History
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The Chippewa (or Ojibwe) are the
modern Native American occupants
of the region that includes Voyageurs National
Park. The primary local group, the Bois
Forte Chippewa, numbered approximately 600
to 1000 persons from the mid-1800s through
the present day. A significant portion of
the group, averaging perhaps 100 to 200
individuals in a minimum of four distinct
bands, seasonally or permanently occupied
the immediate area of the park from the
1880s (and probably a 150 years or more
earlier) until after 1910.
Despite increasing settlement pressure,
losses through waves of disease, significant
environmental change, and erosion of traditional
beliefs and lifestyles, significant numbers
of Bois Forte continued to |
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Susan Otter (Nay tum o beake), circa 1918.
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occupy the park until at
least 1920. By the 1930s, only scattered
individuals remained in the park on a permanent
basis, although large numbers came to participate
in the commercial blueberry “industry.”
The few individuals who remained were all
from families (Rottenwood, Whiteman, Bego,
and others) who had a long history of occupation
of the lakes in the park.
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Identified as Jim Woodenfrog (Mi tigo
mah kah keence), circa 1920.
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The
story of Bois Forte occupation of the
Voyageurs National Park area
is a compelling one. It shares some
similarities with, and exhibits notable
differences from, the typical pattern
of dispossession of Indian lands in
several ways. The Bois Forte never
warred with the Americans who obtained
their once-vast territory through
1854 and 1866 treaties. Like many
other tribes, their land was taken
largely for the timber and minerals
it was thought or known to contain.
However, since the Voyageurs area
homeland remained essentially open
and unoccupied after 1866, the Bois
Forte used every means at their disposal
to stay there. Against rather long
odds, they were successful at holding
this territory for another 50 years
after they legally relinquished it
in the 1866 treaty. |
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| Continuing waves of disease, settlement
by Anglo-Americans, pressure to formally
educate their children in American-style
schools, a general closing of the northern
frontier, erosion of traditional belief
systems, and dramatic environmental
changes finally ended their two-century
occupation of the lakes now encompassed
within Voyageurs National Park. Today,
very few park visitors, or even local
people, seem to be aware of the span
or significance of this occupation. |
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Map of Voyageurs National Park
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| Only a few place names
remain to remind them of this past
use of the area. Before the research
reported here was undertaken, the
origin of many of those names, such
as Big Sky Island and Blind Indian
Narrows, had been lost. NEXT
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images are for personal, educational,
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not, under any circumstances,
be copied or printed for commercial
or for-profit use. |
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