Robey’s Atlasof Indigenous North America
The directory/Illinois (Illiniwek)
Historical confederation

Illinois (Illiniwek)

Illinois or Illiniwek refers to a historical grouping of related peoples of the Illinois Country, rather than one present-day government.

Read the sources [1] Illinois State Museum

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Arkansas · Illinois · Iowa · Missouri
See each region’s evidence for historical or present-day scope.
Homeland / region
Great Lakes / Mississippi Valley
Research depth
Source guide
Source collection
1 annotated resources · 0 Indigenous-led
Inspected sources
0 substantive works · selected content reviewed
Initial adequacy
Not assessed
Compiled
October 19, 2026
A source guide for a deeper dive.This entry provides a brief orientation and an organized reading path. A comprehensive deep dive has not yet been completed. Follow the annotated sources and distinguish primary community accounts from outside reference material.
01

Identity and homelands

Illinois or Illiniwek refers to a historical grouping of related peoples of the Illinois Country, rather than one present-day government.

Read the sources [1] Illinois State Museum

02

Historical context

Forced removals carried Illinois descendants west; the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma continues this history through its constituent peoples.

Read the sources [1] Illinois State Museum

03

Living communities and further study

The Peoria Tribe’s own historical and cultural writing should accompany the Illinois State Museum’s archive, whose population figures reflect an earlier publication.

Read the sources [1] Illinois State Museum

Follow the reading path

Sources & further reading

Open any title to read the original source. Annotations explain what each link can help you explore.

Robey’s Atlas of Indigenous North America · Compiled October 19, 2026 · Illinois (Illiniwek)