How Did the Shawnee Get Their Name?

The Shawnee tribe was considered the southernmost part of the Algonquian nation. Most historians think that the name for the tribe is derived from the word for south in the Algonquian language, “Shawano” or “shaawanwa.”

In the Shawnee language, however, this word does not mean south and instead it means that the weather is “warm.” Thus, other historians think that the name may have come from the Shawnee diety, Shaawaki.

Language of the Shawnee

The Shawnee spoke a derivative of Algonquian language. Their language was unique to the tribe, and was called the Shawnee language. It was considered a Central Algonquian language.

The language was derived from Pronto-Algonquian, and it was considered closely related to the Algonquan languages of Mesquakie-Sauk and Kickapoo.

As of 2010, only about two hundred Shawnee individuals still speak the language. This makes it extremely endangered language. The language has four short vowels and four long vowels. Grammatically, the language has two third persons, and two noun classes.

Subgroups of the Shawnees

The Shawnee tribe was organized as a confederacy of five different divisions. These divisions had a language and similar holidays in common. The five divisions were:

Chillicothe (also known as the Chalaka, or the Chalakatha)
Hathawekela (also known as the Thawikila)
Kispokotha (also known as the Kishpoko)
Mequachake (also known as the Mekoche)
Pekuwe (also known as the Piqua)

Each division had a specific role for the tribe and the confederation as a whole. However, the specifics of each role have been lost to history because the Europeans were unable to comprehend the tradition, and they were unable to record it in a coherent way.

Leadership of the Shawnee

The Shawnees were a confederation. In terms of the leadership of each division, the leadership was passed down through the paternal line.

In each division, there was a chief. The chief lived in a specific village in each division, and the village where the chief lived was named after the division name.

Where the Shawnees Were Located

The Shawnee tribe was spread throughout the following states:

Ohio
Virginia
West Virginia
West of Maryland
Kentucky
Indiana
Pennsylvania

However, once the Europeans came to North America, the range of the Shawnee tribe decreased and was altered. Currently, all three remaining descendants of the tribe reside in Oklahoma.

Diet of the Shawnee Tribe

The Shawnee tribe consumed both plants, and animals. Their diet consisted of what they could harvest in their environment, as well as what they were able to hunt or catch fishing. Some of the meats that the Shawnee ate included:

Duck
Turkey
Geese
Grouse
Partridge
Snake
Rabbit
Raccoon
Bison
Deer
Bear
Muskrat
Woodchuck

Some of the crops that the Shawnee were able to successfully farm and harvest included:

Pumpkins
Beans
Berries
Corn
Squash
Melon

The Shawnee would also frequently fish, and ate eels.

Clothing Worn by the Shawnee Tribe

The Shawnee men traditionally wore a loincloth, leggings, and breechcloths. The women wore dresses. Both the females and the males wore moccasins in the summer, and snowshoes during the winter.