Tecumseh

Hello. My name is Tecumseh, and I am a leader of the Shawnee people. In our language, my name means 'Shooting Star.' When I was a boy, the world was my playground. I grew up in the beautiful forests and fields of a place you now call Ohio. The trees were my friends, and the rivers taught me how to be patient. My family and I lived with our tribe, and I loved learning from our elders. They would tell amazing stories about our ancestors and the Great Spirit. I learned how to hunt quietly, how to listen to the whispers of the wind, and how to respect every living thing. The land was our home, a special gift that gave us everything we needed. I loved my people with all my heart, and I promised myself I would always protect them and our home.

As I grew older, I saw big changes happening to our land. New settlers began arriving, building fences and cutting down the forests I loved so much. They did not understand that the land belonged to everyone. I saw that my people, and many other tribes, were being pushed away from their homes. It made my heart feel heavy. My brother, Tenskwatawa, who was a wise spiritual leader, felt the same way. One day, we had a big idea. I said, 'What if all the tribes joined together? We could be like a bundle of sticks—easy to break one by one, but super strong when tied together.' We dreamed of a great family of all the tribes, united and powerful. I traveled for many miles, visiting different villages and speaking to many leaders. I shared my dream of unity with them. In 1808, we built a special village called Prophetstown. It was a place where all tribes could come to live together in peace and strength.

Sometimes, talking is not enough, and you have to be brave and stand up for what is right. The settlers kept coming, and I knew I had to do more to protect our homes. A big conflict started called the War of 1812. I decided to help the British soldiers because they also wanted to stop the settlers from taking more land. I became a general and led my warriors in many battles. We fought with great courage, not because we loved fighting, but because we loved our families and our way of life. I fought for my people until my very last day on October 5th, 1813. Even though my life ended, my dream did not. My hope for unity and courage lives on, like a shooting star that streaks across the night sky, reminding everyone to be brave and stand together.