Ethnohistory and Archaeology: The Removal Era Potawatomi Lifeway in Southeastern Wisconsin

The early nineteenth century was a time of vast cultural change for the Potawatomi of southeastern Wisconsin. Historic accounts provide significant detail on many aspects of Potawatomi culture. An abundance of archaeological sites of all types define in material terms the diversity of their activities, their cultural identity, and their widespread presence throughout the region. The waning of the fur trade, the Black Hawk War, and the encroachment of Euro-Americans impacted the Potawatomi lifeway in irreversible ways. In this article, the authors present an overview of Potawatomi life in southeastern Wisconsin around the period of their removal, as it is presently understood.