the pottawatomi , also spelled pottawatomie and potawatomi (among many variations), are a native american people of the great plains, upper mississippi river, and western great lakes region. they traditionally speak the potawatomi language. that language is part of the algonquian family. the potawatomi called themselves neshnabé, a cognate of the word "anishinaabe". the potawatomi are part of a long-term friendship, called the council of three fires, with the ojibwe and odawa (ottawa).