The Neversink Valley Museum of History and Innovation presents:

A History Talk with Frank Salvati 

July 6^th @ 7PM

“Pontiac and His War” 

Frontier warfare at its most savage!

In the spring of 1763, the Lenape (Delaware), Huron, Miami, Ottawa, and Shawnee tribes all used force to resist the British Colonists. Mislabeled ‘The Conspiracy of Pontiac’ by historian Francis Parkman, it was in reality a war brought on by the British who had very little respect for the Native Americans and who continued to violate treaty after treaty; breaking promise after promise made to the tribes.

Many chiefs played their parts in the ensuing conflict, but the greatest among them was the Ottawa chief Obwandiyag, whom the English called “Pontiac”. He was an imposing figure, tall strong and heavily tattooed, in the custom of the Ottawa. He fashioned his straight black hair in a narrow pompadour and wore silver bracelets on his arms and a collar of white plumes around his neck. He was courageous and commanded respect far beyond his own people.

Pontiac was inspired by the words of Neolin, the Lenape Nation prophet, who warned his people “if you allow the English among you, you are dead. Maladies, smallpox, and their poison will destroy you totally.” By May 1763 Pontiac was contemplating war. With the support of the neighboring Potawatomis and Hurons, he hatched a plan to capture Fort Detroit. When a spy revealed the plan to the British, Pontiac laid siege instead. Historians have called the conflict that followed a “conspiracy,” “treason,” or an “uprising.” For Pontiac and his followers it was a war of liberation. They fought the red coats and terrorized the frontier until finally facing the inevitable and admitting defeat in July 1766. In the end, 450 British soldiers were killed, 2,000 American colonists were killed and another 2,000 colonists driven off their land. Total Indian losses are unknown.

Join us on Wednesday, JULY 6^th, The History Talk will take place in the D&H Canal Park’s Visitor Center located at 58 Hoag Road, Cuddebackville, NY. The talk is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM.

The suggested donation for this lecture is $7.00 for non-members and $5.00 for Museum members.

For more information please contact the Museum at 845-754-8870 or email us at nvam@frontiernet.net

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