• Age: 11 to 18
• Grade: 6 to 12
• Reading age: 11 to 18

This is the biography of Tecumseh, a legendary nineteenth century Shawnee warrior, a hero of the War of 1812 and a man who spent most of his life trying to build a Native confederacy to withstand the pressure on native lands from American settlement.

It also tells the story of his younger brother Lalawethika and of Lalawethika's transformation from a drunken ne'er-do-well to the charismatic spiritual leader known as The Prophet.

As a diplomat, Tecumseh dealt with the British and American authorities, with settlers and with First Nations peoples on both sides of the border. He fought with the British in the War of 1812, and lost his life at the Battle of Moraviantown.

IRENE GORDON, who lives along the historic Assiniboine River just west of Winnipeg, has had a passion for history, reading and writing since childhood. After a career as a teacher-librarian, she became a freelance writer in 1998.

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Tecumseh: Diplomat and Warrier in the War of 1812

Much has been written about Tecumseh, the heroic Shawnee warrior, however, many facts about his life have been fictionalized or exaggerated. Even though there are gaps in the research, Gordon attempts to provide an accurate and detailed account of Tecumseh’s life. Focusing on Tecumseh’s charismatic leadership and political skills, she describes his success in building a Native confederacy with members from 32 different tribes or nations spread across nearly 1.3 million square miles, and his ability to work with the British and Americans to preserve Native lands and culture. She portrays Tecumseh as a man of integrity and humanity. Gordon describes Tecumseh’s role in the War of 1812 where, along with the British and General Isaac Brock, he fought many battles.

Caution: The use of “Indians” appears in historical context.