When French explorers first journeyed down from Canada to the upper Mississippi Valley in the early Seventeenth Century, they found the region inhabited by a vigorous Algonquin nation who called themselves "Hileni" or "Illiniwek," which means "men." The French explorers interpreted it as "Illinois." The University of Illinois was established in the year 1867 and began fielding athletic teams named the Fighting Illini or fighting men.