Conflicting Connections: Native Nations and the Revolution

The colonists were on one side, the British were on the other in the fight for independence. It was a fight over the land in the "New World," but the original inhabitants of that world, the Indigenous nations, were caught in the middle. Determined to keep their homelands safe for their people, these nations fought on both sides of the conflict, only to receive promises that were never kept. This collections spotlight showcases some of the letters in The Henry Ford's collections that discuss Indigenous involvement in the American Revolution and open the door to understanding these conflicting connections.

The venues of The Henry Ford stand on the ancestral, traditional, and unceded homelands of the Three Fires Council — the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi peoples. The Miami, Wyandot, and Fox Nations also called this land their home. The 1807 Treaty of Detroit led to the forcible removal of these First Peoples, and they dispersed throughout the United States to parts of current-day Michigan, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Kansas, and into Canada. The Henry Ford acknowledges the impacts of settler colonialism and commits to deepening its relationship with Indigenous communities in the present — and future.

Members enjoy free admission to all Celebrate Indigenous History programming, plus free general admission to the museum and village for a full year of fun starting the day you join. Experience on-site dining and shop at our stores with a member-exclusive discount along with complimentary parking, access to presales for ticketed events and more.