15 Fox River: Its Long-Forgotten Inhabitants Zander Tamez There are a few different tribes that resided alongside the Fox River, namely the Mound Builders who were responsible for various effigies and mounds scattered around Illinois, the Sac and Fox who have a deep intertwined culture with one another, and the Potawatomi nation which held the most power. The mounds left by the Mound Builders are a unique representation of where they used to reside and were made as a result of the waterway that they settled nearby. The Sac and Fox tribes were one of the closest tribes residing to the Fox River and had a distinct culture surrounding the two of them. This culture is a fine example of the type of “place” that Dan Flores spoke of, as the traditions and customs cultivated by the people who live there are the foundation of who they are. The Fox people were also involved in something called the Fox Wars, which was caused by the Fox people holding up trade across the river. The Potawatomi people were similar to the Sac and Fox people in how they interacted with their waterways, however they were on opposing sides of conflict. These diverse tribes with their own ideals and thoughts have all had a relationship with the Fox River that shaped how they approach their daily life and the world around them. Although the Mound builders resided on the Fox River at an earlier time than the rest, this did not change the fact that they were heavily influenced by the river. The early mound builders did not have any animals or livestock to use for transportation, so they turned to the river for help. Their main mode of transportation was a long canoe that went up and down the Fox River, which was carved out of a single log to have room for a decent amount of people and supplies. Because of this travel method, the settlements that these people built were largely against the riverbank where it was easiest to access the river when they were in any need of transportation. As the name entails, the
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