Wawatam
Wawatam (fl. 1762 – 1764) was an Ojibwa chief at Michilimackinac. He is known through his rescue of British trader Alexander Henry from the Ojibwas' capture of Fort Michilimackinac in June 1763 during the Pontiac War. Wawatam, the leader and patriarch of an extended family of Ojibwa or Anishinaabe Native Americans, initially claimed Henry as his share of the spoils resulting from the capture of the fort. He then advised Henry to take refuge in a shelter on nearby Mackinac Island, Skull Cave, and still later enlisted Henry as a member of his clan group's extended family. In this role Henry wintered with the Wawatam family in 1763-1764 in a hunting ground located near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. Henry's observations of the hunting and living practices of his friendly captors became a significant contribution to Algonquian anthropology.
Henry later returned to "civilization." Successful as a fur trader in later life, he always credited Wawatam with saving his life. The 18th century fort, scene of Wawatam's rescue of Henry, was reconstructed on its original site in the second half of the 20th century. The site is located near Mackinaw City, Michigan.
