Red Lake Band of Chippewa

Red Lake Band of Chippewa
Name	Red Lake Band of Chippewa
Caption	Sign on Red Lake Reservation
Population	~5,000 enrolled
Popplace	United States (Minnesota)
Languages	Ojibwe language (Anishinaabemowin)
Religions	Midewiwin, Christianity (various denominations)
Related	Ojibwe, Muscogee, Métis, Dakota people, Anishinaabe

Red Lake Band of Chippewa is a federally recognized Ojibwe band located in northwestern Minnesota whose members are enrolled in the Red Lake Reservation. The band maintains a closed reservation and a distinctive political status among United States tribes, and is a signatory to 19th and 20th century treaties such as the Treaty of Old Crossing and treaties with the United States. Red Lake is notable for cultural preservation of Anishinaabemowin, traditional institutions like the Midewiwin, and interactions with federal entities including the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the United States Department of the Interior.

History

The people of Red Lake descend from the Ojibwe people who migrated across the Great Lakes region and engaged with historical entities such as the Hudson's Bay Company, the North West Company, and the American Fur Company. During the 19th century, leaders including Chief Bagonegiizhig (Hole in the Day) and contemporaries negotiated with representatives of the United States and signatories of the Treaty of La Pointe and Treaty of 1855. The late 19th and early 20th centuries brought involvement with the Indian boarding schools system exemplified by institutions similar to Carlisle Indian Industrial School and regional schools, and legal actions concerning land and hunting rights that reached forums such as the United States Supreme Court and influenced cases like Minnesota v. Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians. The 20th century saw leaders and activists align with movements including American Indian Movement, National Congress of American Indians, and figures like Vine Deloria Jr. and Wilma Mankiller who reshaped indigenous advocacy.

Government and Sovereignty

Red Lake operates under tribal governance influenced by federal policies such as the Indian Reorganization Act and interplay with agencies like the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The band maintains a tribal council structure with elected officials who interact with the United States Congress, the Minnesota Legislature, and courts including the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals when litigating issues over jurisdictional authority. The band’s sovereignty has been asserted in legal disputes involving Oliphant v. Suquamish Indian Tribe precedent, negotiations under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, and compacts with state bodies like the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Reservation and Land

The Red Lake Reservation comprises lands central to Red Lake (Minnesota), bordered by counties including Beltrami County, Minnesota and Pennington County, Minnesota and lies within the Red River of the North watershed. The reservation is unique as a closed reservation where most land remains tribal trust land, shaped by treaties and statutes such as the Act of March 3, 1891 and federal policies around allotment stemming from the Dawes Act era. Land management involves entities like the Bureau of Indians Affairs regional office, tribal departments, and collaborations with conservation groups such as The Nature Conservancy and state agencies addressing issues around wetlands, fisheries of walleye, and forestry resources like white spruce and tamarack.

Culture and Language

Cultural life centers on Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe language) revitalization programs, community ceremonies including powwows, teaching in tribal schools influenced by curricula like those used by Bureau of Indian Education, and spiritual practices tied to the Midewiwin and syncretic Christian denominations. Cultural transmission involves elders, artists linked to movements such as Woodland School of Art and individuals comparable to Norval Morrisseau in style, and participation in regional arts events alongside institutions like the Smithsonian Institution and the Minnesota Historical Society. Language and culture initiatives collaborate with universities including the University of Minnesota and programs funded through foundations such as the Ford Foundation and federal grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Economy and Services

The tribal economy includes enterprises such as tribal healthcare facilities interacting with the Indian Health Service, energy and resource projects comparable to collaborations with Bureau of Land Management, small businesses, and participation in the gaming industry shaped by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and compacts with the State of Minnesota. Social services are administered by tribal departments working with federal programs like Medicaid and federal funding streams overseen by the Administration for Native Americans. Economic development efforts have involved agencies such as the Economic Development Administration and partnerships with regional entities including Bemidji State University and Northwest Area Foundation.

Demographics and Community

The enrolled population is several thousand, with demographic trends tracked alongside data from the United States Census Bureau and studies by research centers like the Urban Indian Health Institute and Minnesota Department of Health. Community life includes institutions such as tribally operated schools similar to Red Lake Secondary Complex, community centers, and collaborations with neighboring municipalities like Red Lake Falls, Minnesota and tribal-nontribal relations with the White Earth Nation and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Public health initiatives have addressed issues reported by organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local care coordinated with the Indian Health Service.

Notable Events and Issues

Significant events include the 1979-1981 era of heightened indigenous activism involving groups like the American Indian Movement, legal decisions addressing land and hunting rights such as disputes influenced by Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians cases, public safety incidents that drew national media and federal investigations involving the FBI, and contemporary initiatives tackling issues highlighted by reports from Human Rights Watch and federal commissions. Ongoing concerns involve environmental stewardship in the face of projects similar to debates over pipelines like Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Project, public health responses to pandemics guided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and cultural revitalization efforts supported by organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the Administration for Native Americans.

Category:Ojibwe Category:Native American tribes in Minnesota