Who inhabited the lands before they were divided up into states in the northwest ordinance?

Before the lands in the Northwest Territory were divided into states under the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, they were inhabited primarily by various Indigenous peoples, including tribes such as the Shawnee, Miami, Delaware, and Iroquois. These Native American groups had established complex societies, cultures, and trade networks long before European settlers arrived. The arrival of European settlers led to significant displacement and disruption of these Indigenous communities.