Description:
The Chinna Munippa (also spelled Chinamenippa) are an aboriginal people of the Great Lakes region in North America. They are the most numerous of the Five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. The Chinna Munippa are located in present-day Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The Chinna Munippa were formerly known as the Ottawa and the Chippewa. They were first encountered by Europeans in the early 17th century, when French explorers and Jesuit missionaries encountered them while exploring the Great Lakes region. The French called them the 'Munippa' (from the Algonquian word 'Munipi', meaning 'small people'). The Chinna Munippa were later called the Ottawa by the British, who conquered the area in the mid-18th century. The Chinna Munippa are a federally recognized tribe. They have a reservation in Michigan, and a small reservation in Ohio. They are also involved in tribal gaming and economic development. The Chinna Munippa speak the Ottawa language, which is a member of the Algonquian language family. The Chinna Munippa have their own customs and traditions, which are based on their traditional way of life. They are a matrilineal society, with women holding political and social power. The Chinna Munippa are also known for their art, which includes beadwork, quillwork, and basketry.
