Tacumwah

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Tacumwah (c. 1720-c. 1790), alternate spelling "Taucumwah," also known as Marie-Louise Pacanne Richerville (Richardville) was a chefress of the Miami tribe, a businesswoman, and mother of Chief Richardville. She was also the sister of Michikinikwa ("Little Turtle"), and Pacan. From her brother Pacan she derived the "Pacanne" portion of her French surname. The name Tacumwah means "Parakeet" in the Miami language.

Tacumwah married Joseph Drouet de la Richerville, the son of a French nobleman who was serving as a lieutenant in the French garrison at Fort St. Phillipe, later Fort Miamis. Richerville—who later Anglicized his name as Richardville, the form in which he passed the name to his son—later left the area and became a fur trader in Canada. Tacumwah had three other children; it is not clear if these were by Richerville or another man.

Tacumwah was a political advisor to her son Peshewa, as the Miami knew him, and sometimes spoke for him in the tribal council. She reportedly once put a knife into Peshewa's hand and told him to free a white captive whom other tribesmen were about to execute.

In her later years, Tacumwah ran a successful trading post. Her son inherited her business holdings when she died.

[edit] External links

• Brief bio at Indiana State Parks website
• Houghton Mifflin Encyclopedia of North American Indians, Richardville article (some details about Tacumwah)