Metea

For the Belgian trade union, see Metea (trade union). For the location in the United States, see Metea, Indiana.

Metea
Metea portrait by Samuel Seymour
Born	United States
Died	May 5, 1827 Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States
Nationality	Potawatomi
Occupation	Native American chief
Title	Chief

Chief Metea or Me-te-a (fl. 1812–1827) (Potawatomi: Mdewé "Sulks") was one of the principal chiefs of the Potawatomi during the early 19th century. He frequently acted as spokesman at treaty councils. His village, Muskwawasepotan, was located on the St. Joseph River near the present-day town of Cedarville, Indiana.

He acted as principal Potawatomi informant to William Keating, during the 1823 expedition into the Indiana territory by Major Stephen Long.

Metea died at Fort Wayne, Indiana on May 5, 1827. According to the United States, his death was caused by accidental ingestion of poison, which he mistook for whiskey following a conversation with US dignitaries. It is more likely that he was assassinated.

Miscellaneous

Metea, a small town in Cass County, Indiana, and Metea County Park and Nature Preserve, an Allen County, Indiana park near Leo-Cedarville along Cedar Creek, are both named after Chief Metea. Also, Metea Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois is named after Chief Metea.

External links

• Miami Indians Ethnohistory Archives
• National Portrait Gallery