» For the former mascot/symbol of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, see Chief Illiniwek. The Illiniwek (also known as the Illini,Illinois Confederacy) were a group of six Native American tribes in the upper Mississippi River valley of North America. The tribes were the Kaskaskia, the Cahokia, the Peoria, the Tamaroa, Moingwena, Michigamea, Albiui, Amonokoa, Chepoussa, Chinkoa, "Coiracoentanon," Espeminkia, Maroa, Matchinkoa, Michibousa, Negawichi and Tapouara. History When French… (More on Illiniwek)