Note 17 — THE ILLINOIS OR ILLINI[17] (1550?-1833 A.D.)

These Indians called themselves Ilini (pronounced Il´-i-nee) or Illini signifying “man,” in the plural Illiniwek, “the men.” The French dropped the -iwek and substituted their own ending whence the name Illinois by which they were generally known thereafter. In this booklet Illini will be generally used to designate these tribes, their culture and language to avoid confusion with other tribes who, like the Sauk, Fox, Kickapoo, Potawatomi, and Miami, have occupied parts of the state and are sometimes called Illinois Indians.