Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa facts for kids

The Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (also called Gete-gitigaaning in the Anishinaabe language) is a Native American tribe. They are officially recognized by the United States government. Many members of this tribe live on the Lac Vieux Desert Indian Reservation. This reservation is located near Watersmeet, Michigan, in Gogebic County. It is about 45 miles southeast of Ironwood, Michigan.

Who are the Lac Vieux Desert Chippewa?

The Lac Vieux Desert Band is part of the larger Lake Superior Chippewa group. The Chippewa people are also known as the Ojibwe. Long ago, the Ojibwe Nation spread out from the Sault Ste. Marie area. A southern group of Ojibwe settled in the place now called Lac Vieux Desert.

What does Lac Vieux Desert mean?

The lake where the tribe lives is called Gete-gitigaani-zaaga'igan in the Anishinaabe language. This means "Lake of the old garden." This lake was a very important spot. It was near many major rivers and trails. This made it a great place for travel and trade. It connected people to Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and the Wisconsin River.

How many bands were there?

In the past, the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa included twelve different groups, or "bands." The Lac Vieux Desert Band was one of three bands located in Michigan. The other nine bands lived in areas that are now Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Treaties and Land Agreements

All twelve bands of the Lake Superior Chippewa signed important agreements with the United States government. These agreements are called treaties. Chiefs from the Lac Vieux Desert Band signed several treaties. These included the Treaty of St. Peters in 1837, and the Treaty of La Pointe in 1842. They also signed another Treaty of La Pointe in 1854.

What did the treaties do?

Through these treaties, the tribe gave up some of their shared land in Michigan to the United States. The second La Pointe Treaty in 1854 was very important. It created the Lac Vieux Desert Indian Reservation. This reservation is also known as Gete-gitigaaning.

Losing and regaining recognition

For a time, the Lac Vieux Desert Band lost its independent federal recognition. This happened under a law called the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. This law was meant to help tribes govern themselves. However, the Lac Vieux Desert Band was grouped with other bands. They became part of the newly named Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. Even so, they continued to live separately in the Watersmeet area.

Becoming an Independent Tribe Again

In the 1960s, Native American tribes began working hard to protect their rights. They wanted to be in charge of their own communities. For almost 20 years, the Lac Vieux Desert Band worked to be recognized as a separate, self-governing tribe again. They showed that they had always had a special relationship with the government. This was proven by their many treaties and their own reservation.

When did they regain recognition?

Finally, their hard work paid off. On September 8, 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a special law. It was called the "Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Act." This law officially recognized the Band as a separate tribe. They were no longer part of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.

Joining the Inter-Tribal Council

After regaining their recognition, the Lac Vieux Desert Band joined the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan, Inc. This council was started in 1966. Its goal was to represent tribes in Michigan. It helped tribes share resources and get funding for joint programs. As tribes have grown, the council has helped them take over more of their own programs.

How the Tribe Supports Itself

The Lac Vieux Desert Band has created several businesses to support its community. These businesses help create jobs and fund important programs for the tribe.

Northern Waters Casino Resort

The tribe owns and runs the Northern Waters Casino Resort. This resort is located on their reservation in Watersmeet, Michigan. It includes the Dancing Eagles Hotel and the Lac Vieux Desert golf course. They also host fun events like ice fishing competitions in the winter.

Other businesses and services

The tribe has also started an online loan business. This business helps people who might not be able to get loans from traditional banks. It has created new jobs and helps fund other tribal businesses and social programs. The tribe opened Big Picture Loans in late 2016. This company is based on the reservation.

In August 2015, the Lac Vieux Desert community opened a modern medical center. It is called the Lac Vieux Desert Health Center. This center provides healthcare for everyone in the Western Upper Peninsula, not just tribal members. It is open to the public and accepts all types of insurance.

Preserving history

In 2015, the tribe received a special grant. This money came from the National Park Service. It was used to study an old trail called the Lac Vieux Desert to L'Anse Trail. This trail is more than 80 miles long. The Ojibwe people used it for hundreds of years, even into the 1940s. The tribe wants to find and protect this important historical trail. It passes through Baraga, Houghton, Iron, and Gogebic counties.