Anishinabe-French Wars

During the 1530s, the French and Dutch landed on the large island of Newfoundland, then commenced to build up their military strength. By the mid 1530s they invaded the Saint Lawrence River region, including down into what is now the Albany, New York region. It was the Algonquin's who lived in that region. They were driven out by the whites to more northerly and westerly locations. However, as the 16th century progressed the Algonquin's, reinforced by large numbers of brave warriors from the Chippewa, Cree, Ottawa, and the Pottawatmie, launched a military campaign against the invading whites which drove them back to the island of Newfoundland.

They were driven by prophesy to battle the invading whites. Don't be fooled by Anishinabe leaders and elders who stress that our ancestors peacefully welcomed the whites then simply handed over their land to them, because that is not the truth. The French once again invaded the Saint Lawrence River region between the years 1600 and 1610, but they successfully established a colony this time. Throughout the 17th century, the Anishinabek were constantly at war against the French, Dutch, English, Spanish and Sweden. However, they were capable of stopping the advance of the invading whites further westward.

As the 18th century came, more war erupted between the Anishinabek and French. It culminated during the decade of the 1750s when the Anishinabek violently waged a war against both the French and their English kinfolk. By the late 1750s, the French were losing badly to the Anishinabek, and England responded by reinforcing the French colony of Quebec with large numbers of English soldiers. By the early 1760s, the English had forced Quebec under English control (saved Quebec from being destroyed by the Anishinabek), then commenced to negotiate with Anishinabe ogimak about ending the long war. Boindiac made it clear to English leaders that the Anishinabek would not tolerate whites living in the old French forts scattered across the Great Lakes region.

After Boindiac's War ended a short peace came. It was also around the time of Boindiac's War, that the Anishinabek invaded Spanish controlled Florida, bringing Florida under Anishinabe control. Soon after, Boindiac launched a major military campaign against Spanish controlled Cuba, which eventually brought Cuba under Anishinabe control. Boindiac then launched military campaigns to bring the Bahamas, Hispaniola and Mexico under Anishinabe control. However, that took years of fighting before it was accomplished.