Mille Lacs Indians facts for kids
The Mille Lacs Indians (who call themselves Misi-zaaga'iganiwininiwag in the Ojibwe language) are a group of Native American people. They are also known as the Mille Lacs and Snake River Band of Chippewa. This group was formed when two different peoples came together: the Mille Lacs Band of Mississippi Chippewa (Ojibwe) and the Mille Lacs Band of Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota).
Today, their descendants are known as the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Even though they mostly identify as Ojibwe, many people on their main reservation have the ma'iingan (wolf) as their main clan. This is a sign of their Dakota heritage. The Mille Lacs Indians helped connect the Ojibwe and Dakota cultures. They shared Ojibwe customs with the Dakota and Dakota customs with the Ojibwe. For example, many of their traditional drums and songs come from Dakota traditions, but the songs are now sung in Ojibwe.
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How the Mille Lacs Indians Formed
The Mille Lacs Indians came from three main groups. These groups slowly came together over time.
The Mdewakanton Dakota People
For many centuries, the Bdewaḳanṭuŋwaŋ ("Mdewakanton") Dakota lived in this area. They were a part of the Isanti Dakota. They lived near three lakes important for wild rice and along the southern shores of Mille Lacs Lake. After a big fight called the Battle of Kathio, many Bdewaḳanṭuŋwaŋ were forced to move south and west.
Some stories say that a group of Bdewaḳanṭuŋwaŋ Dakota chose to stay. They decided to become Ojibwe to remain near mde waḳaŋ (Spiritual/Mystic Lake), which is Mille Lacs Lake. By doing this, they helped continue the important ceremonies linked to the lake. This group is said to have formed the "Wolf Clan." However, some tribal historians disagree with this story. They say there isn't enough proof for it.
The Border-sitter Chippewa People
The second group that formed the Mille Lacs Indians was the Mille Lacs Band of Border-sitter Chippewa. They were part of the Lake Superior Chippewa. This group was known as the Manoominikeshiinyag, or "Ricing Rails." They lived along rivers south of Mille Lacs Lake, like the Groundhouse, Ann, and Knife Rivers. These rivers flow into the Snake River. They also lived along the southeastern shores of Mille Lacs Lake. This group already had a mix of Dakota and Ojibwe traditions. They saw themselves as both Dakota and Ojibwe.
The Mississippi Chippewa People
The third group was the Mille Lacs Band of Mississippi Chippewa. They were connected to the strong Mississippi Chippewa. This group lived along rivers north and northwest of Mille Lacs Lake. These included the Nokasippi, Cedar, and Ripple Rivers. They also lived along the northwestern and northern shores of Mille Lacs Lake.
Early History (around 1750–1825)
The three groups started to unite after the Battle of Kathio. In this battle, the Mille Lacs Band of Mississippi Chippewa gained control of most of Mille Lacs Lake. Most Dakota people moved away from the lake. But because mde wáḳaŋ (Mille Lacs Lake) was very sacred, a peace meeting was held around 1750. This meeting ended the fighting between the Ojibwe and Dakota.
At this meeting, the Dakota people who stayed were welcomed to become Ojibwe. In return, the Ojibwe agreed to keep all the sacred ceremonies for the lake. The Ojibwe spent a whole summer learning Dakota dances and songs. The Dakota who stayed became "Ojibwe." Because they were no longer just "Ojibwe" or "Dakota," they became the Misi-zaaga'iganiwininiwag, or "Mille Lacs Indians." Their main meeting place was Zaagawaaming, which is now the city of Wahkon. Later, the main government center for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe moved to Vineland.
Treaty Times (1825–1871)
The Mille Lacs Indians began signing treaties with the United States. In 1825, Chief Nayquonabe (whose name means "'Tallest' [Quill]feather") went to the First Treaty of Prairie du Chien. They also took part in the 1826 Treaty of Fond du Lac.
As part of the Lake Superior Chippewa, the Mille Lacs Indians gave up large areas of land in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the 1837 Treaty of St. Peters. However, they kept their rights to hunt, fish, and gather on these lands. As part of the Mdewakanton Dakota, they also gave up lands in the 1837 Treaty of Washington. With the Lake Superior Chippewa, they gave up lands in northern Wisconsin and Michigan in the 1842 Treaty of La Pointe. Then, they gave up land in central Minnesota in the 1847 Treaty of Fond du Lac.
In the 1855 Treaty of Washington, the Mille Lacs Indians, along with the Pillager Chippewa and other Mississippi Chippewa, gave up a large area of land in northern Minnesota. They kept the south shore of Mille Lacs Lake for themselves, which became the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation.
However, this land had already been given to the United States in the 1837 Treaty of St. Peters. This caused a problem between the Mille Lacs Indians and lumbermen. The lumbermen had built a dam in Ericksonville to control the Rum River for floating logs. But the dam threatened the wild rice in Lake Onamia. So, the Mille Lacs Indians removed the dam. This led to their first court case in 1856, and the US Supreme Court decided in favor of the tribe.
During the Dakota War of 1862, many Chippewa groups helped the Dakota people. Chief Máza-mani (Iron-Walker) of the Mille Lacs Indians learned that Chief Bagonegiizhig (Hole in the Day) of the Gull Lake Band planned to attack Fort Ripley. Chief Máza-mani quickly gathered 200 men and went to help the fort. This stopped Chief Bagonegiizhig's attack.
Because the Mille Lacs Indians helped the United States during the war, they were not forced to move. This was stated in the 1863 and 1864 treaties. Other Chippewa groups were forced to move for helping the Dakota. The treaties said that the Mille Lacs Indians would not be forced to leave as long as they did not bother white people's property.
After the Treaties (1872–1936)
When the White Earth Indian Reservation was created, the Mille Lacs Indians were encouraged to move there. Many Mille Lacs Indians became homeless. So, land for homes and cemeteries was set aside for them. After a law in 1889 and another in 1902, many Mille Lacs Indians did move to the White Earth Reservation. They became known as the Removable Mille Lacs Band. Others stayed on the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation, becoming the Non-removable Mille Lacs Band. Within a few years, many of the Removable Mille Lacs Band left White Earth and returned to Mille Lacs. This split the group onto two different reservations.
In 1934, the Indian Reorganization Act was passed. The Mille Lacs Indians sent people to a meeting to learn about it.
In 1936, the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe was formed. The Non-removable and Removable Mille Lacs Bands became the main part of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. They joined with the Non-removable Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa, Rice Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa, and parts of the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Minnesota.
Notable Mille Lacs Indians
Many important leaders and cultural figures came from the Mille Lacs Indians. Here are a few examples:
- Ayaabe ("Buck"), a chief
- Máza-mani ("Iron-walker"), a chief who helped Fort Ripley
- Negwanebi ("'Tallest' [Quill]feather"), a chief who signed treaties
- Manoominikeshiinh ("Ricing Rail"), a chief
- Jiichiibizens ("He who Quakes [a Little]"), a cultural informant who shared knowledge
