a compendium of facts about Ohio history
by Dan Chabek
Wyandots, a Topmost Ohio Tribe
The Wyandot Indians were considered one of the most important tribes in early Ohio.
They migrated westward from the shores of the St. Lawrence River at the opening of the 17th Century after a defeat by powerful Iroquois tribes.
They populated the eastern shores of Lake Huron, and at one time were known as the Hurons. Then about 1745 they moved to the mouth of the Sandusky River in northern Ohio.
Led by Chief Nicholas, they canoed up the river and built their principal villages in what is now Marion, Wyandot, and Crawford Counties.
Later they expanded south to Ohio's Shawnee settlements, and east and west until they occupied most of northern Ohio.
Eventually, as an indication of their prestige, they were given the honor of keeping the calumet, or ceremonial pipe, which united most of the Indians in the Northwest Territory for protection against common foes.
© 1997 Dan Chabek
Huron/Wyandot - Houghton Mifflin Encyclopedia of North American Indians