciliation must be had, and friendly
relation must be restored, in which case they almost invariably
succeeded in making some kind of reasonable settlement. This was the
custom of all these people; and this is what formerly constituted the
great Algonquin family of Indians.

There are many theories as to the origin of the Indian race in America,
but nothing but speculation can be given on this subject. But we
believe there must have been people living in this country before those
tribes who were driven out by the Ottawas and Chippewas, who were much
more advanced in art and in civilization, for many evidences of their
work have been discovered. About two hundred and fifty years ago, We-
me-gen-de-bay, one of our noted chiefs, discovered while hunting in the
wilderness a great copper kettle, which was partly in the ground. The
roots of trees had grown around it and over it, and when it was taken
up it appeared as if it had never been used, but seemed to be just as
it came from the maker, as there was yet a round bright spot in the