Most Native Americans were relocated west of the Mississippi River by 1840. However, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi avoided removal.

In Indiana, treaties between the Native Americans and the U.S. government began with the Treaty of Greenville in 1795 and culminated with the Treaty of Chicago in 1833. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 authorized the U.S. government to negotiate treaties relocating all Native Americans west of the Mississippi.

Potawatomi Chief Leopold Pokagon believed that if his tribe converted to Catholicism, it would be allowed to remain. In 1830, Leopold traveled to the Detroit Diocese and requested a "black robe" be assigned to his tribe. Pokagon and his wife were baptized by Vicar General the Rev. Frederick Rese.

In late 1830, the Rev. Stephen Badin established the mission to serve Pokagon's tribe and it was officially recognized. Catholic Native Americans and converts joined Pokagon's tribe.

Pokagon's tribe had claim to about 1 million acres in Southeast Michigan, Northwest Indiana and Northeast Illinois. Pokagon was leveraged into selling for 3 cents per acre — collecting the funds presented a problem.