Hodges Soileau (American, B. 1943) "Pontiac" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media painting on Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting appeared on the Fleetwood Pontiac Commemorative Cover postmarked April 27, 1981. Tall, proud, and eloquent, Pontiac was one of the few Indian leaders who succeeded in uniting many diverse tribes to resist European encroachment upon their lands. His birth year was approximately 1720, somewhere on the Maumee River in what is now Ohio. His father was an Ottawa, his mother probably Chippewa (Ojibwa). Pontiac was a shrewd persuader, a warrior with a natural aura of command. By the time he was in his early thirties, Pontiac was head chief of three Ottawa villages near Detroit. Because of his people's fur trading tie with the French, he supported them against the English when the latter began invading their territory. Ottawas joined in the attack upon General Braddock's column, and Pontiac probably led them in that historic ambush of July 9, 1755. After the English began building forts and settlements in Ottawa country, and instituted a policy of extermination, Pontiac called a war council of all affected tribes on April 27, 1763. Early in May the Indians attacked fifteen military posts, destroying twelve. Pontiac failed, however, to take the strategic post at Detroit. After laying siege to the fort for many months, waiting in vain for assistance from the French, he learned that France had signed a peace treaty with England. On August 17, he made peace at Detroit, and on July 25, 1766, signed a treaty at Oswego, New York. While he was visiting Cahokia, Illinois, in an attempt to unite the tribes of the Mississippi Valley, he was murdered April 20, 1769. Image Size: 14 x 12.5 in. Overall Size: 19.5 x 17.5 in. Unframed. (B07037)