When French explorers first came to this area in the late 1600s, they encountered the Illiniwek or Illini Native Americans. The Illinois were actually a confederation of six related tribes and part of the larger Algonquin tribal group.
When French explorers first came to this area in the late 1600s, they encountered the Illiniwek or Illini Native Americans. The Illinois were actually a confederation of six related tribes and part of the larger Algonquin tribal group.