Mille Lacs Indian Reservation is the popular name for the land-base for the

Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe ( oj, Misi-zaaga'igani Anishinaabeg), also known as the Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians, is a federally recognized American Indian tribe located in east-central Minnesota. The Band has 4,302 members as of 2012. ...

Central Minnesota Central Minnesota is the central part of the state of Minnesota. No definitive boundaries of the region exist, but most definitions would include the land north of Interstate 94, east of U.S. Highway 59, south of U.S. Highway 2, and west of U.S. H ...

, about 100 miles (160 km) north of Minneapolis-St. Paul. The contemporary Mille Lacs Band reservation has significant land holdings in Mille Lacs,

Pine A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. The World Flora Online created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden accepts ...

, Aitkin and Crow Wing counties, as well as other land holdings in Kanabec, Morrison, and 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

2270R Mille Lacs Reservation Locator Map

The main reservation of the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation is the Mille Lacs Lake Indian Reservation (''Misi-zaaga'iganiing'' in the

Ojibwe language Ojibwe , also known as Ojibwa , Ojibway, Otchipwe,R. R. Bishop Baraga, 1878''A Theoretical and Practical Grammar of the Otchipwe Language''/ref> Ojibwemowin, or Anishinaabemowin, is an indigenous language of North America of the Algonquian lan ...

), at , and commonly referred to as the "Mille Lacs Indian Reservation", at the southern end of

Mille Lacs Lake Mille Lacs Lake (also called Lake Mille Lacs or Mille Lacs) is a large but shallow lake in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is located in the counties of Mille Lacs, Aitkin, and Crow Wing, roughly 75 miles north of the Minneapolis-St. Paul m ...

and composes about of land (commonly rounded in citations as "61,000 acres"), consisting of

Township A township is a kind of human settlement or administrative subdivision, with its meaning varying in different countries. Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, that tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, C ...

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 of land. It was initially established in 1855 under the Treaty of Washington () for the

Mille Lacs Indians The Mille Lacs Indians (Ojibwe: ''Misi-zaaga'iganiwininiwag''), also known as the Mille Lacs and Snake River Band of Chippewa, are a Band of Indians formed from the unification of the Mille Lacs Band of Mississippi Chippewa (Ojibwe) with the Mille ...

and other

Mississippi Chippewa Mississippi River Band of Chippewa Indians ( oj, Gichi-ziibiwininiwag) or simply the Mississippi Chippewa, are a historical Ojibwa Band inhabiting the headwaters of the Mississippi River and its tributaries in present-day Minnesota. According to th ...

(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. The

US Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

designates this reservation as part of "2270: Mille Lacs Indian Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land". This reservation contains the communities of ''Neyaashiing'' (

Vineland ''Vineland'' is a 1990 novel by Thomas Pynchon, a postmodern fiction set in California, United States in 1984, the year of Ronald Reagan's reelection.Knabb 2002 Through flashbacks by its characters, who have lived the sixties in their youth, th ...

) and ''Chi-minising'' ( 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 The Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post is a museum dedicated to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe's history, culture, and contemporary life. It officially opened to the public on May 18, 1996. Located in Onamia, Minnesota, United States, it is o ...

. Grand Casino Mille Lacs is also located in ''Neyaashiing''. The central offices for

Woodland National Bank A woodland () is, in the broad sense, land covered with trees, or in a narrow sense, synonymous with wood (or in the U.S., the ''plurale tantum'' woods), a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade (see ...

, which is owned by the Mille Lacs Band, and the offices of the Band's

Circle of Health A circle is a shape consisting of all points in a plane that are at a given distance from a given point, the centre. Equivalently, it is the curve traced out by a point that moves in a plane so that its distance from a given point is const ...

supplementary Health Insurance, are both located in Onamia,

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

, 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, South Harbor Township, and 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 is also found, contiguous to the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation, in southwest corner of Idun Township in Aitkin County. In March 2022, the

United States District Court for the District of Minnesota The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota (in case citations, D. Minn.) is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Minnesota. Its two primary courthouses are in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Cases are al ...

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.

Sandy Lake Indian Reservation

The contemporary Mille Lacs Indian Band also has land holdings with the Sandy Lake Indian Reservation (''Gaa-mitaawangaagamaag'' in the

) in

Aitkin County Aitkin County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,697. Its county seat is Aitkin. Part of the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation is in the county. The county was created in 1857 and organized ...

, which surrounds Big Sandy Lake and comprises about 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, 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 ''Manoominikaan-zaaga'iganiing'' 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 , colors = , anniversaries = 16 June (Organization Day) , battles = , battles_label = Wars , website = , commander1 = ...

operate a small flood-control dam within this Indian Reservation. The reservation is located in parts of Libby, Shamrock,

Turner Turner may refer to: People and fictional characters *Turner (surname), a common surname, including a list of people and fictional characters with the name * Turner (given name), a list of people with the given name *One who uses a lathe for turni ...

, and 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 scatted trust parcels less than each in

, Kanabec, southern Aitkin, Crow Wing and Morrison Counties, Minnesota. In addition, Mille Lacs Indian Reservation maintains the land upkeep on the

Minnesota Chippewa Tribe The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (MCT) is the centralized governmental authority for six Chippewa (Ojibwe or Anishinaabe) bands in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The tribe was created on June 18, 1934; the organization and its governmental powers are ...

ricing parcel at Star Lake. Furthermore, each Minnesota Chippewa Tribe member reservation, including the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation, hold equal one-sixth (¹/₆) 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

, 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 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 ''Neyaashiing'' Community (Vineland, Minnesota), a Census-designated community located approximately north of

Onamia, Minnesota Onamia ( ) is a city in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 878 at the 2010 census. U.S. Highway 169 and Minnesota State Highway 27 are the main routes in the community. History Originally, the city of Onamia was or ...

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 ''Manoominikaan-zaaga'iganiing'' Community and the ''Minisinaakwaang'' Community and 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 ''Chi-minising'' Community (Isle, Minnesota). District IIb comprises the rest of District II. The ''Minisinaakwaang'' Community (East Lake, Minnesota) is located approximately south of 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

County, comprises the ''Ne-zhingwaakokaag'' ( Pine City- Rock Creek-Pokegama Lake) community of the historical Snake and Knife Rivers Band of the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Minnesota, ''Gaa-zhiigwanaabikokaag'' (

Hinckley Hinckley is a market town in south-west Leicestershire, England. It is administered by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. Hinckley is the third largest settlement in the administrative county of Leicestershire, after Leicester and Loughbo ...

) and ''Asiniikaaning'' (

Sandstone Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. Sandstones comprise about 20–25% of all sedimentary rocks. Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar (both silicates ...

) communities of the historical Kettle River Band of St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Minnesota, and the ''Aazhoomog'' ( Lake Lena) Village of the historical St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Minnesota, and 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, 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

living in the

Twin Cities Twin cities are a special case of two neighboring cities or urban centres that grow into a single conurbation – or narrowly separated urban areas – over time. There are no formal criteria, but twin cities are generally comparable in sta ...

urban area. Originally in the Band's statutes, the urban area was established and defined as being Anoka, Hennepin and

Ramsey Ramsey may refer to: Geography British Isles * Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, a small market town in England * Ramsey, Essex, a village near Harwich, England ** Ramsey and Parkeston, a civil parish formerly called just "Ramsey" * Ramsey, Isle of Man, t ...

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 District 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 Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

, the Urban Area provides affordable rental housing units to eligible low-income Band members.

Demographics

As of the census of 2020, the combined population of Mille Lacs Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land was 4,767. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was . There were 3,208 housing units at an average density of . 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. In 2020, the racial makeup of the reservation and off-reservation trust land was 60.6%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...

, 31.8% Native American, 0.3%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.3%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ...

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.9% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 6.2% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.7%

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race.

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. Ten formal communities: *

(Nay-ah-shing 'Neyaashiing'' * Isle,

(Chi-mini-sing 'Chi-minising'' * East Lake,

(Mi-ni-si-na-kwang 'Minisinaakwaang'' * Minnewawa,

(''Manoominikaan-zaaga'iganiing'') * Sandy Lake,

(Ga-me-ta-wa-ga-gi-mog 'Gaa-mitaawangaagamaag'' *

(A-sin-ni-ga-ning 'Asiniikaaning'' * Lake Lena,

(Ah-sho-moog 'Aazhoomog'' *

(Ga-shi-gwa-na-bi-go-gog 'Gaa-zhiigwanaabikokaag'' * Pine City,

(Ne-shi-gwa-go-gog 'Ne-zhingwaakokaag'' *The

(''Gichi-oodenaang'') Six informal communities: *

Brainerd, Minnesota Brainerd is a city in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States. Its population was 14,395 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Crow Wing County. Brainerd straddles the Mississippi River several miles upstream from its confluence with ...

(''Oshki-oodenaang'') *

(''Gibaakwa'igaansing'') * Cove, Minnesota (''Wiikwegamaang'') * Wahkon, Minnesota (''Zaagawaamikaag-wiidwedong'') *

Moose Lake, Minnesota Moose Lake is a city in Carlton County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,789 at the 2020 census. Interstate 35, State Highways 27 and 73, County 10, and County 61 are the main routes in Moose Lake. Moose Lake State Park is ne ...

(''Mooz-eskani-zaaga'iganiing'') *

Duluth, Minnesota , settlement_type = City , nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City , motto = , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...

(''Onigamiinsing'')

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 Inddian Reservation.

References

External links

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