Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa facts for kids

The Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa (in their own language, Ojibwe, they are called Gaa-mitaawangaagamaag-ininiwag) is a historical group of Ojibwa people. They lived near Big Sandy Lake in what is now Aitkin County, Minnesota. This area is in the upper part of the Mississippi River.

Even though they are now part of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, the Sandy Lake Band is working to get their own official recognition from the government again. For many years, they have been trying to become a separate, recognized tribe once more.

History of the Sandy Lake Band

Early Times and Trade Routes

For a very long time, the area around Sandy Lake, known as Gaa-mitaawangaagamaag in the Ojibwe language, was an important place for trade. It was like a busy marketplace. People traded goods from east to west using the Savanna Portage trail. They also traded north to south along the Mississippi River.

Long ago, about 1,600 years ago, the Gros Ventres tribe lived here. Then, the Nakota Sioux moved north and pushed the Gros Ventres west. About 800 years ago, the Chippewa arrived. They had conflicts with the Assiniboine.

When French fur traders first came to the Sandy Lake area, the Sandy Lake Band controlled most of the trade routes. They were key in managing the Savanna Portage. This route connected Lake Superior in the east with the Mississippi River in the west. The Sandy Lake Band signed the 1787 British Treaty of Peace. Later, they signed treaties with the United States, starting with the 1825 First Treaty of Prairie du Chien.

The Sandy Lake Tragedy

In 1850, a sad event known as the Sandy Lake Tragedy happened. The United States government usually paid the Ojibwe tribes money and gave them supplies each year. This was called "annuity payments." In 1850, the government changed the payment location at the last minute. Instead of a central place, they told 19 Chippewa bands to go to Sandy Lake.

Many people traveled a long way to Sandy Lake in October. But the payments and supplies were very late. The people had to wait until December. They had little food, and what they had was often bad. About 150 Chippewa people died at Sandy Lake from sickness like dysentery and measles. Another 230 to 250 people died on their way home.

Because of this tragedy, the Mississippi Chippewa Bands agreed to have their own reservations. The Sandy Lake Indian Reservation was created in 1855. Other reservations were also set up for the Mississippi Chippewa at Lake Pokegama, Rabbit Lake, Gull Lake, and Mille Lacs Lake.

Staying Neutral in the Dakota War

During the Dakota War of 1862 against the United States, the Sandy Lake Band chose to stay neutral. This meant they did not pick a side in the conflict. Because of their neutrality, they were not forced to move to the White Earth Reservation in northwestern Minnesota.

However, many Sandy Lake Band members felt pressured to move, and some did. Those who moved became known as the Removable Sandy Lake Band. Those who stayed were called the Non-removable Sandy Lake Band. Some of the Removable Sandy Lake Band later formed the White Oak Point Band in 1873. This group later joined with other bands to create the modern Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.

Losing Official Recognition

In 1887, the United States government planned to move all Ojibwe bands in Minnesota, including the Sandy Lake Band, to the White Earth Indian Reservation. The Sandy Lake Band avoided meetings about this plan.

In 1889, the Indian Allotment Act was passed. This law officially moved many Ojibwe bands to the White Earth Reservation. The Sandy Lake Reservation, which was about 27 square miles, was removed from maps. This meant the Non-removable Sandy Lake Band was a recognized tribe but without its own land.

Later, in 1915, President Woodrow Wilson set aside a small piece of land (about 32 acres) for the Fond du Lac Band near Sandy Lake. In 1940, the Sandy Lake community managed to get another 147 acres for the Sandy Lake Band. However, in 1980, the government said that the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe had control over the Sandy Lake Reservation land.

The Non-removable Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa lost their independent official recognition in 1934. This happened when the government approved the constitution of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. This new group combined many bands in the Mille Lacs region to form the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. The Sandy Lake lands were then placed under the control of the Mille Lacs Band.

At first, each historical band had a representative on the new Mille Lacs Band's council. But later, the council changed, and the Sandy Lake Band lost its full representation. Because of this, many Sandy Lake members left the Mille Lacs Band. They started working to get their own independent recognition back. Many Sandy Lake members continued to live on their original lands. They often did not receive tribal services because they were not enrolled in the Mille Lacs Band.

When the Mille Lacs Band started operating casinos in 1988, many people wanted to join the Mille Lacs Band. Some Sandy Lake Band members who had left were able to rejoin. But those who had joined other tribes could not. The Sandy Lake Band members who had not joined any other tribe continued their fight for independent recognition.

The Sandy Lake Band Today

Even though they are part of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, the different historical groups that make up the Mille Lacs Band are still very distinct. The Sandy Lake Band is one of these distinct groups. Today, the Sandy Lake Band community mostly lives on the north shore of Sandy Lake. The Mille Lacs Band's community in the area is mainly on the south shore.

For almost 30 years, many Sandy Lake Band members have been working to get their independent federal recognition back. Others are active in the Mille Lacs Band's government. To get independent recognition, the Sandy Lake Band is encouraged to hold regular government meetings and keep records.

The Sandy Lake Band has also sought recognition from their county and state. Aitkin County, Minnesota recognized the Sandy Lake Band in 1992 and again in 1996. They have tried to get state recognition in Minnesota several times, but bills in 1997, 1999, and 2000 failed by a small number of votes.