John Tanner (captive)

John Tanner (c. 1780 – c. 1846), known also by his Ojibwe name Shaw-shaw-wa-ne-ba-se ("The Falcon", Zhaashaawanibiisi in modern spelling), was captured by Odawa Indians as a child after his family had homesteaded on the Ohio River in present-day Kentucky. He grew up among the Odawa and Ojibwe nations, becoming fully acculturated and learning the Saulteaux language. He married an Indian woman, served as a guide for European fur traders, and worked as an interpreter. His story of life with the American Indians was published in 1830. Titled A Narrative of the Captivity and Adventures of John Tanner, it was a popular success and remains an important historical record.