===== page 1 =====

THE ACTING SOLICITOR MAINTAINED THAT:
",,.A PERSUASIVE ARGUMENT MAY BE ADVANCED THAT THE MEMBERS OF
THE TRIBE NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE RED LAKE BAND HAVE
THEMSELVES BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A SINGLE TRIBE OR BAND.
CONVINCING EVIDENCE IS FOUND IN THE (ALLOTMENT ACT). THAT ACT
DEALS WITH ALL OF THE CHIPPEWA INDIANS IN THE STATE OF
MINNESOTA AND PROVIDES FOR THE CESSION OF ALL THEIR LANDS
EXCEPT SO MUCH OF THE WHITE EARTH RESERVATION AND RED LAKE
RESERVATION AS IS NEEDED TO MAKE THE ALLOTMENTS PROVIDED FOR
IN THE ACT."
WENT ON TO ADD THAT ONLY THE RED LAKERS WERE ALLOTTED ON THE RED
HE
LAKE
RESERVATION AND THAT THE REMAINDER OF CHIPPEWAS WERE TO BE
ALLOTTED ON WHITE EARTH AND MOVED TO THAT RESERVATION. HE GOES ON
ADD:
TO
ean
“ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF THE ACT, THEREFORE, WAS THE
.
CENTRALIZATION AND CONSOLIDATION ON THE WHITE EARTH
RESERVATION OF ALL THE VARIOUS BANDS OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS IN
MINNESOTA OTHER THAN THE RED LAKE INDIANS. IT IS TRUE THAT A
GREAT MANY OF THE INDIANS REMAINED IN THE CEDED RESERVATION
AND TOOK ALLOTMENTS THERE UNDER THE PRIVILEGE ACCORDED THEM
.SO TO DO BY THE ACT: NEVERTHELESS, THEY AND THEIR BRETHREN
WHO REMOVED TO WHITE BARTH ARE STILL CLOSELY UNITED BY BLOOD
COMMON INTEREST IN TRIBAL PROPERTY."
AND
IN
CONCLUDING HE ADDED THAT, "ACCORDINGLY, I WOULD APPEAR TO BE
PROPER AND CONSISTENT WITH THE PURPOSES OF THE ACT OF 1889, TO
ORGANIZE THESE BANDS AS ONE TRIBE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT
OF
JUNE 18, 1934.”
HE WARNED THAT, “ORGANIZATION OF THE ENTIRE MINNESOTA CHIPPEWA
WOULD INVOLVE THE LEGAL PROBLEM OF SAFEGUARDING LOCAL
TRIBE
AUTONOMY AND LOCAL BAND RIGHTS, THROUGH SUBORDINATE DISTRICT
ORGANIZATIONS." HE WENT ON TO ADD, A REASONABLE SOLUTION OF THE
PROBLEM CAN BE MADE ONLY IN THE LIGHT OF .CAREFUL ANALYSIS OF
VARIOUS SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES, INDUSTRIAL, FINANCIAL, AND SOCIAL,
ARE TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE MINNESOTA CHIPPEWA INDIANS." IN
WHICH
SUMMING UP HIS COMMENTS THE ACTING SOLICITOR SAID, "THE FUNDAMENTAL
QUESTION WOULD SEEM TO BE WHETHER THESE ACTIVITIES REQUIRE A
CENTRAL COORDINATION." .
THIS’ OPINION WAS FOLLOWED, OF COURSE, ENDING ANY HOPE OF A
SETTLEMENT WITH RED LAKE. ALL THAT REMAINED FOR THE CONSOLIDATED
.
CHIPPEWAS TO DO WAS TO SEGREGATE THE FUNDS HELD IN COMMON BY ALL
CHIPPEWAS.
331


===== page 2 =====

THREE MONTHS AFTER THE SOLICITOR’S OPINION BURNS WROTE TO
COLLIER THAN DEALING WITH ONE ORGANIZATION WAS BETTER THAN SEVERAL
BECAUSE, "THIS WOULD INVOLVE THE DEPARTMENT BOTH AT WASHINGTON AND
THE FIELD AND ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WORK BY DEALING WITH THE: SEVERAL
CORPORATIONS WHEREAS IT IS POSSIBLE TO DEAL WITH ONE.
BEFORE GOING ON TO TALK ABOUT REPRESENTATION IN THE TRIBE ONE
SMALL MATTER MUST BE BROUGHT TO LIGHT. IN THE 1934 ELECTION TO
ACCEPT OR REJECT THE I.R.A. FOND DU LAC DIDN'T HAVE THE 30%
REQUIRED BY LAW TO MAKE AN ELECTION ON I.R.A. LEGAL. THE SOLICITOR
dow
SAID, "IN THE DISCRETION OF THE SECRETARY, THEREFORE, A SECOND
ELECTION MAY BE CALLED WITHIN THE TIME PRESCRIBED FOR HOLDING 3
ELECTIONS, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THE MAJORITY OF VOTES CAST AT
THE PREVIOUS ELECTION WAS IN FAVOR OF OR AGAINST THE ACT." IN A
LETTER TO BURNS FROM ZIMMERMAN SAID THAN, "SINCE IN THE CASE OF THE
INDIANS MENTIONED HEREIN A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST WAS IN FAVOR
OF THE ACT, THE OFFICE SHALL HOLD OFFICIALLY THAN THEY HAVE NOT
VOTED TO EXCLUDE THEMSELVES AND THEREFORE, ANOTHER ELECTION WILL
NOT BE AUTHORIZED OR CALLED FOR THESE INDIANS."
BURNS NOTED IN 1934 THAN, "THIS IS A SOMEWHAT LIGHT. VOTE,
THERE BEING 723 ELIGIBLE VOTERS ON THIS ROLL. IT MUST BE RECALLED
HOWEVER THAN THE INDIANS ON THIS RESERVATION WERE VERY MUCH OPPOSED
TO THE LAW AT THE BEGINNING AND NO DOUBT ACCOUNT FOR THE LIGHT
VOTE."
332


===== page 3 =====

ORGANIZATIONAL PROBLEM NUMBER TWO:
REPRESENTATION AMONG MINNESOTA CHIPPEWAS
A. TRIBAL DELEGATES.
AT THE INCEPTION OF TRIBAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE CONSOLIDATED
CHIPPEWA A SYSTEM OF TRIBAL DELEGATES. WAS ESTABLISHED FIRST
INFORMALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF FORMING A GOVERNMENT AND THEN
FOLLOWING THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS THE SYSTEM
WAS FORMALIZED AND ESTABLISHED. BRIEFLY THE DUTIES OF THE TRIBAL
DELEGATES. WAS TO A) BRING ANY GRIEVANCES BEFORE THE TRIBAL
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OR TRIBE AS A WHOLE AND B) TO ELECT TWO
COMMITTEEMEN FROM EACH RESERVATION TO SERVE ON THE T.E.C.
IN IMPLEMENTING PART B THE PROCEDURE WAS AS FOLLOWS:
AT THE FIRST DELEGATES.’ MEETING IN MAY THE T.E.C. IS ELECTED.
THE, DELEGATES. BREAK UP ACCORDING TO RESERVATION AND CHOOSE TWO
COMMITTEEMEN, THE GROUP THEN VOTES TO ACCEPT THE MEN AND THERE
FOLLOWS NOMINATION FROM THE DELEGATES., FROM AMONG THE COMMITTEEMEN,
FOR PRESIDENT, ETC.A VOTE IS THEM TAKEN AND THE MAJORITY. RULES.
THAT’S IT. THE DELEGATES. WERE SUPPOSED TO BE REPRESENTING
INDIAN COMMUNITIES EACH COMMUNITY WAS GIVEN NOT .MORE THAN TWO
DELEGATES. TO THE COUNCIL. IN 1940 THERE WERE 58 DELEGATES.
REPRESENTING 29 COMMUNITIES.
;
THIS SYSTEM WAS GRADUALLY PHASED OUT. ORIGINALLY THERE WERE
DELEGATES. FROM MINNEAPOLIS AND WISCONSIN DURING THE EARLY
ORGANIZATIONAL DAYS BUT THEY WERE EVENTUALLY REPLACED BY THE SUB-
CHARTERS AND ITS FORM OF REPRESENTATION.
ONLY FUNCTION THE DELEGATES. PERFORMED WAS TO ELECT THE TRIBAL
OFFICERS. WILLIAM ANYWAUSH IN 1939 COMPLAINED, "WHEN WE CAME HERE
LAST SUMMER AS DELEGATES. ALL WE DID WAS SELECT OUR OFFICERS. WE
DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TRANSPIRED AFTER." THE REASON FOR THIS LACK OF
-
COMMUNICATION WAS THE T.E.C. HAD NO MONEY TO BUY STATIONERY OR EVEN
STAMPS. THEY HAD NO OPERATIONAL MONEY AND WERE ENTIRELY DEPENDENT
UPON THE GOOD GRACES OF THE INDIAN OFFICE.
DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR TRIBAL FUNDS WERE SCARCE AS
DELEGATES.. A LARGE TREK WAS ACCOMPLISHED TO CENTERS OF DEFENSE IN
SEARCH FOR JOBS. THE SUB-CHARTERS FORM OF REPRESENTATION WAS BRIEFLY
CALLING FOR NINE LESS COUNCILMEN AND NINE FEWER DISTRICTS.
EVENTUALLY IT REPLACED THE DELEGATES. SYSTEM.
IN REGARDING THE LOSS OF REPRESENTATION OF THE TWIN CITIES OF
TRIBAL DELEGATES.. ZIMMERMAN WROTE TO RODGERS IN 1941 MAINTAINING:
~Al-
333


===== page 4 =====

"THE CHIPPEWA INDIANS RESIDING IN MINNEAPOLIS AND SAINT PAUL
ARE INDIVIDUAL INDIANS ASSOCIATED BY ACCIDENT AND ARE NOT TO
BE CONSIDERED AS MAKING UP A TRIBAL COMMUNITY THEN SEE NO
REASON WHY THEY SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO ELECT DELEGATES. THE
CONSTITUTION USES THE WORD COMMUNITY."
HE ADDED THAT, "WHILE THE ELIMINATION OF VOTING DISTRICTS OFF THE
MAY
RESERVATION IMPOSE A HANDICAP ON THE ELIGIBLE VOTERS RESIDING
IN SUCH PLACES, THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE IS NOT DESTROYED BY THE ACTION,
MAY POLLING
SINCE THEY STILL PRESENT THEMSELVES AT A RESERVATION
PLACE OR THEY MAY CAST THEIR VOTES BY MAIL."
WHAT HE FAILED ADD WAS THAT THE INDIANS IN MINNEAPOLIS LOST
THEIR RIGHT REPRESENTATION, IN 1939 THE INDIAN OFFICE APPROVED
A DELEGATION OF CONSOLIDATED CHIPPEWA’S REQUEST TO VISIT
WASHINGTON. A.C. BEAULIEU AND E, M. WILSON PRESENTED THE FOLLOWING
RESOLUTION:
bee
"BE IT RESOLVED THAT A DEDLEGATE-AT~LARGE FROM THE NON-
_ RESERVATION DELEGATES, WHO HAVE ATTENDED THE GENERAL COUNCIL,
BE APPOINTED AS A MEMBER OF THE WASHINGTON DELEGATION IN ORDER
TO GIVE THE CHIPPEWAS WHO DO NOT LIVE ON THE RESERVATION
PROPER REPRESENTATION AND THEREFORE CONSIDERATION OF ‘THEIR
NON-RESERVATION PROBLEMS.
HOWEVER, ON MAY 6, 1940 NO DELEGATES WERE CHOSEN FROM WISCONSIN OR
THE TWIN CITIES ON DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION.
IT IS PERHAPS APPROPRIATE HERE TO COMMENT. THE DELEGATE SYSTEM
AS DEVELOPED BY MUNNELL CREATED A GROUP OF TRIBAL OFFICIALS, THE
T.E.C., TO RUN THE OPERATION OF THE TRIBE. ARCHIE PHINNEY, INDIAN
OFFICE ORGANIZER, SAID THIS FORM OF ORGANIZATION BUILT FROM THE TOP
DOWN. ALL OF THE POWER IN THE TRIBE HAS BEEN VESTED. WITH THIS GROUP
WHICH HAS NOT CHANGED IN ITS STRUCTURE SINCE THE BEGINNING. FOR THE
MOST PART IT IS AN INSULATED GROUP. BY THAT I MEAN WHEN A CHAIRMAN
IS IN THE T.E.C. HE LOSES HIS RESERVATIONAL CHARACTER. HE IS NOW A
"TRIBAL" OFFICIAL AND HIS ACTIONS IN THE T.E.C. ARE A MATTER OF
~-
GENERAL CONCERN. HIS OWN RESERVATION CANNOT HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE
FOR WHAT HE DOES WHILE SERVING IN THE T.E.C. ONLY WHEN HE IS
SERVING ON THE RESERVATION BUSINESS COMMITTEE CAN THE LOCAL GROUP
EFFECTIVELY REQUIRE HIM TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THEM.
. WE CAN SEE HERE THAT THE EMPHASIS OF THE T.E.C. ISN’T LOCAL
BUT INTR-RESERVATIONAL IN CHARACTER. THE E.T.C. IS NOT HELD
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE RESERVATIONS THEY ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO IT. IN
THEORY ALL OF THE LAND ON THE SIX RESERVATIONS IS HELD IN COMMON BY
ALL OF THE INDIANS OF THE SIX RESERVATIONS. UNTIL THE_ADOPTION OF
‘THE LOCAL CHARTERS OF ORGANIZATION IN 1938 THERE IS NO RECOGNIZED
LOCAL ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING THE RESERVATIONS OR CONTROLLING
THIS LAND. EVEN THOUGH THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES NEVER INTENDED THE
T.E.C. TO BE THE FOCAL POINT OF THE RESERVATIONS.
-42-
334


===== page 5 =====

PHINNEY WROTE TO COLLIER IN 1938:
"THE GENERAL SENTIMENT OF ALL THESE MEETINGS WAS STRONG FOR
GAINING GREATER LOCAL AUTONOMY. IN A FEW CASES TO MENTION THE
CLOQUET, GRAND PORTAGE, AND ONIGUM A RATHER DEFINITE
DISSATISFACTION WITH THE TRIBAL ORGANIZATION WAS EXPRESSED. AT
GRAND PORTAGE IT WAS STATED THAT A VOTE OF THE GRAND PORTAGE -
GRAND MARAIS INDIANS IF TAKEN TODAY WOULD BE AGAINST AN INTER-
RESERVATIONAL ORGANIZATION. AT FOND DU LAC DISCUSSION AROSE
SPONTANEOUSLY OF GAINING AS NEAR FULL POWER AND INDEPENDENT
POWER AS POSSIBLE TO CONTROL AND MANAGE THEIR OWN RESERVATION
AFFAIRS, WITH MINIMUM INTERFERENCE FROM THE TRIBAL EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE. AT ONIGUM, THE QUESTION WAS PUT TO ME POINT BLANK
OF WHAT STEP THEY COULD TAKE TO "SECEDE" THEM FROM THE TRIBAL
ORGANIZATION. "
THE LOCAL RESERVATIONS BELIEVED THAT YES THEY HAD A COMMON INTEREST
|
BUT THAT THEY NEVER INTENDED TO GIVE THE T.E.C. AS MUCH CONTROL AS
_IT SUBSEQUENTLY ACQUIRED THROUGH THE MUNNELL CONSTITUTION,
te
RL
+
- THIS CONSTITUTION WAS USED BY THE INDIAN OFFICE AS THE BASIS
FOR ITS ORGANIZATIONAL EFFORTS AMONG THE CHIPPEWAS. EVEN THOUGH
THEY KNEW FULL WELL THAT ONE OF THEIR OWN EMPLOYEES WROTE IT. THE
CONSTITUTION WAS, HOWEVER, IN KEEPING WITH THE CONCEPT USED TO
INITIALLY INCORPORATE THE "TRIBE." THE CHIPPEWAS WERE ONE "TRIBE"
AND THEIR LANDS WERE "TRIBAL" AND NOT "BAND! LANDS, I.E. RESERVATION
LANDS.
,
ACTUALLY THERE WERE NO "BANDS" TO THIS NEWLY CREATED "DRIBE"
|
UNTIL 1938 AFTER THE SUB-CHARTER ELECTIONS PROVIDING FOR THE
RECOGNITION OF THE FOND DU LAC BAND AND THE GRAND PORTAGE BAND,
ETC. THESE "BANDS" WERE ORIGINALLY ADMINISTRATIVE DESIGNATIONS OF
BANDS OF INDIANS WHO SIGNED TREATIES WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
AND RESIDED IN AREAS OF LAND ADJACENT TO ONE ANOTHER. FOR INSTANCE,
LEGALLY THE CURRENT LEECH LAKE RESERVATION IS A CONGLOMERATE OF THREE
# THE
RESERVATIONS THOSE OF THE WINNIBIGOSHISH, CASS LAKE, AND LEECH LAKE
BANDS OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS. . (SEE CHART 10) OVER YEARS THESE
BANDS INTERMARRIED AND’ WERE CONSIDERED ADMINISTRATIVELY WAS A
GROUP, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE STILL CONSIDERED BANDS WHO HAD THE RIGHT
TO CLAIMS AS BANDS THE INDIAN CLAIMS COMMISSION.
RESIDENCE IN THESE’ "BANDS" WAS THE DETERMINING FACTOR IN
IDENTIFYING "BAND" MEMBERS. THAT IS TO SAY THAT A PERSON BORN AND
RAISED ON WHITE EARTH RESERVATION COULD BE CONSIDERED A MEMBER OF
THE FOND DU LAC "BAND" IF HE ESTABLISHED HIMSELF IN ONE OF THE
COMMUNITIES BEFORE THE ADOPTION OF THE LOCAL SUB-CHARTER OF
ORGANIZATION.
335


===== page 6 =====

IT MAY CONFUSE SOME OF THIS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ORGANIZATION
AND A CORPORATION. BRIEFLY, A CHARTER OF INCORPORATION WAS ISSUED
TO THE "TRIBE" COMPRISING THE PEOPLE ON SIX RESERVATIONS. THIS WAS
THE I.R.A. CHARTER. WITHIN THE I.R.A. PROVISION IS MADE FOR THE
CHARTERED TRIBE TO MAKE RULES TO GOVERN ITSELF VIA A CONSTITUTION
i
AND BY-LAWS. THE SUB-CHARTERS WERE ISSUED BY THE "TRIBE" TO AN
: ~~~
INTERNAL "BAND" AS ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITTEES WITHIN THE
|
CONSTITUTION. THEY WERE NOT CORPORATIONS THEY WERE ORGANIZATIONS.
THE CONSTITUTION DID NOT ENFRANCHISE A RESERVATION BUT INSTEAD IT
RECOGNIZED GROUPS OF INDIANS IT CHOOSE TO CALL "BANDS" FOR THE
PURPOSES OF PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL AFFAIRS. THESE "BANDS" CREATED
BY THE ADOPTION OF THE SUB-CHARTERS DID NOT ELECT THE T.E.C. THE
TRIBAL DELEGATES STILL HAD THE AUTHORITY TO ELECT THE TRIBAL
OFFICERS. FOLLOWING THE 1938 SUB-CHARTER ELECTIONS THERE WERE
ACTUALLY TWO SETS OF REPRESENTATIVES WITH TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF
ELECTION DISTRICTS. THERE WERE 58 TRIBAL DELEGATES REPRESENTING 29
INDIAN COMMUNITIES AND 49 COUNCILMEN REPRESENTING 20 TOTAL "BAND"
DISTRICTS.
way
ARCHIE PHINNEY, FIELD AGENT, PROPOSED MARCH 8, 1940 THAT
THE TWO SYSTEMS BE MERGED. THIS WAS DONE FOR THE 1940 ELECTION AND
THE RESULTS WERE SATISFACTORY. WHAT HE PROPOSED WAS THAT THE TWO
DISTRICTS BE MERGED AND THE PEOPLE ELECT ONE SET .OF OFFICIALS
(TRIBAL DELEGATES) ON THE BASIS OF POPULATION WITH THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT THEIR CHOICES WERE TO ACT IN A DUAL CAPACITY.
—
THEY WERE TO CHOOSE AMONG THEMSELVES TWO COMMITTEEMEN FOR THE
T.E.C. AND IN THE CASE OF WHITE EARTH, FOR EXAMPLE, CHOOSE NINE
COUNCILMEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION OF
‘
DISTRICTS PROVIDED IN THAT SUB-CHARTER.
A FINAL WORD ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION BEFORE MOVING ON TO, THE
SUB-CHARTERS. ALL LOCAL FRICTION WITH THE CENTRAL TRIBE STEMS FROM
THE CONSTITUTION AS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY MUNNELL.
IN ARTICLE INDIAN SECTION I, READS, OF THE MUNNELL CONSTITUTION (DRAFT)
SENT TO THE OFFICE IN PART: .
" (THE) TRIBE...SHALL MAKE ALL NECESSARY RULES AND REGULATIONS
NoT INCONSISTENT WITH THE LAW AND REGULATIONS AS MAY BE
PROSCRIBED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR OR COMMISSIONER OF
INDIAN AFFAIRS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE BUSINESS AND GUIDANCE
OF THE OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS OF THE TRIBE."
THE INDIAN OFFICE IN A LETTER FROM ZIMMERMAN TO BURNS ON MARCH 3,
1936 ASKED THAT THE SECTION BE REWORDED OR CHANGED.
"THIS LIMITATION ON THE RULE-MAKING POWER OF THE TRIBE IS NOT
NECESSARY_AND _IS _OUT_OF. LINE WITH. THE. POLICY -OFf. THE INDIAN
REORGANIZATION ACT WHICH IS TO PLACE THE EXERCISE OF THE
CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS OF THE TRIBE ON PAR WITH REGULATIONS
MADE BY THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT AND NOT SUBORDINATE TO SUCH
REGULATIONS."
_
-d4-
336


===== page 7 =====

THE REASON WHY SOME LOCAL COMMUNITIES WANTED TO "SECEDE" FROM
THE T.E.C. WAS BECAUSE OF SUCH TIGHT CONTROL BY THE T.E.C. OF LOCAL
DECISIONS. THE ABOVE ILLUSTRATION POINTS TO THE ZEALOUS EFFORTS ON
THE PART OF MUNNELL, AND TO A LESSER DEGREE RODGERS, TO TAILOR THE
CONSTITUTION TO THE NEEDS OF THE INDIAN OFFICE AND THE T.E.C.
RATHER THAN LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. IN SEPTEMBER 1938 IN NAYTAHWAUSH
JOE MORRISON EXPRESSED THE GENERAL FEELING:
"YOU (MR. BROKER) KNOW AS WELL AS I DO THAT THE CONSTITUTION
AND BY-LAWS HAVE TIED THE INDIANS HAND AND FOOT IN SUCH A WAY
THAT WE CAN HARDLY WRIGGLE, OF COURSE, NATURALLY SINCE THE
. INDIAN OFFICE MAKE THIS CHARTER WE ARE KIND OF AFRAID THAT IT
WILL GIVE THE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES MORE AUTHORITY THAN IT
-SHOULD. BEFORE WE DID NOT HAVE OUR ATTORNEY EXPLAIN THIS THING
TO US, BUT CAN CONSTRUE THE WORDS TO SUIT THE GOVERNMENT
OFFICE AND IF THIS IS THE CASE, WE DO NOT WANT THE CHARTER."
MORRISON MAKES ONE VERY SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST THE INDIAN AGENCY.
HE CHARGES THAT THE DELEGATES WERE ILL-~INFORMED BECAUSE THEY DID
be
NOT HAVE THE BENEFIT OF AN ATTORNEY TO TELL THEM ‘OF THE
we
CONSEQUENCES OF ORGANIZING AS THEY DID. IN THE AMERICAN INDIAN
JOURNAL, PUBLISHED IN DULUTH, LOUIS ALLEN YOUPE, EDITOR, CHARGED
INDIAN RUSHING INTO
THE OFFICE OF THE INDIANS FORMING THE
ORGANIZATION AS THEY DID.
"CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT MINNESOTA INDIANS WERE INVEIGHED TO
ACCEPT THE WHEELER-HOWARD ACT, TO "ADOPT AND ORDAIN" THE
CONSTITUTION DRAWN UP FOR THEM UNDER INDIAN OFFICE DIRECTION,
AND TO ACCEPT THE TRIBAL CORPORATE CHARTER, BY FRENZIED
CAMPAIGNS WHICH SMACKED OF WARD BOSS TACTICS, THOSE INDIANS
WHO BLINDLY ACCEPTED THE CONDUCT OF THE INDIAN BUREAU
OFFICIALS HEAPED VITUPERATION AND ABUSE UPON INDIANS WHO
QUESTIONED THE SINCERITY OF THE MUCH HERALDED HOME RULE
EXTENDED TO’ THEM AND TO INDIANS WHO OTHERWISE HOLD DIVERGENT
VIEWS FROM THE BUREAU." -
--VOLUME 1, NO. 1, MAY 1938
YOUPE ADDED THAT, "THERE IS MUCH IN THE NEW DEAL INDIAN LEGISLATION
(I.R.A.} THAT IS PRAISEWORTHY. YET MUCH OF THE REAL VALUE OF SUCH
LEGISLATION HAD BEEN WEAKENED BY’ IMPRACTICAL THEORIES CONCERNING
INDIANS." JACOB MUNNELL TENDERED HIS RESIGNATION TO THE TRIBAL
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON MAY 29, .1937.'HIS LETTER SAYS NOTHING OF THE
REASONS FOR HIS RESIGNATION IT ONLY WISHES THE T.E.C. WELL IN THE
FUTURE. IT WAS TABLED UNTIL THE MEMBERS COULD TALK WITH MUNNELL AND
ENTICE HIM BACK INTO THE ORGANIZATION. IN ADDITION IT PRAISED HIS
WORK AMONG THE CHIPPEWAS, "...THE EXECUTIVE. COMMITTEE WISHES TO
EXTEND TO YOU THEIR DEEP SENSE OF APPRECIATION FOR THE USEFUL AND
VALUABLE SERVICE YOU HAVE PERFORMED AND THE SECRETARY OF THE
INTERIOR. NO SIGNIFICANT ACTION COULD BE TAKEN LOCALLY WITHOUT
APPROVAL OF THE T.E.C. AS PAST PRESIDENT PEMBERTON PUT IT, "IF A
CERTAIN COMMUNITY ON WHITE EARTH PETITIONED OUR RESERVATION COUNCIL
AND THEY 0O.K.’ED IT WE WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WAS ALL THAT
~45-
337


===== page 8 =====

WAS
NEEDED." IF MR. PEMBERTON’S PROPOSED PROJECT INVOLVED MONEY
FROM
EITHER THE CONSOLIDATED CHIPPEWA AGENCY OR THE CHIPPEWA IN
MINNESOTA FUND, THE T.E.C. WOULD HAVE. TO APPROVE OF IT. PEMBERTON,
PAST
PRESIDENT, AND TRIBAL OFFICIAL SINCE ‘THE FOUNDING OF THE
TRIBAL GOVERNMENT DID NOT UNDERSTAND THIS CONCEPT UNTIL.-A.-YEAR.
THE SUB-CHARTERS WERE ADOPTED.
AFTER
IN ADOPTING THE SUB-CHARTERS, AS ALLUDED TO EARLIER, IT
NECESSITATED THE CREATION OF "BANDS" OF CHIPPEWAS. IN A LETTER TO
REPRESENTATIVE KNUTSON ON APRIL 5, 1939 JOHN COLLIER OUTLINED THE
.
ACTION : ,
"RESERVATIONS IN RATIFYING THEIR CHARTERS TAKE THE SAME ACTION.
TO INCLUDE AS MEMBERS ALL CHIPPEWA RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF
AFFILIATION WITH OTHER LANDS BY PLACE OF BIRTH OR’ BY
REGISTRATION ON THE TRIBAL ANNUITY ROLL. IN THIS WAY THE
EARLIER DISTINCTION OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS BY ORIGINAL BANDS WAS
ELIMINATED IN FAVOR OF A CLASSIFICATION BASED UPON THE
arn
PRACTICAL REQUIREMENTS OF PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY
ACTIVITY." .
.
THIS
NEW CLASSIFICATION CHANGES THE TRADITIONAL GOVERNMENT VIEW OF
INDIAN. IT IS MORE IN LINE WITH I.R.A.'S DEFINITION OF "INDIAN."
FIVE
MONTHS EARLIER PHINNEY WROTE TO COLLIER THAN THE LOCAL GROUPS
“—.
WISHED, REGARDING SUB-CHARTERS,
"TO HAVE SIX UNITS, CORRESPONDING TO THE SIX CHIPPEWA
RESERVATIONS IN MINNESOTA, FORMED WITHIN THE TRIBAL
_
ORGANIZATION AND TO HAVE THE CHIPPEWA INDIAN INHABITANTS OF
EACH RESERVATION CONSTITUTION SEPARATE BAND. THERE WILL BE
CREATED, THEREFORE SIX BANDS."
PHINNEY WANTED THE LOCAL RESERVATIONS TO BE STRENGTHENED BY THE
SUB-CHARTERS .
THE LOCAL RESERVATION GROUPS WERE GIVEN. PROMISES OF GREATER
LOCAL CONTROL BUT WHEN THE SUB-CHARTERS WENT INTO EFFECT THEY WERE
THAN A LITTLE DISILLUSIONED. BY 1941 LEECH LAKE WAS
MORE
CONSIDERING WITHDRAWING FROM THE MINNESOTA CHIPPEWA TRIBE AND
INCORPORATING SEPARATELY. BY 1945 THREE RESERVATIONS WANTED TO
LEAVE THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE OF LOCAL
CONTROL. ;
338


===== page 9 =====

B. SUB-CHARTERS
WILLIAM ANYWAUSH ASKED A VERY INTERESTING QUESTION OF HIS
FELLOW DELEGATES ON THE SUBJECT OF SUB-CHARTERS. "OUR PEOPLE ARE
VERY PARTICULAR. SOME OF THE OLD FELLOWS DON’T WANT TO SPEAK. WHAT
ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH (THE OTHER) CHARTER WHICH WE ALREADY VOTED
ON? IF THAT WON’T WORK, WHAT IS THE USE OF MAKING ANOTHER CHARTER?"
ANYWAUSH ALSO VOICED A SUBTLE CRITICISM OF THE DELEGATES MANNER OF
APPROVING THINGS:
“MY FRIENDS, TRY TO SAY SOMETHING FOR THE INDIANS. WHEN I GET
BACK HOME, I GOT TO LIVE UP TO MY PROMISE TO BRING HOME WHATEVER
THEY DID UP HERE, THEN IF THE WHITE EARTH (VILLAGE) PEOPLE ACCEPT,
WHICH I THINK THEY SHOULD, THAT IS UP TO THEM. I DON'T WANT THEM TO
COME BACK AND SAY MANY YEARS FROM NOW THAT MR. ANYWAUSH ACCEPTED
THAT CHARTER HIMSELF. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT UNDERSTOOD. IF THEY
ARE WILLING, WHICH I THINK THEY WILL BE IF THEY UNDERSTAND IT
"THEY
THOROUGHLY, CAN HAVE IT."
9-17-38 MTG. NAYTAHWAUSH
FRANK BROKER, T.E.C. PRESIDENT, TOLD THE GROUP ASSEMBLED AT
NAYTAHWAUSH THAT THE CHARTERS WERE TO BE TAILORED TO FIT THE
RESERVATION.
"THE CHARTERS WILL BE JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN YOURS TO
MEET THEIR MODES OF LIVING. WHITE EARTH IS CONSIDERED AN
AGRICULTURAL COUNTRY, LEECH LAKE IS A LUMBERING COUNTRY, GRAND
PORTAGE A SUMMER RESORT COUNTRY, AND NETT LAKE ABOUT THE SAME,
SO I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE NO TWO CHARTERS ALIKE,
'
ANOTHER THING BROKER, TOLD THE WHITE EARTH DELEGATES WAS THAT THE
CHARTERS WILL GIVE, "...YOU THE CHANCE TO ORGANIZE, YOU CAN APPOINT
A LAND COMMITTEE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR OWN LAND AND MAKE RULES AND
REGULATIONS FOR YOUR OWN RESERVATIONS."
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE SUB-CHARTERS WERE ALMOST IDENTICAL.
;
THE SECOND STATEMENT BROKER MADE IS VERY MISLEADING. UNDER THE
CONSTITUTION THE LANDS THE RESERVATION WERE TO BE MANAGED BY THE
T,E.C. LATER LOCAL LAND COMMITTEES WERE ESTABLISHED BUT THEIR
ACTIONS HAD TO BE APPROVED BY THE T.E.C. WHO IN TURN HAD TO HAVE
THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR’S APPROVAL. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE "BANDS" AND THE "TRIBE" WAS MUCH THE SAME AS THAT BETWEEN THE
TRIBE OF COURSE THE SUB-CHARTERS ARE NO LONGER MENTIONED IN THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE MINNESOTA TRIBE HAVING BEEN REPLACED IN ESSENCE
BY THE RESERVATION BUSINESS COMMITTEE. THE R.B.C. LIMITS THE
REPRESENTATIVES COMING FROM A RESERVATION. ONE THING IT DOES HAVE
IN COMMON WITH THE SUB-CHARTERS IS THAT IT CAN MAKE FEW IMPORTANT
DECISIONS WITHOUT THE T.E.C. APPROVING IT.
~-4A7]~
339


===== page 10 =====

PHINNEY: EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR STRENGTHENING LOCAL SELF-
GOVERNMENT:
_.
"AS I SEE IT, IF “THERE IS TO BE _AN ADEQUATE
. “LEGALLY AS OPPOSED TO TRIBAL GOVERNMENT ALMOST
DETERMINATION
ALL OF THE RIGHTS AND POWERS NOW VESTED IN THE TRIBE MUST BE
INVESTED IN THE BAND BY THE TRIBE."
-~ TO COLLIER 3-16, 1938
IT MAY BE ARGUED THAT THE PART AND FARCEL OF SELF-
DETERMINATION IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EVENTUAL INDEPENDENCE
FROM THE FEDERAL BUDGET. THE LARGEST AREA FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
WAS, AND IS, LAND AND ITS CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT, PHINNEY IN HIS
LETTER TO COLLIER QUOTED ABOVE ACKNOWLEDGED THIS:
"I? IS CONTEMPLATED THAT EVENTUALLY TRIBAL PROPERTY WILL BE
mn
BROKEN UP, SUB-DIVIDED ‘AND USED BY THE CHIPPEWA BANDS
DIRECTLY. WHERE THE TITLE WILL BE OR WHAT THE NOMINAL
JURISDICTION OF THE TRIBE OVER SUCH ASSETS WILL BE IS NOT, [I
BELIEVE, THE IMPORTANT DECISION NOW. THEREFORE, I STRONGLY
-
RECOMMEND THAT, IN THE GRANTING OF LOCAL CHARTERS NOW, AN
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE LOCAL BODY AND THE SIX BANDS BE EFFECTED
AND PUT IN FORM OF AN ACT OF THE. TRIBAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO
ASSIGN TRIBAL LANDS TO THE VARIOUS BANDS BY UNITS
. CORRESPONDING TO THE RESERVATION THEY OCCUPY,"
PHINNEY ADDED THAT, "THE MILLE LAC AND GRAND PORTAGE, WITH WHOM I
HAVE TAKEN UP INFORMALLY THIS QUESTION OF LAND ASSIGNMENT IN
PERPETUITY BY THE TRIBE TO THE BANDS WERE WHOLE-HEARTEDLY FOR IT."
AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN THE PRECEDING SECTION RESERVATIONS
WERE IN EFFECT "ABOLISHED" WITH THE INCORPORATION OF THE M.C.T. AND
THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION. BY GIVING THE BANDS BACK SOME
AUTHORITY OVER THE LANDS IN THEIR AREA THEY COULD RESTORE WHAT
PHINNEY CALLED, "MUCH OF THEIR LOST RESERVATION CHARACTER."
A FINAL WORD ABOUT SUB-CHARTERS. THE LOCAL CHARTERS WERE SET
UP POLITICALLY TO RESEMBLE THE HOME RULE CONSTITUTION OF THE M.C.T.
IN EFFECT THE SUB-CHARTERS PUT THE T.E.C. INTO THE SAME APPROVING
POSITION AS THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A
NEED FOR LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT BUT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THERE COULD
BE NO "RESERVATIONAL" ESTABLISHMENT SINCE THE RESERVATION WAS A
CORPORATE BODY EXTENDING OVER THE SIX "RESERVATIONS." THE LAND ON
THE LEECH LAKE RESERVATION DID NOT BELONG TO THE LEECH LAKERS BUT
TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE OTHER SIX RESERVATIONS AS WELL.
~48-
340


===== page 11 =====

OCTOBER 1934 CONTINUED
LEECH LAKE YES NO
’
ONIGUM 91 4
INGER . 38 9
FEDERAL DAM 39. 0
BALL CLUB - 26 2
BREVIK 16 3
SQUAW LAKE 13 5
CASS LAKE 124. 16
CASS RIVER 3 )
ens
RED LAKE 5 1
NETT LAKE AGENCY 1 1.
c.Cc. CAMP L.L. 10 0
BENA 6 19
MAILED C.C. CAMP L.L. 3 0
TOTALS 375 60
NETT LAKE YES NO
c.Cc.C. CAMPS ee 0
N.L. AGENCY 105 3
TOWER A4 4
GRAND MARATS 1 )
INGER 1 0
MAILED BALLOTS 7 0
TOTALS 159 7
FILE 066-9559 U.S. ARCHIVES
OCTOBER 29, 1934
-49-
341


===== page 12 =====

STATISTICS FROM RECORD GROUP NUMBER 75 U.S. ARCHIVES.
NOVEMBER
13, 1937 ELECTION RESULTS: TO ACCEPT OR REJECT THE
I.R.A. CHARTER FOR M.C., 7,
VOTES BY RESERVATION: YES No "TOTALS"
CHART #1
WHITE EARTH 802 202 1,004
LEECH LAKE 236 178 414
FOND DU LAC 74 . 120 194
NETT LAKE 171 24 195
GRAND PORTAGE 57 23 80
oe
MILLE LAC 140 63 203
TOTALS 1,490 710 2,200
COMMUNITIES VOTING AGAINST THE I.R.A. CHARTER --
CHART #2
NOVEMBER 16, 1937 CONSOLIDATED CHIPPEWA AGENCY
NO YES
BENA 73 7
-BALL CLUB 10 5
SQUAW LAKE 30
BREVIK 20
WALKER SANITORIUM 20 19
.
SAWYER 28 27
INDIAN VILLAGE, CLOQUET 62
EAST LAKE 9
PINE BEND 11
WAUBUN 12 11
.
DANBURY 26 24
“BOY LAKE
GRAND PORTAGE CAMP
-50-
342


===== page 13 =====

OCTOBER 29, 1934 ELECTION RESULTS: TO ACCEPT OR REJECT I.R.A
ON THE RESERVATIONS.
ELIGIBLE ABSENTEE BALLOTS
CHART #3
VOTES BY RESERVATIONS: YES NO VOTERS "YES" "No"
WHITE EARTH 1,122 245 4,169 45 2
LEECH LAKE 375 60 960 3 0
NETT LAKE . 159 7 318 7 0
GRAND PORTAGE 75 4 179 O- 0
FOND DU LAC 167 28 725 13 0
TOTALS 1,898 344 6,352 68 2
TOTAL VOTES CAST... 12,242
CHART #4
LEECH LAKE, WHITE EARTH, AND GRAND PORTAGE
TOTAL ELIGIBLE VOTERS... eee eeceeneececes 5,626
be
TOTAL VOTES CAST ence ees ceeeveeeeeeeeeee 2,047
TOTAL "YES" VOTES....... eee cee eeseaaes wes 1,732
TOTAL "NO" VOTES. Sea e eee ee ees 316
FEBRUARY 22, 1939 ELECTION RESULTS: SIX RESERVATION SUB-
CHARTER TO ACCEPT OR REJECT
YES No TOTAL
CHART #5
WHITE EARTH 253 45 298
‘LEECH LAKE 162 32 194
FOND DU LAC 82 47 129
NETT LAKE 99 3 102
GRAND PORTAGE 67 11 - 78
MILLE LAC 82 16 98
TOTALS 745 154 899
_
-5i-~
343


===== page 14 =====

- -
_JUNE 25, 1936 ELECTION RESULTS: RATIFIED -CONSTITUTION.
_
AND BY-LAWS
CHART
#6 TOTAL
VOTES BY RESERVATIONS: YES . NO ‘TOTAL ELIGIBLE VOTERS
WHITE EARTH © 927 216 1,143 6,662
VOTES
LEECH LAKE 170 218 388 31% CAST
.
FOND DU LAC 114 24 148 30% NECESSARY
OF
NETT LAKE 115 36 151 1998 IS 30%
4
VOTE
i
GRAND PORTAGE 65 30 95 OF 180 ABSENTEE
BALLOTS 10
VOTED
MILLE LAC & DANBURY 137 10 147 NO.
TOTALS 1,528 544 2,072
AND
TOTALS TRANSMITTED TO SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR ICKES
;
APPROVED JULY 24 .
CHART #7 COMMUNITIES VOTING TO REJECT: NO YES
oe
oO
- SUGAR POINT 25 8
BREVIK 9 4
SQUAW LAKE ay 2
.
BENA - B4 2
GRAND PORTAGE CAMP 18 16
oo
INGER 31 22
SQUAW POINT . 31 5
~52-
344


===== page 15 =====

OCTOBER 1934 ELECTION RESULTS: VOTING TO ACCEPT
OR REJECT
I.R.A. INDIAN COMMUNITIES
WHITE EARTH INDIANS IN: YES NO
CHART #8
INGER 5 1
CASS LAKE 61 oy
ONIGUM 35
CASS RIVER 3
FEDERAL DAM 1i
ISLE 34
BREVIK 3
BENA 0
MCGREGOR 37
PONSFORD 192
CALLOWAY 18
ROUND LAKE 27
BEAULIEU 74
RICHWOOD 14
TWIN LAKES 124
ELBOW LAKE 34
SQUAW LAKE 2
WHITE EARTH VILLAGE............67 ary Oo
WAUBUN 35
DETROIT LAKES 23
PINE BEND "35 PB
RED LAKE 31
MAHNOMEN 40 FP
PERCH LAKE 54
NETT LAKE C.C. CAMP........... .18 Dv
DAIGLES MILL 44
NETT LAKE AGENCY 4
DANBURY....ccccvccvevececsrvrereccseed | , 27 ,
GRAND MARAIS 2
VINELAND 50
MAILED BALLOTS 45
TOTALS 1,122 245
GRAND PORTAGE YES NO
.GRAND PORTAGE. 45 oo
GRAND MARAIS 27
c.Cc.C. CAMPS 3
TOTALS 75
~53-
345


===== page 16 =====

1936 DESIGNATED DISTRICTS AND COMMUNITIES T.E.C. FIRST
OCTOBER 3,
DELEGATES ELECTED UNDER APPROVED CONSTITUTION
~~
-
CHART. #9 WHITE -EARTH AND MILLE -LACS-- --- ----- -GRAND- PORTAGE ----- --
PONSFORD GRAND PORTAGE
WAUBUN . GRAND MARAIS
RICE LAKE
.
WHITE EARTH VILLAGE NETT LAKE
, NAYTAHWAUSH VERMILLION
'
PINE BEND NET? LAKE INDIAN
VILLAGE
EAST LAKE
MINNEAPOLIS
MILLE LAC TRADING POST
MAHNOMEN
ISLE
|
CALLOWAY-OGEMA~RICHWOOD
BEAULIEU
DANBURY, WISCONSIN
LEECH LAKE
CASS LAKE
BALL CLUB
_INGER-SQUAW LAKE
SUGAR POINT
CASS LAKE MISSION
ONIGUM
;
-
-
.
BENA a
FOND DU LAC
CLOQUET
SAWYER
SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN
-S4-
346


===== page 17 =====

CHART # 11 NETT LAKE AGENCY
THE NETT LAKE AGENCY WAS ESTABLISHED IN .1908 FOR THE
MINNESOTA CHIPPEWAS LIVING ON THE BOIS FORTE RESERVATION IN
MINNESOTA. THESE INDIANS HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN UNDER THE LA POINTE
AGENCY. IN 1919 THE AGENCY WAS CONSOLIDATED WITH THE FOND DU LAC
AGENCY.
WHITE EARTH AGENCY
THE WHITE EARTH AGENCY WAS THE SUCCESSOR TO THE CHIPPEWA
AGENCY, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1851. THE CHIPPEWA AGENCY HAD BEEN
.
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHIPPEWA INDIANS LIVING IN MINNESOTA. IT WAS
MOVED TO THE WHITE EARTH RESERVATION IN 1872. IN 1873 A SEPARATE
‘AGENCY -WAS ESTABLISHED AT LEECH LAKE FOR THE PILLAGER AND LAKE
WINNIBIGOSHISH CHIPPEWAS LIVING IN THAT AREA AND THE CHIPPEWA OF
THE MISSISSIPPI (INCLUDING THOSE LIVING AT MILLE LAC). THE OTTER
TAIL PILLAGERS AND THE PEMBINA CHIPPEWA. BEGINNING IN 1878 THE NAME
"WHITE EARTH AGENCY" WAS USED INSTEAD OF "CHIPPEWA AGENCY." IN 1879
wee
THE RED LAKE AND LEECH LAKE AGENCIES WERE CONSOLIDATED INTO THE
WHITE EARTH AGENCY. THE WHITE EARTH AGENCY WAS NOT SUBORDINATE TO
'
ANY SUPERINTENDENCY.
IN 1889 A SEPARATE AGENCY WAS AGAIN ESTABLISHED AT LEECH LAKE.
IT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LEECH LAKE, CASS LAKE, LAKE
WHITE
WINNIBIGOSHISH, WHITE OAK POINT, AND RED LAKE CHIPPEWA. (EXCEPT
THOSE WHO HAD MOVED TO THE EARTH RESERVATION.) THE WHITE
EARTH AGENCY WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHITE EARTH, GULL LAKE, REMOVAL
POINT, PEMBINA,
AND NONREMOVAL MILLE LAC, REMOVAL WHITE OAK REMOVAL
"REMOVAL CASS
FOND DU LAC, OTTER TAIL, REMOVAL LEECH LAKE, AND LAKE
AND WINNIBIGOSHISH CHIPPEWA. MOST OF THESE INDIANS LIVED ON THE
-
WHITE EARTH RESERVATION. THE TERM "REMOVAL" DENOTES INDIANS WHO HAD
-.MOVED FROM CEDED RESERVATIONS TO WHITE EARTH, MAINLY UNDER THE
DIRECTION OF THE CHIPPEWA COMMISSION. IN 1922 THE WHITE EARTH
AGENCY WAS ABOLISHED, AND THE INDIANS WERE ASSIGNED TO THE NEW
CONSOLIDATED CHIPPEWA :
CHIPPEWA COMMISSION
THE CHIPPEWA COMMISSION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1889 TO CARRY OUT
PROVISIONS OF AN ACT OF CONGRESS OF JANUARY 14, 1889(25 STAT. 642).
THIS ACT REQUIRED THE PRESIDENT TO APPOINT A COMMISSION OF THREE
MEMBERS TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE CHIPPEWA BANDS OR TRIBES IN MINNESOTA
FOR THE CESSION AND RELINQUISHMENT OF ALL THEIR RESERVATIONS,
EXCEPT WHITE EARTH AND RED LAKE, AND FOR THE REDUCTION OF THESE TWO
RESERVATIONS TO THE AREA ACTUALLY NEEDED FOR THE INDIANS. THE
INDIVIDUAL INDIANS COULD CHOOSE BETWEEN RECEIVING AN ALLOTMENT IN
SEVERALTY OF THEIR OWN RESERVATIONS OR MOVING TO WHITE EARTH. THE
COMMISSION WAS ALSO REQUIRED TO COMPILE A CENSUS OF THE INDIANS.
THE INDIANS AGREED TO THE CESSION BUT MOST OF THEM DECIDED TO
REMAIN ON THEIR OWN LAND. IN 1896 THE COMMISSION WAS REDUCED TO ONE
MEMBER, AND IT WAS DISCONTINUED IN 1900. THE LAST COMMISSIONER
TRANSFERRED THE RECORDS OF THE COMMISSION TO THE WHITE EARTH
AGENCY. -56-
347


===== page 18 =====

THE CONSOLIDATED CHIPPEWA AGENCY
THE CONSOLIDATED CHIPPEWA AGENCY WAS ESTABLISHED ON JULY 1,
1922. IT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHIPPEWA INDIANS LIVING ON THE
CASS LAKE, WHITE EARTH, LEECH LAKE, FOND DU LAC, GRAND PORTAGE, AND
NETT LAKE (BOISE FORTE) RESERVATIONS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA. THESE
INDIANS HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE WHITE EARTH AND LEECH
LAKE AGENCIES. THE WHITE EARTH AND LEECH LAKE AGENCIES WERE
ABOLISHED, BUT THE RED LAKE AGENCY CONTINUED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE RED LAKE CHIPPEWAS. THE CONSOLIDATED CHIPPEWA AGENCY WAS
LOCATED ON THE CASS LAKE RESERVATION THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD COVERED
BY THE RECORDS DESCRIBED IN 1060-1-64. MORE RECENTLY IT HAS BEEN
REPLACED BY THE MINNESOTA AGENCY.
SINCE THE INDIANS OF THE AGENCY WERE SCATTERED OVER A WIDE
AREA, AGENCY FIELD EMPLOYEES ON THE SEVERAL RESERVATIONS OFTEN
ACTED AS SUB-AGENTS. THERE ARE NO RECORDS OF THE CONSOLIDATED
CHIPPEWA AGENCY NOW IN THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES.
THE LEECH LAKE AGENCY
THE LEECH LAKE AGENCY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1889 FOR THE LEECH
LAKE PILLAGER, CASS AND WINNIBIGOSHISH PILLAGER, WHITE OAK POINT
MISSISSIPPI, AND RED LAKE BANDS OF CHIPPEWAS LIVING ON RESERVATIONS
ON MINNESOTA. THESE INDIANS HAD FORMALLY BEEN UNDER THE WHITE EARTH
AGENCY. THERE HAD BEEN A SEPARATE LEECH LAKE AGENCY BETWEEN 1874
AND 1879, BUT THERE ARE NO RECORDS OF THIS AGENCY AMONG THE RECORDS
OF THE B.I.A. NOW IN THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES.
THE AGENCY HEADQUARTERS WAS ON THE LEECH LAKE RESERVATION NEAR
WALKER, MINNESOTA. THE TOWN ESTABLISHED THERE WAS NAMED ONIGUM. IN
1906 A SEPARATE RED LAKE AGENCY WAS ESTABLISHED. (IT WAS ABOLISHED
IN 1922.)


===== page 19 =====

.
.
ee,
:
ee,
ee
THE MINNESOTA SUPERINTENDENCY
tke
THE MINNESOTA SUPERINTENDENCY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1849 WITH THE
a
ORGANIZATION OF THE MINNESOTA TERRITORY, WHICH INCLUDED THE EASTERN
PART OF WHAT LATER BECAME NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE TERRITORIAL
GOVERNOR AT SAINT PAUL SERVED AS EX OFFICIO ‘SUPERINTENDENT
THROUGHOUT THE EXISTENCE OF THE SUPERINTENDENCY.
WO
THE INDIANS LIVING IN MINNESOTA WERE MAINLY SIOUX, CHIPPEWA,
AND WINNEBAGO. THERE WERE SOME ASSINIBOIN AND MANDAN, BUT THESE
INDIANS HAD FEW CONTACTS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENCY.
WHEN THE SUPERINTENDENCY WAS ESTABLISHED THE WINNEBAGO AND ST.
PETERS AGENCIES WERE ASSIGNED TO IT. THESE AGENCIES PREVIOUSLY HAD
BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE ST. LOUIS SUPERINTENDENCY. THE WINNEBAGO
AGENCY WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WINNEBAGO INDIANS PETERS UNTIL 1850,
THE CHIPPEWA INDIANS LIVING IN MINNESOTA. THE ST. AGENCY
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SIOUX INDIANS.
et
- IN 1850 THE LA POINTE SUB-AGENCY, WHICH HAD BEEN MOVED FROM
Be
WISCONSIN TO MINNESOTA, WAS PLACED UNDER THE MINNESOTA
SUPERINTENDENCY. IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR IT BECAME ‘THE CHIPPEWA
AGENCY. IT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHIPPEWA OF THE MISSISSIPPI
Sees
ALREADY LIVING IN MINNESOTA AND PREVIOUSLY ASSIGNED TO THE
WINNEBAGO AGENCY AS WELL AS FOR THE CHIPPEWAS OF LAKE SUPERIOR WHO
WERE BEING MOVED INTO .MINNESOTA FROM WISCONSIN AND MICHIGAN.
THE MINNESOTA SUPERINTENDENCY WAS DISCONTINUED IN 1856, AND
ITS THREE AGENCIES WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE NORTHERN
SUPERINTENDENCY. THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE. NORTHERN SUPERINTENDENCY
WERE MOVED FROM MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN TO SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA.
.
we .
o-
.
. 5 g
oe . e
one .
:
“e
349