Red Lake Indian Reservation

Map of Red Lake Indian Reservation lands

The Red Lake Indian Reservation covers 1,258.62 sq mi (3,259.81 km²) in parts of nine counties in northern Minnesota, United States. It is divided into many pieces, although the largest piece is centered about Red Lake, in north-central Minnesota, the largest lake entirely within that state. This section lies primarily in the counties of Beltrami and Clearwater. Seven other counties also have land that is part of the reservation. The second-largest section is much farther north in the Northwest Angle of Lake of the Woods County, near the Canadian border and has no permanent residents. Between these two largest sections are literally hundreds of mostly tiny non-contiguous exclaves of the reservation in the counties of Beltrami, Clearwater, Lake of the Woods, Koochiching, Roseau, Pennington, Marshall, Red Lake, and Polk. It is home to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa, and is the most populous reservation in the state according to the 2000 census, which recorded 5,162 residents. The only place in Minnesota with a higher Native American population is the state's largest city, Minneapolis, which recorded 8,378 Indian residents that year. The reservation's largest community is Red Lake, on the south shore of Red Lake. With the large lake in the heart of the reservation's territory, its total land area, 880.324 square miles (2,280.03 km²), is only about 70% of the reservation's surface area.

History

In the late 17th century, Chippewa soldiers were ordered to invade northern Minnesota to clear the way for Anishinabe settlers. By 1730, they had reached the Red Lake region, along with their Dakota allies who were the Assiniboine, Crow-Hidatsa, and the Yankton. They came down from northern Ontario and southern Manitoba. They were from the military and police totem of the Anishinabe Nation. Their totem was called by other Anishinabe totem members, the Noka totem of Noka Nation.

After subjugating the Dakotas who lived in the Red Lake region and forcing many to evacuate the region, the Noka settled down to live in the Red Lake region. They eventually allowed other Anishinabe totems to enter the Red Lake region to live. Most, however, were from the Noka totem. They established many villages in the Red Lake region. Later, they and their Dakota allies invaded the plains of North Dakota, western South Dakota, and Montana. The Dakotas who refused to surrender continued to fight the Anishinabe-Dakota alliance. However, with each battle and defeat, many of the Dakotas requested from the Anishinabe Nation, for peace. The Dakotas who continued the conflict developed a great hatred for the Dakotas who allied with the Anishinabe Nation.

Allied with the Pembina Band of Chippewa Indians, the Red Lake Band first negotiated the Treaty of Old Crossing with the United States in 1863, and made additional agreements in the following decades.

With the realization that border between the United States and Canada was improperly placed due to land survey errors, the corrected boundaries included the Northwest Angle within the United States, and the Lac du Bois Band of Ojibwa found itself in the United States. Without an independent federal recognition from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Lac du Bois Band was consolidated with the Red Lake Band. While the tribe ceded large tracts of land, it successfully resisted attempts at allotment, which divided land on other reservations in Minnesota and elsewhere. During this period some of the Pembina Band of Chippewa Indians, refusing relocation to the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation or to the White Earth Indian Reservation, escaped to the Red Lake Indian Reservation because it was "untouched Indian land".

On July 8, 1889, the United States broke treaty promises by forcing on the Minnesota Chippewa's yet another act of injustice. They told the Minnesota Chippewa's that Red Lake Reservation and White Earth Reservation would remain but the others would be eradicated. They also told them the Chippewa's from the other Reservation would be relocated to White Esrth Reservation. Instead of dealing with the Chippewa's of Minnesota on a nation to nation level, the Unites States instead resorted to corrupting the Anishinabe people by clearly telling the Chippewa leaders of the Minnesota Chippewa Reservations, that the decison to accept land allotments and have surplus Reservation land sold to the whites, would be up to individual Chippewa men of voting age. Chippewa leaders were outraged. They knew they could count on the average Anishinabe adult male to obey their orders. However, many Dakotas lived on the White Earth Reservation and Mille Lacs Reservation, and that led to serious problems.

Once the Anishinabe men of voting age commenced to vote, it was the whites who counted the total number of votes and not the Chippewa's. Red Lake leaders warned the United States about reprisals if their Reservation was violated. The White Earth and Mille Lacs Reservations, both overwhelmingly voted to accept land allotments and have the surplus land sold to the whites. Supposedly the Leech Lake Reservation's men also overwhelmingly voted to accept land allotments and have the Reservation surplus land sold to the whites. The events of October 1898 indicate otherwise.

At the time (1889) the Red Lake Reservation covered 3,260,000 acres or 5,093 sq. mi. After the votes were counted, the whites claimed the Red Lake Anishinabe men of voting age, overwhelmingly voted to accept land allotments and have the Reservations surplus land sold to the whites. From the 3,260,000 acres, the Red Lake Reservation was forced to cede 2,905,000 acres. However, the United States set aside large areas of forests for the Red Lake Reservation soon after for they knew an Indian Uprising was likely to occur. However, in 1904, they forced the Red Lake Chippewa's to cede much of the land they set aside for them in 1889. The present Red Lake Reservation dates to the 1904 land act. They also forbade the allotment of land to Individual Chippewa's living on the Red Lake Reservation.

Only a small portion of the White Earth Reservation remained. It was located in the northeast part of the White Earth Reservation and only a fraction of the original size of the White Earth Reservation. All other Minnesota Chippewa Reservations were eradicated. The Rebellion which occurred on the Leech Lake Reservation in 1898, saved Minnesota's Chippewa Reservations including the White Earth Reservation and probably the Red Lake Reservation as well.

The current reservation is entirely owned by the Red Lake Band, making it unique among reservations in Minnesota (some tribes own less than 10% of the land on their reservations). While this is a source of pride for tribal members, it also means that Red Lake is the most isolated reservation in the United States. The tribe asserts a significant level of sovereignty, which can cause tension when outsiders attempt to visit (journalists have been barred from entering on multiple occasions), and also when crimes are prosecuted because jurisdiction can be unclear. The reservation was also the first in the United States to issue its own vehicle license plates.

Communities

What is unique about the communites of the Red Lake Reservation, is their layouts. Many of the housing units of the Red Lake communities, are located alongside only one road. They are situated on each side of the road. They are tucked out in the woods which does spook the citizens of the Red Lake Reservation who are on the guard as a result of the obvious isolation. Redby is the one settlement which has the appearance of a city. Yet many of Redby's housing units are located deep in the woods. Like those who live on isolated farms, the citizens of the Red Lake Reservation keep a watchful eye out for strangers. They never know what to expect!

• Little Rock
• Ponemah
• Red Lake
• Redby

Demographics

Per capita income is lower at Red Lake than on any other reservation in the state. It was estimated at US$8,372 in 1999 according to the Northwest Area Foundation. Approximately 40% of residents live below the poverty line. Between 1990 and 2000, the population also increased by 40%. Many people have been returning to the reservation after experiencing difficulty finding employment elsewhere. This is believed to be partially fueling the epidemic level of crime on the reservation; 3,500 court cases were filed in 2004. The majority of the crimes are drug-related, and violence has also been a significant problem. The majority population is consisted of children, with approximately 60% of the residents under the age of 18.

Some in the community have expressed hope that interest may be renewed in the tribe's traditions, and that this form of "traditional values" may improve life on the reservation. However, others have a more pragmatic view and believe that the community needs to focus on education and finding ways to get people to work and paid adequately. The majority of professions on the reservation have pay in the vicinity of $7 per hour as of 2005. The tribe operates three casino operations, though it is reported that even those operations are not prosperous. A small operation is located in the village of Red Lake, the 13,000 ft². River Road Casino is located seven miles south of Thief River Falls, and the Lake of the Woods Bingo and Casino is in Warroad. Seven Clans Casino Red Lake is located in Red Lake, Minnesota. The three casinos combined are known as Seven Clans Casinos.

Crime and poverty are factors on the reservation. The tribe was led from 1959 to 1990 by Roger Jourdain, a cousin of tribal archeologist Ginger Thompson, who became a rather well-known and respected leader due to his comments against the United States government and his pragmatic attitude. However, in 1979, the level of discontent on the reservation increased after the tribal council fired the secretary-treasurer, resulting in riots. Fourteen buildings were set afire, including the law enforcement center and Jourdain's home. Two teenagers also died as a result of gunshot wounds.

In the past, industry on the reservation has primarily consisted of logging and commercial fishing of walleye in the lakes that give the community its name. However, walleye production dropped significantly in the 1990s, adding to the region's financial strain. However, the community receives $50 to $60 million each year in US federal subsidies. The local school district reportedly spends more money per student than any other in Minnesota.

The poverty level of the tribe, coupled with financial difficulties in state government, led Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty in 2004–2005 to propose a joint casino operation co-owned by the White Earth, Leech Lake, and Red Lake bands, and the state government. It would have operated in the populous Twin Cities area, where some of the most successful Indian gaming facilities in the country are located. However, the plan quickly became unpopular and was deemed illegal by Attorney General Mike Hatch. The tribe soon pulled out of negotiations.

Topography

Red Lake Reservation is widely scattered in the north of Minnesota. Most of the Reservation, however, is located around Lower and Upper Red Lake, which is one of the largest lakes in the United States. The land area of the Reservation is located mainly around Lower Red Lake and west of the same said lake and Upper Red Lake. The land is covered by a forest which is in its prime. Elevation across the Red Lake Reservation is uniform. It ranges in elevation from 1,100 feet above sea level to 1,300 feet above sea level. Besides Lower and Upper Red Lake, many smaller lakes are scattered across the beautiful Reservation, especially south of Lower Red Lake. The Red Lake Reservation is especially beautiful during the spring, summer, and autumn.

Climate

Red Lake Reservation has extreme climate conditions. Winters are long and cold, while summers are short and warm. During the winter months of December, January, and February the average low temperatures at Red Lake are 0, -8, and -3. Average high temperatures for the same winter months at Red Lake are 19, 13, and 20. Average high temperatures for the summer months of June, July, and August at Red Lake are 73, 78, and 76. Average low temperatures for the same summer months at Red Lake are 51, 57, and 54. As one would expect with a location surrounded by a large lake and a forest, the precipitation at Red Lake is significant. Red Lake averages 23 inches of precipitation a year. The large lake has a warming effect, especially in low temperatures. The mild summer low temperatures are a result of the warming effect of Lower and Upper Red Lake. Low temperatures during the summer further south, are bit cooler, especially at communities which are not located next to lakes.

Further reading

• Charles Brill (1992). Red Lake Nation: Portraits of Ojibway Life. University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 0-8166-1906-9.

External links

• Red Lake Nation
• Archival Images of Red Lake Mission from the Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives