(pg. 28-31)
The treaty of August 29, 1821 concluded at Chicago resulted in the cession to the United States of a large tract of land in the southwestern portion of the state of Michigan designated No. 117 on Royce's map of the state. From this cession, the Indian's reserved from their own use the following tracts; (1) one tract at Mang-ach-qua village, on the river Peble, of 6 miles square; (2) one tract at MIch-ke-saw-be of 6 miles square; (3) one tract at the village of Na-to-wa-se-pe of 4 miles square/ (4) one tract at the village of Prairie Ronde of 3 miles square; (5) one tract at the village of Mastch-e-be-narh-she-wish, at he head of the Kekalamazoo river. While these tracts were subsequently ceded to the United States in 1827 and 1833, they do serve to indicate the areas in which the Indian villages were concentrated as well as their tribal affiliation.
The areas set aside as reserves were located in the central and southern portions of the region. The most northern-most centered around the village of Matchebenashshewish on the Kalamazoo River near the present town of that name. Others were to the south on the St., Joseph River and its tributaries. All of the villages listed above are of Potawatomi affiliation. To indicate the other villages of the area we may again have recourse to the map showing distribution of Indian villages in The Archaeological Atlas of Michigan compiled by W. B. Hinsdale. First the villages in the area to the north of Kalamazoo River are listed, and then those to the south, within the area of the land cession. In regard to the villages in the northern section where the Grand River forms the Boundary line, villages on both sides of the river are listed.
The distribution of the villages and their tribal affiliation indicates quite clearly that the region to the north of the Kalamazoo River was occupied primarily by the Ottawa and Chippewa while the region to the south was Potawatomi country. Nogee or Nongee, which is not identified by Hinsdale, is probably of Chippewa affiliation. Kewagoosheum may also be of Chippewa affiliation, though this is not certain.