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The 1837 Treaty of St. Peters, commonly referred to as the White Pine Treaty, was a treaty conducted between Governor Henry Dodge for the United States and representatives from Ojibwe bands located across today's Wisconsin and Minnesota. It was conducted on July 29, 1837, at St. Peters, Wisconsin Territory (known today as Mendota, Minnesota). The treaty was proclaimed on June 15, 1838, and codified in the United States Statutes at Large as 7 Stat. 536.
Through that treaty, the Ojibwe ceded much of the land that became northern Wisconsin, and a swath of land between the Mississippi and St Croix rivers in what is now Minnesota. This agreement is commonly referred to as the “White Pine Treaty,” because the territory opened up the region's vast white pine forests to logging. [1]
In the treaty, the Ojibwe preserved their right to hunt, fish, and gather within the ceded territory. [1] Those rights have been persistently obstructed by local governments and citizens. [2] However, in 1983 and 1999 federal courts upheld the Ojibwe people’s usufructuary rights on the ceded land in Wisconsin and Minnesota respectively citing the 1837 treaty’s protections. [3] [4]
In the treaty, the Ojibwa nations ceded to the United States a large tract of land located from the Mississippi River in east-central Minnesota to the Wisconsin River in northern Wisconsin, using as its southern boundaries the "Prairie du Chien Line" as established by the 1825 First Treaty of Prairie du Chien, between the Dakota and the Ojibwa, and using the Lake Superior watershed as its northern boundaries.
The land cession was conducted to guarantee access to the Wisconsin Territory's lumber resources that was needed to help build housing for the growing populations in St. Louis, Missouri and Cleveland, Ohio. In the sale, the United States obligated itself to payments to the signatory Bands for twenty years and additional provisions for the Metis in the territory. In turn, the signatory Ojibwa bands retained usufructuary rights to continue hunting, fishing and gathering within the treaty-ceded territory.
# | Location | Recorded Name | Name (Translation/"Alias") | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
01 | Leech Lake | Aish-ke-bo-ge-koshe | Eshkibagikoonzhe (Flat Mouth) | Chief |
02 | Leech Lake | R-che-o-sau-ya [5] | Gichi-osayenh (Elder Brother) | Chief |
03 | Leech Lake | Pe-zhe-kins | Bizhikiins (Young Buffalo) | Warrior |
04 | Leech Lake | Ma-ghe-ga-bo [6] | Nayaajigaabaw ("la Trappe") | Warrior |
05 | Leech Lake | O-be-gwa-dans | (Chief of the Earth) | Warrior |
06 | Leech Lake | Wa-bose | Waabooz (Rabbit) | Warrior |
07 | Leech Lake | Che-a-na-quod | Chi-aanakwad (Big Cloud) | Warrior |
08 | Gull Lake and Swan River | Pa-goo-na-kee-zhig | Bagone-giizhig (Hole in the Day) | Chief |
09 | Gull Lake and Swan River | Songa-ko-mig | Zoongakamig (Strong Ground) | Chief |
10 | Gull Lake and Swan River | Wa-boo-jig | Waabojiig (White Fisher) | Warrior |
11 | Gull Lake and Swan River | Ma-cou-da | Makode' (Bear's Heart) | Warrior |
12 | St. Croix River | Pe-zhe-ke | Bizhikiinh (Buffalo) | Chief |
13 | St. Croix River | Ka-be-ma-be | Gaa-bimabi (He that sits to the side/"Wet mouth") | Chief |
14 | St. Croix River | Pa-ga-we-we-wetung | Bigiiwewewidang (Coming Home Hollering) | Warrior |
15 | St. Croix River | Ya-banse | Ayaabens (Young Buck) | Warrior |
16 | St. Croix River | Kis-ke-ta-wak | Giishkitawag (Cut Ear) | Warrior |
17 | Lac Courte Oreilles Band | Pa-qua-a-mo | Bakwe'aamoo (Woodpecker) | Chief |
18 | Lac du Flambeau Band | Pish-ka-ga-ghe | Apishkaagaagi (Magpie/"White Crow") | Chief |
19 | Lac du Flambeau Band | Na-wa-ge-wa | (Knee) | Chief |
20 | Lac du Flambeau Band | O-ge-ma-ga | Ogimaakaanh (Dandy) | Chief |
21 | Lac du Flambeau Band | Pa-se-quam-jis | (Commissioner) | Chief |
22 | Lac du Flambeau Band | Wa-be-ne-me [7] | Waabanimikii (White Thunder) | Chief |
23 | La Pointe Band | Pe-zhe-ke | Bizhiki (Buffalo) | Chief |
24 | La Pointe Band | Ta-qua-ga-na | Dagwagaane (Two Lodges Meet) | Chief |
25 | La Pointe Band | Cha-che-que-o | Jechiikwii'o (Snipe) | Chief |
26 | Mille Lacs Indians | Wa-shask-ko-kone | Wazhashkokon (Muskrat's Liver) | Chief |
27 | Mille Lacs Indians | Wen-ghe-ge-she-guk | Wenji-giizhigak (First Day) | Chief |
28 | Mille Lacs Indians | Ada-we-ge-shik | Edawi-giizhig (Both Ends of the Sky) | Warrior |
29 | Mille Lacs Indians | Ka-ka-quap | Gekekwab ([Sitting on a] Sparrow[hawk]) | Warrior |
30 | Sandy Lake Band | Ka-nan-da-wa-win-zo | Gaa-nandawaawinzo (Ripe-Berry Hunter/"le Brocheux") | Chief |
31 | Sandy Lake Band | We-we-shan-shis [8] | Gwiiwizhenzhish (Bad Boy/"Big Mouth") | Chief |
32 | Sandy Lake Band | Ke-che-wa-me-te-go | Gichi-wemitigo (Big Frenchman) | Chief |
33 | Sandy Lake Band | Na-ta-me-ga-bo | Netamigaabaw (Stands First) | Warrior |
34 | Sandy Lake Band | Sa-ga-ta-gun | Zagataagan (Spunk) | Warrior |
35 | Snake River | Naudin | Noodin (Wind) | Chief |
36 | Snake River | Sha-go-bai | Zhaagobe ("Little" Six) | Chief |
37 | Snake River | Pay-a-jik | Bayezhig (Lone Man) | Chief |
38 | Snake River | Na-qua-na-bie | Negwanebi ([Tallest Quill-]Feather) | Chief |
39 | Snake River | Ha-tau-wa [9] | Odaawaa (Trader/"Ottawa") | Warrior |
40 | Snake River | Wa-me-te-go-zhins | Wemitigoozhiins (Little Frenchman) | Warrior |
41 | Snake River | Sho-ne-a | Zhooniyaa (Silver) | Warrior |
42 | Fond du Lac Band | Mang-go-sit | Maangozid (Loon's Foot) | Chief |
43 | Fond du Lac Band | Shing-go-be | Zhingobiinh (Spruce) | Chief |
44 | Red Cedar Lake | Mont-so-mo | (Murdering Yell) | |
45 | Red Lake | Francois Goumean [10] | François Gourneau | half breed |
46 | Leech Lake | Sha-wa-ghe-zhig [11] | Zhinawaagiizhig ([Re]sounding Sky) | Warrior |
47 | Leech Lake | Wa-zau-ko-ni-a | Wezaawikonaye (Yellow Robe) | Warrior |
Commissioner:
Recording secretary:
Indian agents:
Interpreters:
Army:
Traders:
Special guests:
Others:
In addition, two other known people were in attendance, but were not signatories:
Together with the 1842 and 1854 treaty-ceded territories in determining the locations of Indian Reservations in the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe and the 1855 Treaty of Washington, the 1837 treaty-ceded territory was divided into five zones. Charles Royce in his 1899 report and accompanying map to the United States Congress designated the territory as "Land Cession Area No. 242," thus the area is often called "Royce Area 242." The five zones each with proposed centralized Indian Reservations of approximately 60,000 acres (240 km2) each were Mille Lacs Lake (242A), St. Croix (242B), Lac Courte Oreilles (242C), Lac du Flambeau (242D) and Mole Lake (242E), with access accommodations made for Fond du Lac, La Pointe and Lac Vieux Desert.
However, with St. Croix and Sokoagon walking out of the negotiations of the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe, they were excluded from further business, losing their federal recognition until 1934, and the proposed St. Croix Indian Reservation was never established in zone 242B and Mole Lake was never established straddling zone 242E and 1842 treaty-ceded territory. In the case of St. Croix, illness overcame the Chief Ayaabens and the United States would not accept a sub-Chief vested with negotiation authority, so St. Croix had no choice but to walk away; oral history of both the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Minnesota of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin both state if it were not for Chief Ayaabens’ illness, the St. Croix Band would have insisted on reaffirmation of treaty rights expressed in both the 1837 Treaty of St. Peters and the 1842 Treaty of La Pointe, so that the Band would not be face with loss of off-Reservation resources access. Shortly afterwards, Chief Ayaabens died from his illness. In the case of Mole Lake, their Chief was barred from the treaty council as the United States firmly believed that the initially proposed four Reservations of about 10,000 acres (40 km2) each would not be an adequate alternative for a single Reservation of about 60,000 acres (240 km2). The Mole Lake Chief sent his sub-Chief to the Treaty council, with full negotiation authority, but like St. Croix, United States would not accept Mole Lake's sub-Chief, even when fully vested with negotiation authority, leaving the Mole Lake delegation no other choice but to walk away from Treaty council. However, Mille Lacs Lake and Lac Courte Oreilles Indian Reservations were established in 242A and 242C respectively, and Lac du Flambeau Indian Reservations was established straddling zone 242D and 1842 treaty-ceded territory.
In Wisconsin, for regulatory purposes, the southern boundaries of the 1837 treaty-area have been adjusted to follow distinct landmarks such as roads and streams. However, in Wisconsin with consent of the property-owner and with tribally issued license, all treaty rights of hunting, fishing and gathering may be exercised by the members of the signatory bands.
In Minnesota, no boundary adjustments have been made. However, hunting is limited to public lands located within the 1837 treaty-area and requires tribally issued hunting license. For non-public lands within the 1837 treaty-area, hunting is subjectable to state hunting licensing and rules. For fishing and gathering, tribally issued licenses are required in Minnesota's portion of the 1837 treaty-ceded territory.
The Ojibwe are an Anishinaabe people whose homeland covers much of the Great Lakes region and the northern plains, extending into the subarctic and throughout the northeastern woodlands. The Ojibwe, being Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands and of the subarctic, are known by several names, including Ojibway or Chippewa. As a large ethnic group, several distinct nations also consider themselves Ojibwe, including the Saulteaux, Nipissings, and Oji-Cree.
The Wisconsin Walleye War became the name for late 20th-century events in Wisconsin in protest of Ojibwe (Chippewa) hunting and fishing rights. In a 1975 case, the tribes challenged state efforts to regulate their hunting and fishing off the reservations, based on their rights in the treaties of St. Peters (1837) and La Pointe (1842). On August 21, 1987, U.S. District Court judge Barbara Crabb ruled that six Ojibwe tribal governments had the right under these treaties for hunting and fishing throughout their former territory.
The Fond du Lac Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation in northern Minnesota near Cloquet in Carlton and Saint Louis counties. Off-reservation holdings are located across the state in Douglas County, in the northwest corner of Wisconsin. The total land area of these tribal lands is 154.49 square miles (400.1 km2). It is the land-base for the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Before the establishment of this reservation, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa were located at the head of Lake Superior, closer to the mouth of the Saint Louis River, where Duluth has developed.
The St. Croix Chippewa Indians are a historical Band of Ojibwe located along the St. Croix River, which forms the boundary between the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. The majority of the St. Croix Band are divided into two groups: the federally recognized St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, and the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Minnesota, who are one of four constituent members forming the federally recognized Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. The latter is one of six bands in the federally recognized Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
The Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe is one of six federally recognized bands of Ojibwe people located in present-day Wisconsin. It had 7,275 enrolled members as of 2010. The band is based at the Lac Courte Oreilles Indian Reservation in northwestern Wisconsin, which surrounds Lac Courte Oreilles. The main reservation's land is in west-central Sawyer County, but two small plots of off-reservation trust land are located in Rusk, Burnett, and Washburn counties. The reservation was established in 1854 by the second Treaty of La Pointe.
The Mille Lacs Indians, 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 Lacs Band of Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota). Today, their successor apparent Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe consider themselves as being Ojibwe, but many on their main reservation have the ma'iingan (wolf) as their chief doodem (clan), which is an indicator of Dakota origins.
The Treaty of La Pointe may refer to either of two treaties made and signed in La Pointe, Wisconsin between the United States and the Ojibwe (Chippewa) Native American peoples. In addition, the Isle Royale Agreement, an adhesion to the first Treaty of La Pointe, was made at La Pointe.
Mississippi River Band of Chippewa Indians or simply the Mississippi Chippewa, are a historical Ojibwa Band inhabiting the headwaters of the Mississippi River and its tributaries in present-day Minnesota.
Chief Buffalo was a major Ojibwa leader, born at La Pointe in Lake Superior's Apostle Islands, in what is now northern Wisconsin, USA.
The Sandy Lake Tragedy was the culmination in 1850 of a series of events centered in Big Sandy Lake, Minnesota that resulted in the deaths of several hundred Lake Superior Chippewa. Officials of the Zachary Taylor Administration and Minnesota Territory sought to relocate several bands of the tribe to areas west of the Mississippi River. By changing the location for fall annuity payments, the officials intended the Chippewa to stay at the new site for the winter, hoping to lower their resistance to relocation. Due to delayed and inadequate payments of annuities and lack of promised supplies, about 400 Ojibwe, mostly men and 12% of the tribe, died of disease, starvation and cold. The outrage increased Ojibwe resistance to removal. The bands effectively gained widespread public support to achieve permanent reservations in their traditional territories.
The Lake Superior Chippewa are a large number of Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) bands living around Lake Superior; this territory is considered part of northern Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota in the United States. They migrated into the area by the seventeenth century, encroaching on the Eastern Dakota people who had historically occupied the area. The Ojibwe defeated the Eastern Dakota, who migrated west into the Great Plains after the final battle in 1745. While they share a common culture including the Anishinaabe language, this highly decentralized group of Ojibwe includes at least twelve independent bands in the region.
Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is a federally recognized band of the Lake Superior Chippewa, many of whom reside on the Lac Vieux Desert Indian Reservation, located near Watersmeet, Michigan. It is approximately 45 miles southeast of Ironwood, Michigan in Gogebic County.
The Battle of the Brule was an October 1842 battle between the La Pointe Band of Ojibwe and a war party of Lakota. The battle took place along the Brule River in what is today northern Wisconsin and resulted in a decisive victory for the Ojibwe.
Lake Lena is an unincorporated community and Native American village in Ogema Township, Pine County, Minnesota, United States, located along the Lower Tamarack River. It currently is the administrative center for the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation, District III.
Minnesota v. Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians, 526 U.S. 172 (1999), was a United States Supreme Court decision concerning the usufructuary rights of the Ojibwe (Chippewa) tribe to certain lands it had ceded to the federal government in 1837. The Court ruled that the Ojibwe retained certain hunting, fishing, and gathering rights on the ceded land.
Anishinaabe tribal political organizations are political consortiums of Anishinaabe nations that advocate for the political interests of their constituencies. Anishinaabe people of Canada are considered as First Nations, and of the United States as Native Americans.
The Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) is an intertribal, co-management agency committed to the implementation of off-reservation treaty rights on behalf of its eleven-member Ojibwa tribes. Formed in 1984 and exercising authority specifically delegated by its member tribes, GLIFWC's mission is to help ensure significant off-reservation harvests while protecting the resources for generations to come.
The 1854 Treaty Authority is an inter-tribal natural resource management organization committed to protecting and implementing the off-reservation hunting, fishing, and gathering rights for the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa and the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa in the lands ceded to the United States government under the Treaty of La Pointe.
The Treaty of Prairie du Chien may refer to any of several treaties made and signed in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin between the United States, representatives from the Sioux, Sac and Fox, Menominee, Iowa, Ho-Chunk and the Anishinaabeg Native American peoples.
Zhaagobe (c.1794), also known as Jack-O-Pa or Shagobai, was a St. Croix Ojibwe chief of the Snake River band. He signed several Chippewa treaties with the United States, including the 1825 Treaty of Prairie du Chien, the 1826 Treaty of Fond du Lac, the 1837 Treaty of St. Peters, and the 1842 Treaty of La Pointe. In 1836, geographer Joseph Nicollet had an Ojibwe guide he called Chagobay, but historians are uncertain as to whether they were the same person.