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PART II - Indiana
July 1, 1815 - FORT WAYNE, INDIAN NATION - Tecumseh, who had led the Shawnee warriors during the recent war against the United States, stepped into the room accompanied by his brother Tenskwatawa, known as "The Prophet." The simple fact that Tecumseh's wisdom in siding with the British, and the subsequent return of the lands of the Indiana and Northwest territories to their native inhabitants, had resulted in Tecumseh becoming the de facto ruler of what the British and Americans had dubbed "Indiana."
Tecumseh stood on a platform inside the fort with his brother beside him. Arrayed before them were several hundred chieftains from various tribes - some Shawnee, but many from other tribal nations such as the Illini, the Miami, the Ottawa, the Winebago, the Kickapoo and even some Chippewa from the far north of the new nation.
"My brothers!" Tecumseh shouted and grinned at the assemblage. "We are once again free, with our lands returned to us and the last of the American soldiers and settlers gone from this land."
He saw grins among the crowd, some raised their arms and whooped.
Tecumseh's face grew serious. "My brother the Prophet was correct in advising us to follow the path of war. But now, he has further words to say, to help us as we seek our way into the unseen future."
Tenskwatawa stepped forward and stood beside his brother. He raised his arms in greeting and said in a loud voice: "The time has come for us to put aside our tribal differences and form one great tribe."
There were scowls and murmurings in the crowd. Tecumseh began to glare, but his brother spoke again, softly, and those who were murmuring quieted down so that all could hear. "The white men, both British and American, see us as one nation. It matters not to them whether we be Shawnee, Miami or Illini, Kickapoo or Chippewa. To them we are all savages."
Now the scowls were deepening. Tenskwatawa continued, "Though the British have guaranteed our freedom, their soldiers will not stay to enforce it. It is upon us that this must fall. We must unite and form a powerful coalition. It is only through unity that the strength to prevent the Americans from taking our lands will be found."
Now the scowls had given way to thoughtful expressions as the assembled chiefs realized the truth of the words. All had witnessed the forced migration caused by the white men, going back generations. Tenskwatawa knew he had them.
"The spirits have shown me the way. We must form a council of tribes, with one great chief to oversee it, to ensure our common safety. I suggest we name my brother, the great Tecumseh as our first Great Chief."
A cacophony arose as the assembled chiefs all began speaking at the same time. Tecumseh himself raised his arms and shouted. "Brothers! Let us not rush to make this decision, let us sit in council and decide what our future path must be."
Both Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa knew what the outcome would be. The Shawnees were the most powerful tribal group and Tecumseh the most powerful chief. It was just a matter of time before he would be acknowledged as Great Chief and ruler of Indiana. And though it took three days of council, the result was just as they had foreseen.
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