| Total population | |
|---|---|
| descendants are part of theKickapoo today | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Michigan,Wisconsin andIllinois | |
| Languages | |
| Algonquian | |
| Religion | |
| traditional tribal religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Piankeshaw andKickapoo |
TheMascouten (alsoMascoutin,Mathkoutench,Muscoden, orMusketoon) were a tribe ofAlgonquian-speakingNative Americans located in the Midwest. They are believed to have dwelt on both sides of theMississippi River, adjacent to the present-dayWisconsin-Illinois border, after being driven out of Michigan by theOdawa. This may be the Mush-co-desh, or Little Prairie People, referred to by Odawa historian, Andrew Blackbird. In the 17th century, the Mush-co-desh, occupied northern lower Michigan, but were massacred by the Odawa. Blackbird claims that the Odawa, under the leadership of Saw-ge-maw, killed 40 to 50 thousand of them and drove the survivors south towards Indiana.[1]
The accounts of theJesuit Relations frequently refer to the Mascouten as the "Fire Nation" or "Nation of Fire".[2][3] One Jesuit wrote, "The Fire Nation is erroneously so called, its correct name beingMaskoutench, which means 'a treeless country,' like that inhabited by these people; but as, by changing a few letters, this Word is made to signify 'fire,' therefore the people have come to be called the Fire Nation."[4]
Their name apparently comes either from aFox word meaning "Little Prairie People" or from the Sauk termMashkotêwi ("Prairie") orMashkotêwineniwa ("Plains Indians") andshkotêwi ("fire") which would fit the Jesuits statement.[5] Historians do not know what they called themselves (autonym).[6] The Huron knew them also asAtsistaeronnon ("people of the fire").[7]
They are first mentioned in historic records byFrenchmissionaries, who described the people as inhabiting the southern area of present-dayMichigan. The missionaries reported the Mascouten as being more populous than all theNeutral, theHuron, and theIroquois Nations put together.[8] In 1712, the Mascouten united with theKickapoo and theMeskwaki, after almost being exterminated by the French and thePotawatomi.
The survivors migrated westward. The Mascouten are last referred to as a band in historic records in 1779, when they were living on theWabash River (in present-dayIndiana) with peoples of thePiankeshaw and the Kickapoo. The surviving Mascouten are noted in United States records of 1813 and 1825 as being part of theKickapoo Prairie Band.
The city ofMascoutah,Illinois, was named in 1839 after the Mascouten tribe.[9]
Thevillage of Moscow,Iowa County, Wisconsin, is said to have been named after the Mascouten tribe.
