Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa facts for kids
Fond du Lac tribal flag
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 4,044 (2007) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Minnesota, United States | |
| Languages | |
| English, Ojibwe | |
| Religion | |
| Midewiwin, Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| fellow Ojibwes |
The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is a group of Anishinaabe people, also known as Ojibwe. Their name in the Ojibwe language is Wayekwaa-gichigamiing Gichigamiwininiwag, which means "Lake Superior Men at the far end of the Great Lake." They live near Cloquet, Minnesota.
Their home is the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation, called Nagaajiwanaang in Ojibwe. This land is mostly in Carlton and Saint Louis Counties, Minnesota. It is about 20 miles west of Duluth. The Fond du Lac Ojibwe are one of six bands that form the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. This larger tribe was created in 1934. In 2007, about 4,044 people were members of the Fond du Lac Band.
Contents
A Look Back: Fond du Lac History
The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa first lived along the lower parts of the Saint Louis River. This is where the cities of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin are today. The Wayekwaa-gichigamiing people controlled access to the Saint Louis and Nemadji River rivers. These rivers were very important trade routes during the time of the fur trade with European traders. In this same area is Spirit Island, which was one of the seven main centers for the Anishinaabe people.
The Fond du Lac Band's strong influence in the region helped set up a trading post for the American Fur Company. This post was in what is now the Fond du Lac neighborhood of Duluth. The Fond du Lac Band signed two important agreements, known as the Treaties of Fond du Lac.
Fond du Lac Today: Life and Community
The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is one of six groups that belong to the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (MCT). The MCT helps the Band with some of its services and support. The tribal government even makes its own license plates. In 2020, the reservation had 4,184 people living there. In 2007, the MCT reported that 4,044 people were officially members of the Fond du Lac Band.
The biggest town on the reservation is Cloquet. Only the western part of Cloquet, which has fewer people, is on reservation land. In 2000, about 1,204 people lived in that part of the city. The only community that is completely on the reservation is Brookston, located at the northern end of the reservation.
The Band runs two casinos: the Fond du Luth Casino in Duluth and the Black Bear Casino Resort on the reservation. In 1994, an agreement was made with the City of Duluth. The tribe was given land in the city to build the Fond du Luth Casino. In return, the city would get about 20% of the profits from the slot machines. However, the Band no longer shares profits with the city. This is because of a rule called the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This decision has been discussed a lot, but the Band has won in court each time.
In 2018, the Band agreed to let Enbridge build its Line 3 replacement pipeline across the Reservation. This agreement means Enbridge can use the land until 2039. The details about how much money was involved were not shared.
How the Fond du Lac Band is Governed
The rules for the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe were updated and approved in 1964. The Fond du Lac Indian Reservation is led by the Reservation Business Committee. This committee has a Chairman, a Secretary-Treasurer, and three Representatives. Each Representative comes from a different area: District I (Cloquet), District II (Sawyer), and District III (Brookston).
All members are elected for four-year terms. The Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer also serve on the Executive Committee of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
The people currently on the Reservation Business Committee are:
- Chairman: Kevin Dupuis Sr.
- Secretary/Treasurer: Ferdinand Martineau Jr.
- District-I Representative: Wally Dupuis
- District-II Representative: Bruce Savage
- District-III Representative: Roger Smith
Famous Members of the Fond du Lac Band
- William Houle - He was the Chairman of the Fond du Lac Band from 1974 to 1988.
- Jim Northrup - He was a writer and a newspaper columnist.
- Thomas David Petite - He is an inventor.
- Joe Pappio - He was a professional football player for the Chicago Cardinals and the Oorang Indians. He also played college football at Haskell Indian Nations University.
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