pawating
bawating / pawatik / bawatik
Niles, MI place of the rapids
Recording(s)
Sample Sentences
This sign was made in collaboration with the Niles History Center to correct misinformation. This was put in place in December of 2024. Designed by Tribal Artist Justin Johnson. The sign is located along the river across the street from the hospital.
The former sign
Source
Niles, MI
Additional Media
The Potawatomi call the St. Joseph River "Senathwen Zibé" or river with a rocky flow. prior to the construction of the dam, the river was 12 feet lower than it is today & was really rocky, & difficult to maneuver, leading to the area of Niles being called Pawating meaning "place of the rapids." The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi historically were in Pawating, with many villages located along Senathwen Zibé. Leopold Pokagons village was located near the Michigan / Indiana border on the West side of the river. Topinabee had a village near the location of the hospital. Wesaw had a village at the south side of the north bend of the river. Prior to these villages, Nanaquiba led a village where Senathwen Zibé meets Ndowathoyék Zibé (Dowagiac River).