The Potawatomi version of the name has been spelled in a variety of ways, including Winnemac, Winamek, and Winnemeg.
In 1701, Winamac or Wilamet was a chief of the Potawatomi villages along the St. Joseph River in what is now the U.S. state of Michigan.
In 1681, a group of Native Americans from several Algonquian tribes of New England accompanied French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle on an expedition to the west.
[1] Before long, he was recognized by the French as the "chief" of the Potawatomi villages along the St. Joseph River in what is now the U.S. state of Michigan.
[7] Wilamet helped La Salle promote French policies while countering Iroquois influence in the Lake Michigan region.
[13] During the War of 1812 era, the Potawatomis, like other tribes, were divided over whether to oppose the expansion of the United States or to seek peaceful accommodation.
That year, while returning from an unsuccessful raid against the Osages, Winamac's party stole horses from some white Illinois settlers.
Governor Ninian Edwards demanded that the Potawatomis surrender the raiders, but chief Gomo informed U.S. officials that the raiders had gone to Prophetstown in Indiana, headquarters of the anti-American resistance movement led by the Shawnee Prophet and his brother Tecumseh.
[16] Along with chiefs Shabbona and Waubonsie, Winamac led the Potawatomi contingent against the Americans at the Battle of Tippecanoe at Prophetstown in 1811.
Late in the afternoon, Winamac approached the fort with a small delegation and sought admittance to see the commander.
After the siege of Fort Wayne, Winamac served as a scout under British Indian agent Matthew Elliott.
On November 22, 1812, Winamac was with a scouting party that captured several Indians, including Shawnee chief Logan (Spemica Lawba), a U.S. ally.
Previous attempts at farming the land south of Fort Wayne were also made in the early spring of 1805 by Chief Little Turtle, who welcomed two visiting Quakers that came upon the area at Little Turtle's request for their instruction, knowing their farming methods were sufficient.
[19] However, as would occur in 1807, although equipped with the proper methods and lands, these efforts would soon prove futile as the native people were apathetic towards the agricultural mission, with their focus remaining largely on local affairs and settlement conflicts.
The months following the treaty found Winamac at Detroit settling disputes for the lands in northwest Ohio.
[20] When the war between the United States and England was known, Winamac continued to support the Americans and led a delegation to the Lake Peoria villages seeking the warriors accused of raiding the settlements.
It was Winamac who carried William Hulls orders from Detroit to Fort Dearborn (Chicago) to evacuate, an attack was eminent.
On August 15, Mad Sturgeon and Blackbird led the Potawatomi ambush of 500+ warriors against the 62 soldiers and 27 civilians in the dunes of Lake Michigan.
In September 1817, Winamac and Metea represented the eastern Potawatomis at the treaty of Fort Meigs, in which they sold lands in Ohio and south central Michigan to the United States.