The chapter discusses the impact of the Iroquois wars on the Algonquian-speaking peoples of North America in the 17th century. The Iroquois, driven by the fur trade and cultural imperatives, launched brutal attacks that devastated the region, leading to widespread disease, death, and displacement. The Algonquians, fragmented and disorganized, fled westward, seeking refuge from the Iroquois. This migration created new refugee centers between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, where diverse groups of Algonquians and other indigenous peoples mixed and formed new social and political structures. The chapter highlights the complex dynamics of these refugee communities, including intermarriage, adoption, and the adoption of new cultural practices like the calumet ceremony, which served as a symbol of peace and unity. Despite the challenges, these refugees formed a distinct social formation, characterized by a dense network of mutual obligations and symbolic kinship ties. The chapter also explores the political and social complexities within these refugee centers, where tribal identities were often blurred, and loyalties to different groups were fluid. The French traders and missionaries played a crucial role in mediating conflicts and fostering connections between the refugees and the French empire.The chapter discusses the impact of the Iroquois wars on the Algonquian-speaking peoples of North America in the 17th century. The Iroquois, driven by the fur trade and cultural imperatives, launched brutal attacks that devastated the region, leading to widespread disease, death, and displacement. The Algonquians, fragmented and disorganized, fled westward, seeking refuge from the Iroquois. This migration created new refugee centers between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, where diverse groups of Algonquians and other indigenous peoples mixed and formed new social and political structures. The chapter highlights the complex dynamics of these refugee communities, including intermarriage, adoption, and the adoption of new cultural practices like the calumet ceremony, which served as a symbol of peace and unity. Despite the challenges, these refugees formed a distinct social formation, characterized by a dense network of mutual obligations and symbolic kinship ties. The chapter also explores the political and social complexities within these refugee centers, where tribal identities were often blurred, and loyalties to different groups were fluid. The French traders and missionaries played a crucial role in mediating conflicts and fostering connections between the refugees and the French empire.