the odawa (also ottawa or odaawaa ) are an indigenous american ethnic group. their name means "traders". they are part of the northeastern woodlands cultures. their language is part of the algonquian language family. they mostly live in the northern united states and southern canada. the us government federally recognizes these native americans as a tribe. they have numerous recognized first nations bands in canada. they are one of the anishinaabeg. they are related to but different from the ojibwe and potawatomi peoples.