Lake Superior Chippewa
Encyclopedia
The Lake Superior Chippewa (Anishinaabe: Gichigamiwininiwag) were a historical band of Ojibwe Indians living around Lake Superior
in what is now the northern parts of Michigan
, Wisconsin
, and Minnesota
.
, one of the prophesized stops along the path that had brought the Anishinaabe
west from the Atlantic Coast
. The Ojibwe that followed the south shore of Lake Superior found the final prophesized stopping place and "the food that grows on water" (wild rice
) at Madeline Island
. During the late 17th century, the Ojibwe at Madeline Island looked outward due to population pressures, desire for furs to trade
, and increased factionalism brought by the arrival of French
Jesuit missions. Having driven the Sioux
out of most of northern Wisconsin and northeastern Minnesota, the Ojibwe spread throughout this region establishing bands throughout what would become northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. La Pointe
on Madeline Island remained the spiritual and commercial center of the nation.
(the "Ricing Rails", in the St. Croix River
valley), Odaawaa-zaaga'iganiwininiwag
(the "Ottawa Lake Men", about Lac Courte Oreilles
) and the Waaswaaganiwininiwag
(the "Torch Men", about Lac du Flambeau). Numerous sub-bands also existed.
, Bois Forte
, Muskrat Portage, Red Lake
and Pembina
bands. In fact, the various villages had been politically independent and did not have a centralized authority. In the winter of 1851, the President of the United States
attempted to remove
the Lake Superior Chippewa west of the Mississippi River
, which resulted in the Sandy Lake Tragedy
and the deaths of several hundred people. After a visit to Washington DC by the La Pointe chief Buffalo, further attempts at Ojibwe removal were abandoned. The final treaty in 1854
established permanent reservations at L'Anse, Lac Vieux Desert, and Ontonagan in Michigan, the component parts of today's Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and Lac Vieux Desert Indian Reservation
. In Wisconsin, reservations were established at Red Cliff, Bad River
, Lac Courte Oreilles
, and Lac du Flambeau
. The St. Croix
and Sokaogon
bands, left out of the 1854 treaty, did not obtain tribal lands or federal recognition until the 1930s. In Minnesota, reservations were set up at Fond du Lac
and Grand Portage
. Other bands such as the Bois Forte Band continued negotiations with the US Government and thus ended political affiliation with the Lake Superior Chippewa.
. Many bands include "Lake Superior Chippewa" in their official tribal names (Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, etc.), with their political successors apparent being:
In addition to the full political Successors Apparent, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
(via the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Minnesota), Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
(via removable Fond du Lac Band of the Chippewa Indian Reservation) and White Earth Band of Chippewa (via the removable St. Croix Chippewa of Wisconsin of the Gull Lake Indian Reservation) retain minor Successorship to the Lake Superior Chippewa, though the Aboriginal Sovereign Powers derived from the Lake Superior Chippewa are not exercised.
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
in what is now the northern parts of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, and Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
Origins
Sometime earlier than 1650, the Ojibwe split into two groups near present-day Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganSault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie is a city in and the county seat of Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in the north-eastern end of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on the Canadian border, separated from its twin city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, by the St. Marys River...
, one of the prophesized stops along the path that had brought the Anishinaabe
Anishinaabe
Anishinaabe or Anishinabe—or more properly Anishinaabeg or Anishinabek, which is the plural form of the word—is the autonym often used by the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Algonquin peoples. They all speak closely related Anishinaabemowin/Anishinaabe languages, of the Algonquian language family.The meaning...
west from the Atlantic Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
. The Ojibwe that followed the south shore of Lake Superior found the final prophesized stopping place and "the food that grows on water" (wild rice
Wild rice
Wild rice is four species of grasses forming the genus Zizania, and the grain which can be harvested from them. The grain was historically gathered and eaten in both North America and China...
) at Madeline Island
Madeline Island
Madeline Island is an island of the U.S. state of Wisconsin located in Lake Superior approximately two miles northeast of Bayfield, Wisconsin, and connected to that town seasonally by a 20 minute ferry ride or an ice road. It is the largest of the Apostle Islands, although it is not included...
. During the late 17th century, the Ojibwe at Madeline Island looked outward due to population pressures, desire for furs to trade
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
, and increased factionalism brought by the arrival of French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Jesuit missions. Having driven the Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
out of most of northern Wisconsin and northeastern Minnesota, the Ojibwe spread throughout this region establishing bands throughout what would become northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. La Pointe
La Pointe, Wisconsin
La Pointe is a town in Ashland County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The town includes all of the Apostle Islands. There is also an unincorporated community named La Pointe on Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Islands . The population was 246 at the 2000 census...
on Madeline Island remained the spiritual and commercial center of the nation.
Sub-nation
The Lake Superior Chippewa was large in number that those not within the Lake Superior watershed who were identified as a separate sub-nation, known as the Biitan-akiing-enabijig (Border Sitters) as they were located between the Ojibwe of located within the Lake Superior watershed and other Nations. The Biitan-akiing-enabijig was then further divided into three principal Bands: ManoominikeshiinyagSt. Croix Chippewa Indians
The St. Croix Chippewa Indians are a historical Band of Ojibwe located along the St. Croix River, which forms the boundary between the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Majority of the St. Croix Band are divided into two groups: the Federally recognized St...
(the "Ricing Rails", in the St. Croix River
St. Croix River (Wisconsin-Minnesota)
The St. Croix River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. The lower of the river form the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota. The river is a National Scenic Riverway under the protection of the National Park Service. A...
valley), Odaawaa-zaaga'iganiwininiwag
Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
The Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe are one of seven federally recognized Wisconsin bands of Ojibwa. The band is based at the Lac Courte Oreilles Indian Reservation, at in northwestern Wisconsin, which surrounds Lac Courte Oreilles...
(the "Ottawa Lake Men", about Lac Courte Oreilles
Lac Courte Oreilles
Lac Courte Oreilles is a large freshwater lake located in north central Wisconsin in Sawyer County in townships 39 and 40 north, ranges 8 and 9 west. It is irregular in shape having numerous peninsulas and bays, being approximately six miles long in a southwest to northeast direction and with a...
) and the Waaswaaganiwininiwag
Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa are an Ojibwa Native American tribe, with an Indian reservation lying mostly in the Town of Lac du Flambeau in south-western Vilas County, and in the Town of Sherman in south-eastern Iron County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin...
(the "Torch Men", about Lac du Flambeau). Numerous sub-bands also existed.
Treaties and Reservations
In a series of treaties with the US Government, the Lake Superior Chippewa were formally grouped as a unit distinct from the farther-west Mississippi, PillagerPillager Band of Chippewa Indians
Pillager Band of Chippewa Indians are a historical band of Chippewa , originally living at the headwaters of the Mississippi River. Their name "Pillagers" is a translation of Makandwewininiwag, which literally means "Pillaging Men"...
, Bois Forte
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa are an Ojibwe Band located in northern Minnesota, along the border between the United States and Canada...
, Muskrat Portage, Red Lake
Red Lake Indian Reservation
The Red Lake Indian Reservation covers 1,258.62 sq mi in parts of nine counties in northern Minnesota, United States. It is divided into many pieces, although the largest piece is centered about Red Lake, in north-central Minnesota, the largest lake entirely within that state. This section lies...
and Pembina
Pembina Band of Chippewa Indians
Pembina Band of Chippewa Indians are a historical band of Chippewa , originally living along the Red River of the North and its tributaries....
bands. In fact, the various villages had been politically independent and did not have a centralized authority. In the winter of 1851, the President of the United States
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
attempted to remove
Indian Removal
Indian removal was a nineteenth century policy of the government of the United States to relocate Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to lands west of the river...
the Lake Superior Chippewa west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, which resulted in the Sandy Lake Tragedy
Sandy Lake Tragedy
The Sandy Lake Tragedy was the culmination of a series of events centered in Sandy Lake, Minnesota, that resulted in the deaths in 1850 of several hundred Lake Superior Chippewa. Officials of the Zachary Taylor Administration and Minnesota Territory sought to relocate several bands of the tribe to...
and the deaths of several hundred people. After a visit to Washington DC by the La Pointe chief Buffalo, further attempts at Ojibwe removal were abandoned. The final treaty in 1854
Treaty of La Pointe
The Treaty of La Pointe may refer to either of two treaties made and signed in La Pointe, Wisconsin between the United States and the Ojibwe Native American peoples...
established permanent reservations at L'Anse, Lac Vieux Desert, and Ontonagan in Michigan, the component parts of today's Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and Lac Vieux Desert Indian Reservation
Lac Vieux Desert Indian Reservation
Lac Vieux Desert Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation located in Watersmeet Township of southeastern Gogebic County, in the western part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It is the landbase for the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. The reservation has a total land area of...
. In Wisconsin, reservations were established at Red Cliff, Bad River
Bad River Chippewa Band
The Bad River LaPointe Band of Chippewa Indians is located on a reservation on the south shore of Lake Superior. The reservation, which has a land area of 497.477 km² , is in northern Wisconsin straddling Ashland and Iron counties. The band has approximately 7,000 members, of whom about 1,800...
, Lac Courte Oreilles
Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
The Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe are one of seven federally recognized Wisconsin bands of Ojibwa. The band is based at the Lac Courte Oreilles Indian Reservation, at in northwestern Wisconsin, which surrounds Lac Courte Oreilles...
, and Lac du Flambeau
Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa are an Ojibwa Native American tribe, with an Indian reservation lying mostly in the Town of Lac du Flambeau in south-western Vilas County, and in the Town of Sherman in south-eastern Iron County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin...
. The St. Croix
St. Croix Chippewa Indians
The St. Croix Chippewa Indians are a historical Band of Ojibwe located along the St. Croix River, which forms the boundary between the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Majority of the St. Croix Band are divided into two groups: the Federally recognized St...
and Sokaogon
Sokaogon Chippewa Community
The Sokaogon Chippewa Community, or the Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, is a band of the Lake Superior Chippewa, many of whom reside on the Mole Lake Indian Reservation, an Indian reservation located at in Mole Lake, Wisconsin, in Forest County near Crandon.The Mole Lake Indian...
bands, left out of the 1854 treaty, did not obtain tribal lands or federal recognition until the 1930s. In Minnesota, reservations were set up at Fond du Lac
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is an Anishinaabe band located near Cloquet, Minnesota. Their land-base is the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation , located mainly in Carlton and St...
and Grand Portage
Grand Portage Indian Reservation
The Grand Portage Indian Reservation is located in Cook County near the tip of Minnesota's Arrowhead Region in the extreme northeast part of the state. The community was considered part of the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa, but is not a party to the treaties that group signed...
. Other bands such as the Bois Forte Band continued negotiations with the US Government and thus ended political affiliation with the Lake Superior Chippewa.
Today
Today the bands are politically independent though they remain culturally closely connected to each other and have engaged in common legal actions concerning treaty rightsWisconsin Walleye War
Civil unrest erupted in Wisconsin after U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Crabb handed down a ruling on August 21, 1987 that affirmed the treaty right of six Ojibwe or Chippewa tribal governments to regulate their members' hunting and fishing outside of the reservation boundaries, based on the...
. Many bands include "Lake Superior Chippewa" in their official tribal names (Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, etc.), with their political successors apparent being:
- Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, merged from
- L'Anse Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (historical)
- Ontonagon Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (historical)
- Lac Vieux Desert Band of ChippewaLac Vieux Desert Indian ReservationLac Vieux Desert Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation located in Watersmeet Township of southeastern Gogebic County, in the western part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It is the landbase for the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. The reservation has a total land area of...
- La Pointe Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (historical): descendants are
- Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior ChippewaRed Cliff Band of Lake Superior ChippewaRed Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is a band of Ojibwe Indians. The Red Cliff Band is located on the Red Cliff Indian Reservation, on Lake Superior in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. Red Cliff, Wisconsin, is the administrative center...
- Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians
- Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
- Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa IndiansLac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa IndiansThe Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe are one of seven federally recognized Wisconsin bands of Ojibwa. The band is based at the Lac Courte Oreilles Indian Reservation, at in northwestern Wisconsin, which surrounds Lac Courte Oreilles...
- Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior ChippewaLac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior ChippewaThe Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa are an Ojibwa Native American tribe, with an Indian reservation lying mostly in the Town of Lac du Flambeau in south-western Vilas County, and in the Town of Sherman in south-eastern Iron County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin...
- St. Croix Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (historical): descendants are
- Mille Lacs Band of OjibweMille Lacs Band of OjibweThe Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe , also known as the Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians or the Mille Lacs Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, is an Ojibwa tribe located in Minnesota. The tribe boasts 3,942 tribal members as of July, 2007...
- St. Croix Chippewa Indians of WisconsinSt. Croix Chippewa Indians of WisconsinThe St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin are a Federally recognized Indian Tribe, located in northwestern Wisconsin, along the St. Croix River valley and watershed.-History:...
- Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
- Sokaogon Chippewa CommunitySokaogon Chippewa CommunityThe Sokaogon Chippewa Community, or the Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, is a band of the Lake Superior Chippewa, many of whom reside on the Mole Lake Indian Reservation, an Indian reservation located at in Mole Lake, Wisconsin, in Forest County near Crandon.The Mole Lake Indian...
- Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior ChippewaFond du Lac Band of Lake Superior ChippewaFond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is an Anishinaabe band located near Cloquet, Minnesota. Their land-base is the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation , located mainly in Carlton and St...
- Grand Portage BandGrand Portage Indian ReservationThe Grand Portage Indian Reservation is located in Cook County near the tip of Minnesota's Arrowhead Region in the extreme northeast part of the state. The community was considered part of the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa, but is not a party to the treaties that group signed...
- Bois Forte Band of ChippewaBois Forte Band of ChippewaBois Forte Band of Chippewa are an Ojibwe Band located in northern Minnesota, along the border between the United States and Canada...
In addition to the full political Successors Apparent, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe , also known as the Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians or the Mille Lacs Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, is an Ojibwa tribe located in Minnesota. The tribe boasts 3,942 tribal members as of July, 2007...
(via the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Minnesota), Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, also known as the Leech Lake Band of Chippewa Indians or the Leech Lake Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, and as Gaa-zagaskwaajimekaag Ojibweg in the Ojibwe language, is an Ojibwa tribe located in Minnesota. The tribe boasts 8,861 tribal members as of July, 2007...
(via removable Fond du Lac Band of the Chippewa Indian Reservation) and White Earth Band of Chippewa (via the removable St. Croix Chippewa of Wisconsin of the Gull Lake Indian Reservation) retain minor Successorship to the Lake Superior Chippewa, though the Aboriginal Sovereign Powers derived from the Lake Superior Chippewa are not exercised.