View source for Mille Lacs Indian Reservation

{{short description|Land-base for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe in Central Minnesota}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
'''Mille Lacs Indian Reservation''' is the popular name for the land-base for the [[Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe]] in [[Central Minnesota]], about 100 miles (160&nbsp;km) north of [[Minneapolis-St. Paul]].  The contemporary Mille Lacs Band reservation has significant land holdings in [[Mille Lacs County, Minnesota|Mille Lacs]], [[Pine County, Minnesota|Pine]], [[Aitkin County, Minnesota|Aitkin]] and [[Crow Wing County, Minnesota|Crow Wing]] counties, as well as other land holdings in [[Kanabec County, Minnesota|Kanabec]], [[Morrison County, Minnesota|Morrison]], and [[Otter Tail County, Minnesota|Otter Tail]] Counties.  Mille Lacs Indian Reservation is also the name of a formal [[Indian reservation]] established in 1855.  It is one of the two formal reservations on which the contemporary Mille Lacs Band retains land holdings.  The contemporary Mille Lacs band includes several aboriginal Ojibwe bands and villages, whose members reside in communities throughout central Minnesota.

==Reservations==
===Mille Lacs Lake Indian Reservation===
[[File:2270R Mille Lacs Reservation Locator Map.svg|thumb|Location of Mille Lacs Lake Indian Reservation]]
The main reservation of the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation is the '''Mille Lacs Lake Indian Reservation''' ('''''Misi-zaaga'iganiing''''' in the [[Ojibwe language]]), at {{coord|46|06|26|N|93|42|58|W|scale:250000}}, and commonly referred to as the "Mille Lacs Indian Reservation", at the southern end of [[Mille Lacs Lake]] and composes about {{convert|60975|acres|km2}} of land (commonly rounded in citations as "61,000 acres"), consisting of [[Township (United States)|Township]] 42 North, Ranges 25, 26 and 27 West, and Township 43 North, Range 27 West, and islands in the southern part of Mille Lacs Lake. Before the raising of the lake level, ''United States v. Mille Lac Band of Chippewa Indians'' (229 U.S. 498 (1913)) cites the reservation as being {{convert|61014|acres|km2}} of land. It was initially established in 1855 under the [[Treaty of Washington (1855)|Treaty of Washington]] ({{USStat|10|1165}}) for the [[Mille Lacs Indians]] and other [[Mississippi Chippewa]] (Ojibwe) Bands of Indians, but was later ceded back to the U.S. Government under later treaties.  Under later treaties and statutes the reservation was reserved for the exclusive occupancy of the Mille Lacs Band, and was later opened to non-Indian timber harvesting and settlement following the protocol of the [[General Allotment Act]]. The [[US Census Bureau]] designates this reservation as part of "2270: Mille Lacs Indian Reservation and  Off-Reservation Trust Land".

This reservation contains the communities of ''Neyaashiing'' ([[Vineland, Minnesota|Vineland]]) and ''Chi-minising'' ([[Isle, Minnesota|Isle]]). ''Neyaashiing'' houses the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Government Center, Nay-Ah-Shing Lower and Upper Schools and the Ne-Ia-Shing Clinic. It hosts [[Minnesota Historical Society]]'s [[Mille Lacs Indian Museum]].  [[Grand Casino Mille Lacs]] is also located in ''Neyaashiing''. The central offices for [[Woodland National Bank]], which is owned by the Mille Lacs Band, and the offices of the Band's [[Circle of Health]] supplementary Health Insurance, are both located in [[Onamia, Minnesota]], within the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation. ''Chi-minising'' houses the Chiminising Community Center and District IIa Government Services Center.

The reservation is located in [[Kathio Township, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota|Kathio Township]], [[South Harbor Township, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota|South Harbor Township]], and [[Isle Harbor Township, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota|Isle Harbor Township]] in Mille Lacs County. Other lands held in trust by the United States on behalf of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe are contiguous to the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation in southwest corner of [[Idun Township, Aitkin County, Minnesota|Idun Township]] in Aitkin County.

In March 2022, the [[United States District Court for the District of Minnesota]] reaffirmed that the territory set aside in the Treaty of 1855 still has federal reservation status, ruling in favor of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe in a boundary dispute with Mille Lacs County.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marohn |first1=Kirsti |title=Judge affirms that 61,000-acre Mille Lacs Reservation still exists. What does that mean? |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/03/10/judge-affirms-that-61000acre-mille-lacs-reservation-still-exists-what-does-that-mean |access-date=17 July 2022 |work=MPR News |date=10 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite court|litigants=Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe et al v. County of Mille Lacs, Minnesota et al|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-mnd-0_17-cv-05155/pdf/USCOURTS-mnd-0_17-cv-05155-5.pdf|date=2022|court=D. Minn|reporter=17-cv-05155 (SRN/LIB)}}</ref>

===Sandy Lake Indian Reservation===
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2024}}
The contemporary Mille Lacs Indian Band also has land holdings with the '''Sandy Lake Indian Reservation''' ('''''Gaa-mitaawangaagamaag''''' in the [[Ojibwe language]]) {{coord|46|48|09|N|93|14|59|W|scale:250000_source:GNIS|display=inline}} in [[Aitkin County, Minnesota|Aitkin County]], which surrounds [[Big Sandy Lake]] and comprises about {{convert|20192|acres|km2}} of land. Like ''Misi-zaaga'iganiing'', it too was initially established in 1855 under the Treaty of Washington for the Mississippi Bands of Chippewa Indians. Under a later treaty it was reserved for the exclusive occupancy of the [[Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa|Sandy Lake Band]], and it was later opened to non-Indian settlement. The US Census Bureau designates this reservation as "2385: Sandy Lake Indian Reservation".

Today, nearly all of the land within this reservation is non-Native American owned.  The ''Gaa-mitaawangaagamaag'' community of the historical Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa is located adjacent to and within the northern portion of the reservation.  The ''Chi-manoominikaang'' community of the historical Rice Lake band of Mississippi Chippewa is located adjacent to the reservation on the southern portion of the reservation. The [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] operate a small flood-control dam within this Indian Reservation.

The reservation is located in parts of [[Libby Township, Aitkin County, Minnesota|Libby]], [[Shamrock Township, Aitkin County, Minnesota|Shamrock]], [[Turner Township, Aitkin County, Minnesota|Turner]], and [[Workman Township, Aitkin County, Minnesota|Workman]] Townships in Aitkin County.

===Other reservation holdings===
Aggregated  as part of the US Census Bureau designated "2270: Mille Lacs Indian Reservation and  Off-Reservation Trust Land", Mille Lacs Indian Reservation have scattered trust parcels less than {{Convert|80|acres|ha}} each in [[Pine County, Minnesota|Pine]], [[Kanabec County, Minnesota|Kanabec]], southern [[Aitkin County, Minnesota|Aitkin]], [[Crow Wing County, Minnesota|Crow Wing]] and [[Morrison County, Minnesota|Morrison]] Counties, Minnesota. In addition, Mille Lacs Indian Reservation maintains the land upkeep on the [[Minnesota Chippewa Tribe]] ricing parcel at [[Star Lake (Otter Tail County, Minnesota)|Star Lake]]. Furthermore, each Minnesota Chippewa Tribe member reservation, including the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation, hold equal one-sixth (<sup>1</sup>/<sub>6</sub>) interest on all Minnesota Chippewa Tribe member reservations, though asserting jurisdiction only on their own reservation.

==Districts==
Due to the large territorial spread of the contemporary [[Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe]], the Mille Lacs Band's statutes divide its territory into three administrative districts and one special services district.

===District I===
The '''''Neyaashiing'' District''' ('''District I''') serves the Band members living in the western two-thirds of the ''Misi-zaaga'iganiing'' and {{convert|30|mi|km|adj=on}} service area from that portion of the reservation.  In addition, any requested services outside of the pre-defined service districts are coordinated though this district. Its administrative center is located in [[Vineland, Minnesota|''Neyaashiing'' Community (Vineland, Minnesota)]], a Census-designated community located approximately {{convert|10|mi|km}} north of [[Onamia, Minnesota]].

===District II===
'''''Gaa-mitaawangaagamaag'' District''' ('''District II''') serves the Band members living in the eastern one-third of the ''Misi-zaaga'iganiing'' Reservation, all of ''Gaa-mitaawangaagamaag'' Reservation, the ''Chi-manoominikaang'' Community and the ''Minisinaakwaang'' Community and {{convert|30|mi|km|adj=on}} service area from those locations.

This district is further sub-divided into two sub-districts: Districts IIa and IIb.  District IIa is associated with the [[Isle, Minnesota|''Chi-minising'' Community (Isle, Minnesota)]].  District IIb comprises the rest of District II.  The [[East Lake, Minnesota|''Minisinaakwaang'' Community (East Lake, Minnesota)]] is located approximately {{convert|6|mi|km}} south of [[McGregor, Minnesota|McGregor, MN]].  ''Minisinaakwaang'' Community houses the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation District II Community and Government Services Center, serving primarily District IIb.

===District III===

'''''Aazhoomog'' District''' ('''District III''') of the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation is located primarily in [[Pine County, Minnesota|Pine]] County, comprises the ''Ne-zhingwaakokaag'' ([[Pine City, Minnesota|Pine City]]-[[Rock Creek, Minnesota|Rock Creek]]-Pokegama Lake) community of the historical Snake and Knife Rivers Band of the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Minnesota, ''Gaa-zhiigwanaabikokaag'' ([[Hinckley, Minnesota|Hinckley]]) and ''Asiniikaaning'' ([[Sandstone, Minnesota|Sandstone]]) communities of the historical Kettle River Band of St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Minnesota, and the ''Aazhoomog'' ([[Lake Lena, Minnesota|Lake Lena]]) Village of the historical St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Minnesota, and {{convert|30|mi|km|adj=on}} service area from those locations.  Though historically forming the western half of the [[St. Croix Chippewa Indians]], these communities associated with the Mille Lacs band since the 1800s and are a part of today's contemporary Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. The contemporary [[St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin]], located east of the [[St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota)|St. Croix River]], is considered a federally recognized tribe, which is not associated with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, located west of the St. Croix River.

''Aazhoomog'' Village houses the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation District III Community and Government Service Center and the Aazhoomog Clinic of the [[Ne-Ia-Shing Health Clinic]] system.  Operating out of ''Gaa-zhiigwanaabikokaag'' is [[Grand Casino Hinckley]] and their various enterprises, including a golf course, RV park and a concert hall.

===Urban Area===
The '''Urban Area''' of the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation is a special services district serving the large number of [[Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe]] living in the [[Minneapolis-St. Paul|Twin Cities]] urban area. Originally in the Band's statutes, the urban area was established and defined as being [[Anoka County, Minnesota|Anoka]], [[Hennepin County, Minnesota|Hennepin]] and [[Ramsey County, Minnesota|Ramsey]] Counties, providing [[TANF]] services to Band members in those three counties. While TANF services are still at the core for services provided to Band members living in the urban area, the Urban Area has grown in providing other tribal supportive services, before available only on the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation proper. With a cooperative agreement with the city of [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]], the Urban Area provides affordable rental housing units to eligible low-income Band members.

==Demographics==
As of the [[2020 United States census|census of 2020]],<ref name="2020-census-2270">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Mille Lacs Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, MN |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=2500000US2270&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=16 July 2022}}</ref> the combined population of Mille Lacs Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land was 4,767. The [[population density]] was {{convert|48.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,208 housing units at an average density of {{convert|32.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. 

The reservation has a significant non-native population due in part to the allotment and sale of Ojibwe lands in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.<ref>{{Cite book| publisher = Minnesota Historical Society Press| isbn = 978-0-87351-768-3 | last = Treuer| first = Anton| title = Ojibwe in Minnesota| location = St. Paul, Minn.| date = 2010| pages=36-38 }}</ref> In 2020, the racial makeup of the reservation and off-reservation trust land was 60.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 31.8% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.3% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.9% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|other races]], and 6.2% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.7% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.<ref name="2020-census-2270" />

==Communities==
Though only nine communities are cited in the Band's statutes, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has ten formal communities and additional six informal communities.
{{col-start}}{{col-2}}
Ten formal communities:
*[[Vineland, Minnesota|Vineland]], [[Minnesota]] (Nay-ah-shing [''Neyaashiing''])
*[[Isle, Minnesota|Isle]], [[Minnesota]] (Chi-mini-sing [''Chi-minising''])
*[[East Lake, Minnesota|East Lake]], [[Minnesota]] (Mi-ni-si-na-kwang [''Minisinaakwaang''])
*[[Minnewawa, Minnesota|Minnewawa]], [[Minnesota]] (''Chi-manoominikaang'')
*[[Sandy Lake, Minnesota|Sandy Lake]], [[Minnesota]] (Ga-me-ta-wa-ga-gi-mog [''Gaa-mitaawangaagamaag''])
*[[Sandstone, Minnesota|Sandstone]], [[Minnesota]] (A-sin-ni-ga-ning [''Asiniikaaning''])
*[[Lake Lena, Minnesota|Lake Lena]], [[Minnesota]] (Ah-sho-moog [''Aazhoomog''])
*[[Hinckley, Minnesota|Hinckley]], [[Minnesota]] (Ga-shi-gwa-na-bi-go-gog [''Gaa-zhiigwanaabikokaag''])
*[[Pine City, Minnesota|Pine City]], [[Minnesota]] (Ne-shi-gwa-go-gog [''Ne-zhingwaakokaag''])
*The [[Minneapolis-St. Paul|Twin Cities]] (''Gichi-oodenaang''){{col-2}}
Six informal communities:
* [[Brainerd, Minnesota]] (''Oshki-oodenaang'')
* [[Onamia, Minnesota]] (''Gibaakwa'igaansing'')
* [[Cove, Minnesota]] (''Wiikwegamaang'')
* [[Wahkon, Minnesota]] (''Zaagawaamikaag-wiidwedong'')
* [[Moose Lake, Minnesota]] (''Mooz-eskani-zaaga'iganiing'')
* [[Duluth, Minnesota]] (''Onigamiinsing''){{col-end}}

==Education==
The tribal school is [[Nay Ah Shing School]], with the Abinoojiiyag School (Nay Ah Shing Lower School) and Nay Ah Shing Upper School at the Vineland Campus, and Pine Grove Academy at the Lake Lena Campus.

In East Lake, the tribe operates Minisinaakwaang Leadership Academy, a Minnesota charter school.

Significant number of tribe's children also attend public schools in communities in and around the Indian Reservation.

==See also==
*[[Minnesota Indian Affairs Council]]
* Aaniin Ekidong: [https://www.amazon.com/s?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=aaniin+ekidong&sprefix=aaniin Ojibwe Vocabulary Project.] St. Paul: Minnesota Humanities Center, 2009.
* Treuer, Anton. [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0873517687 Ojibwe in Minnesota]. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2010.
* Treuer, Anton. [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0873514041?%20Oral%20Histories.%20 Living Our Language: Ojibwe Tales & Oral Histories.] St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2001.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.millelacsojibwe.org/ The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe]

{{Indian reservations in Minnesota}}
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{{Aitkin County, Minnesota}}
{{Crow Wing County, Minnesota}}
{{Kanabec County, Minnesota}}
{{Mille Lacs County, Minnesota}}
{{Morrison County, Minnesota}}
{{Otter Tail County, Minnesota}}
{{Pine County, Minnesota}}
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[[Category:Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe]]
[[Category:American Indian reservations in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Anishinaabe reservations and tribal-areas in the United States]]
[[Category:Ojibwe reserves and reservations]]
[[Category:Populated places in Aitkin County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Populated places in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Populated places in Pine County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Populated places in Kanabec County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Populated places in Crow Wing County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Populated places in Morrison County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Populated places in Otter Tail County, Minnesota]]