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Va sr.i mim i - rAUt s - rt.Ai«Ol!.AL^K-wiut>niiw>uAi, uatMioantt, i»itt 1NGS TOME- Tfce Illinois Leave Illinois (Sixteenth in a regional history series by Virginia Differding and Walter Wallace, prepared as a Bicentennial contribution from Northern Illinois University. -- Ed.) We live on their land We use their name. But what happened to the Illinois Indians? Judging by their records, the French were obviously very interested in £he tribe and in tt»is area, but why did the Illinois become so dependent on the French when other tribes did not? And why did the Illinois decline in numbers and become so weak? French interest in the area is easily understood - the prairie land was rich and the forests were filled with fur-bearing animals. Even better, the Illinois had well-developed trade relations with tribes in surrounding areas, including, those further east who passed along such European goods as metal knives, kettles and arrowheads. The Illinois traded some of these items to tribes further to the south and west in a well-run trade system developed through their great knowledge of this region and other tribes. The French also considered the Illinois region strategically important to their colonial effort because if controlled by them, their lines of com­ munication and transportation would be protected between Canada and Louisiana. It also was a most important link in the fur trade. Reasons for the Indians aligning themselves with the French are varied. One motive was the material advantage that trade with Europeans would bring, giving the Illinois a highly favorable position compared with other tribes. An even stronger motive was for the protection the Illinois hoped the French could provide, since U& Illinois had a history of falling prey to raids by the Iroquois .Confederacy to the east. Changes took place gradually. With the coming of the French trappers, the Illinois hunted not only to ob­ tain meat and skins for their bwn use, but to provide skins and processed buffalo meat called pemmican to the traders. Increased demand meant killing many more buffalo than before, so that by the mdidle of the 18th century the herds had rapidly diminished and by the early 1800s they were all but exterminated. By thus tying their economy to the French, the Illinois all but annihilated one of their main food sources. By the time the French left the area, the Illinois could not return to their former hunting patterns. The more they traded, the more they depleted the resource on which the hunting foundation of their economy rested. As the supply of animals dwindled, hostilities flared between rival tribes. These rivalries proved more serious than those previous, resulting in armed combat that all but annihilated the Illinois. The farming economy also was altered by the introduction of domesticated animals and concepts such as crop rotation, which resulted in something akin to the European system of peasant agricultural villages. As more whites came into the area, they pressed successfully for greater land holdings. Their domesticated animals - - hogs, oxen, milk cows -- foraged through the land and eliminated many roots and plants as food sources. The French missionaries earnestly worked at converting the Illinois and birth rates declined as the practice of polygamy was modified. With declining population, the Illinois became more vulnerable to raids from larger tribes such as the Delaware. Out of loyalty to the French, the Illinois acted as mer­ cenaries for them in skirmishes with the Fox Indians and the British. By aligning with Europeans, the Illinois aroused even more hostility from neigh­ boring tribes. By the early part of the 18th century, the traditional Illinois economy had broken down completely. The Indians' horizontal pattern of government also changed. The French were only comfortable with vertical authority patterns. They wanted to deal with only one person who could be accounted responsible for the actions of the tribe and encouraged this pattern through the awarding of medals to certain Illinois men. Gradually, the Indians began regarding these medals as symbols of status. By the mid- 18th century, chiefs began talking an authoritiative position. It reached the point where investiture of a chief required first the approval of a colonial official. The French discouraged warfare that interfered with commercial activities, but encouraged the Illinois to attack those tribes who were allies of the English. The Indians fell prey also to European diseases and the ill effects of alcohol. All of these adjustments to the French ultimately led to a disastrous effect on the Illinois as they changed from a cohesive, self-supporting society to one totally dependent on the French. In i763, the Seven Years war between the French and the English was concluded and except for the port of New • Orleans, North America from the Atlantic ocean to the GASH t CARRY DECEMBER 28-30, 1976 Stop by for your best deal on chemicals during our Cash & Carry Specials. Ask our Crop Production Specialist for recommendations. *We will rapeat this program January 18-20, 1977. One of these periods will fit your tax needs. McHENRY FS Woodstock McHenry Elkhorn, Wise. Marengo Huntley Mississippi river came into British hands. The French largely were gone by 1765. The Illinois did not fare well under Britsh rule and were unable to resume the traditional subsistence pattern they had followed before ontact with the French. Under President Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy of 1832, the Illinois were exiled west of the Mississippi. They joined the Wea and Piankashaw bands of the Miami, who were distantly related to them, settling first in Missouri and later on reser­ vation lands in northeastern Oklahoma Today, the Illinois tribe is only a memory. Sunnyside Area Ellen & Bill Perschke 385-8188 Snowplowlng For Sunnysld• Is Contracted Last week's article about the Village of Sunnyside not getting its roads plowed of snow was a mistake. The village has secured a contract for this year for snowplowing. The article in last week's paper referred to Pistakee Terrace subdivision. PISTAKEE TERRACE PLEA One of the responsibilities of the Pistakee Terrace association is to get the roads plowed when snow falls. But, with only fifty percent of the residents having paid this year's dues, it is uncertain whether or not we will be able to afford this needed ex­ penditure. Please, safe roads in winter are a necessity we cannot due without. NEED HELP I would like to repeat last week's request for assistance in preparing the news for this column. I want to ask any of you who might be interested in helping to acquire news in­ formation and preparing it for printing, to contact either of us. We have developed some sources but just don't have enough time to pursue them properly. For and about Teenagers BY PATRICK EDWARD How Else A father and his inquisitive son were walking through the park. Every few steps, the youngster would ask another question. "What is lightening?" "Why is the sky blue?" "What makes trains run?" To each question, dad replied he didn't know. "Daddy," the young man con­ tinued, do you mind if I ask you all these questions?" "Not at all, son. Keep right on asking. That's the only way you'll learn anything." THIS WEEK'S LETTER: I am 18 years old. Three months ago, I went to a party with my girlfriend and we went to bed together. She got pregnant. Now, she's my wife. Just a few days ago, she told me I that the child really isn't mine. I Should I divorce her? I really love her. OUR REPLY: Actually, you've answered your own question. If you love? her and you're already married, why not see if it'll work out. Com­ municate directly with your mate and find out for sure who's child it is. Get that clear between the both of you. Make certain you each know where the other is coming from on the situation. You needn't necessarily get a divorce. It's likely that youJve already lied to her on occasion, too. It's apparent that you both love each other. The respon­ sibility now is to share each other's feelings and make honest, truthful decisions on whether you choose to stay together. Initially, you've both got to accept and recognize how you got where you are; only then can you make a sound decision on where to go from there. <?' (Because of lh/ volume of Mil, rmiilll for personal replies cannot be accomo­ dated Editorial/ panel selects lor weekly use. letter whlrt best represents questions and/or comnrents from JJ' AND ABOUT TEENAGERS, BOX •»». FRANKFORT. KY. 40601.) Soy "Merry Christmas" in tho thoughtful way you want to s.ay it. ©1976 Ambassooor (Jorcn, a division of Halmafk Cards, mc Smart Santas Save At Spurgeons i spurgeons lost Minute Gifts Focus on Fresh Mens! Not a Minute Too Soon to Pick-up These Popular Items! Little wardrobe wonders that catch her eye* Choose from a snappy as­ sortment of pullovers, twin sets, car­ digans ... all of easy-care acrylic to toss in the washer and tumble dry. You'll find her favorite solid colors in sizes 7 to 14. Made to Measure! Ponderosa pine ped­ estal stand with stainless steel mea­ s u r i n g c u p s a n d spoons. One of our handcrafted wooden- w e a r p i e c e s b y f a ­ mous Capecraft. 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