Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post facts for kids
Mille Lacs Indian Museum
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| Established | 1996 |
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| Location | 43411 Oodena Drive, Onamia, Minnesota |
| Type | Native American museum |
The Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post is a special place in Onamia, Minnesota. It teaches visitors all about the history, culture, and daily life of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe people. This museum first opened its doors on May 18, 1996. It is one of 26 historical sites and museums managed by the Minnesota Historical Society.
Contents
A Look at the Land's Past
Long before European settlers arrived, the Ojibwe Tribe lived in this area. The first European records of settlement here go back to 1884. That's when D.H. Robbins started a homestead near where the museum is today.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Robbins ran a sawmill, a farm, and a trading post on the land. A trading post was a store where people could trade goods. In 1916, Robbins sold some of his land to Harry and Jeanette Ayer. By 1918, he sold the rest of his property and buildings to the U.S. government.
In 1930, the Ayers bought more land near the lake. They started renting out cabins to hunters and other visitors. By 1937, the Ayers had a very busy resort business. It included cabins, boats, a dining hall, and even a boat factory. They also had a maple syrup refinery, a gas station, and a trading post.
In 1959, Harry Ayer gave his buildings, land, and a large collection of Native American artifacts to the Minnesota Historical Society. The Society opened an exhibit of these artifacts in 1960. By 1969, they opened a special exhibit called "Four Seasons." The original building that held these exhibits closed in 1992. This made way for the new museum that stands today.
What You'll See at the Museum
The museum's exhibits share the story of the Ojibwe tribe in Minnesota. You'll see information in both English and the Ojibwe language. Many of the items on display are from the Ayer Collection. This collection has 2,200 historical artifacts. These include beautiful bandolier bags, moccasins, and baskets made from birch bark.
The "Four Seasons Room"
The "Four Seasons Room" is a main part of the museum. It has amazing life-size dioramas. A diorama is a 3D scene with models that look very real. These dioramas were made in 1964. They show traditional Ojibwe activities throughout the year.
- Summer: You can see scenes of berry picking.
- Fall: It shows how wild rice was gathered.
- Winter: You'll see hunting and trapping activities.
- Spring: It depicts a maple syrup camp.
Other Interesting Exhibits
The museum also has other cool exhibits:
- "Our Living Culture": This display features modern Pow-wow outfits. Pow-wows are special gatherings where Native American people celebrate their culture.
- "Making a Living": This section explains how the Ojibwe people have earned a living over the last 100 years.
- "Nation Within a Nation": This exhibit talks about how the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has worked to keep their rights and govern themselves.
