Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa facts for kids
| Waaswaaganing | |
|---|---|
Flag of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
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| Total population | |
| 3415 (2010) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( Wisconsin) |
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| Languages | |
| English, Ojibwe | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Ojibwe people |
The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is a recognized Native American tribe. Their name in the Ojibwe language is Waaswaaganing. As of 2010, the tribe had 3,415 members.
Most of the Lac du Flambeau Indian Reservation is in Vilas County and Iron County, in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The reservation covers about 107 square miles (277 square kilometers). In 2020, 3,518 people lived there. The main town on the reservation is Lac du Flambeau.
The reservation was created by the Treaty of 1854. The Lac du Flambeau Band has lived in this area since 1745. They had moved here over many centuries from the Atlantic coast. Today, the tribe runs businesses to help their community.
Contents
The Tribe's History and Home
The ancestors of the Lac du Flambeau Band moved west in the 1600s. They came from the Michigan area into Wisconsin. These people were known as the Waaswaaganininiwag, which means "Torch Lake Men." French fur traders gave the lake and the band their French name, "Lac du Flambeau." This name came from how the Ojibwe caught fish at night using torches.
The Lac du Flambeau Band says they settled here permanently in 1745. Their leader was Chief Keeshkemun. He helped them win a battle against the Sioux (Dakota) people. The Sioux had lived in this area for a long time. The last battle between the Ojibwe and Sioux happened on Strawberry Island in the lake.
The Ojibwe and Dakota tribes competed for resources for almost 100 years. The Ojibwe eventually pushed the Dakota and Fox tribes out of central Wisconsin.
The Waaswaaganininiwag were part of a larger group called the Biitan-akiing-enabijig. This group was part of the Gichigamiwininiwag, or "Lake Superior Men." Other groups in this eastern region lived near Pelican Lake, Lac Vieux Desert, Turtle Portage, Trout Lake, and the Wisconsin River.
For hundreds of years, Waaswaagani-zaaga'igan (Torch Lake) was a busy place. It was a center for trade and travel for Native Americans and later for traders. The lake connected waterways between Lake Superior and the Wisconsin and Flambeau rivers. Traders used these rivers to move goods. They also used a 45-mile trail called the Flambeau Trail. This trail had 120 resting spots because the land was very rough.
In 1854, the bands from Pelican Lake, Turtle Portage, Trout Lake, and the Wisconsin River joined the Lac du Flambeau Band. This happened as part of the Treaty of La Pointe. The Lac du Flambeau Band also signed the Treaty of St. Peters in 1837 and another Treaty of La Pointe in 1842. These treaties protect their traditional rights to hunt, fish, and gather.
In the early 1900s, the government tried to make Native Americans live like European-Americans. Under the Dawes Act, tribal land was divided and given to individual families. This meant the tribe lost ownership of some of its land.
The Story of Strawberry Island
A Sacred Place for the Tribe
Strawberry Island is very important to the Lac du Flambeau Band. They call it "the place of the little people" or spirits. They see it as the heart of their reservation. The island has been used by Native American cultures for over 2,000 years. The tribe wants to keep it natural because of its history, culture, and spiritual meaning. They believe warriors were buried there after the 1745 battle with the Lakota Sioux.
In 1966, an archaeological study found human remains and old tools on the island. These items dated back to 200 BC. In 1978, Strawberry Island was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Robert Birmingham, a state archeologist, called it "one of the most important archeological sites in northern Wisconsin."
Efforts to Reclaim the Island
Under the Dawes Act in the 1900s, Strawberry Island was given to a tribal member. After he passed away, a non-Native family bought the island in 1910. They used it for summer camping trips for many years. The island remained undeveloped.
Starting in the 1990s, the tribe tried to buy the island back. Lakefront land is very valuable. The family and the tribe could not agree on a price for the 26-acre island. It has 4,700 feet of lakefront. The Trust for Public Land helped the tribe in their efforts.
The owners did not agree that the island should never be developed. In 1996, a plan to build on the island was stopped. The tribe owns all the land around the island, so they controlled access to it. In 2003, a court ruled that the island was within the reservation. The judge said the tribe should decide its future. The case continued, but they still could not agree on a price.
In 2008, the island's owner, Bonnie Mills-Rush, leased control of the island to Bill Poupart. He is a member of the Lac du Flambeau Band. Even though the tribe didn't own the land yet, Poupart could decide how it was used. He agreed that the island was sacred.
Finally, on December 23, 2013, the tribe bought the island from the Mills family for $250,000. On December 30, 2013, the tribe held a special ceremony to celebrate. The deed was signed, ending years of effort to get the island back.
Tribal Businesses and Community
The Lac du Flambeau Band has created businesses to support their community. In 2012, they started a lending business. This business grew to include many companies under the name LDF Holdings. As of 2024, LDF Holdings employs 170 people. About 70% of these employees are tribal members. The money earned from these businesses helps fund tribal programs and services.
The tribe also hosts an annual event called the Tribal Lending Summit. This gathering brings together staff, partners, and vendors on the reservation. It helps the tribe continue to grow its businesses and create jobs for its members.
Who Lives on the Reservation?
Population and Diversity
In 2020, the Lac du Flambeau Reservation had a population of 3,518 people. The reservation has a mix of people, including many who are not Native American. This is partly because of how land was divided and sold a long time ago.
In 2020, the population was:
- 58.6% Native American
- 37.3% White
- 0.2% Black or African American
- 0.3% from other races
- 3.5% from two or more races
About 2.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Income and Education
From 2016 to 2020, the average household income on the reservation was $41,095. The average family income was $51,538. For full-time workers, men earned about $42,155, and women earned about $27,563. The average income per person was $26,048.
About 20.6% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 29.5% of people under 18 and 8.4% of people aged 65 or older.
Education levels are good on the reservation. Of adults aged 25 and over, 89.8% had a high school diploma or higher. Also, 24.5% had a bachelor's degree or higher.
Notable Tribal Members
- Ah-moose (died 1866), a respected chief.
- Thomas St. Germaine (1885–1947), an American football player.
