Bgemagen (war club)
This contemporary artifact, styled after an ancient Potawatomi war club known as a bgemagen, was created by tribal member Bud Onzahwah. Crafted from wood, stone and leather, its historically ergonomic design eased storage, travel and use during battle. The bgemagen (war club) is part of the permanent collection and on exhibition at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center.
Pre-dating the use of firearms and used continually after their introduction, Potawatomi used and refined a battle tactic commonly known as volley fire to maximize enemy casualties. Implementing the tactic, Potawatomi warriors would ambush their enemies by firing a simultaneous shower of either arrows or rounds into the center of the unsuspecting formation. Once initial surprise and disorder was achieved, warriors would charge the enemy, engaging in hand-to-hand combat using their war clubs.
Citations
Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center: Collections and Research Division. 2000.015.10
