Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Ojibwe
GAAMIITAWANGAGAAMAG, "Lake of the Sandy Waters"
This is the official website of the Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Ojibwe, and it is owned and maintained by the Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Ojibwe and it’s tribal members.
It’s purpose is to provide a voice for the Sandy Lake Band to inform the world who we are and what we are trying to accomplish as a tribe, which is to restore our federal recognition so we can provide a better life for our future generations.
Sandy Lake Ojibwe History
The remnants of the Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Ojibwe reside on and near a 32.35 acre reservation in Aitkin County, Minnesota. The reservation
lies nestled in the southern part of the famous Arrowhead country; a region of fish-filled lakes, of deep valleys, and of rugged pine and hardwood covered hills.
The reservation is located approximately one hundred and twenty-five miles north of the Twin Cities and sixty miles west of Duluth, near the town of McGregor, Minnesota.
Sandy Lake Band's history as an Indian Group can be trace to the 1730s, when westward Ojibwe expansion reached beyond the Great Lakes to the Sandy Lake area of what is now Aitkin County in Minnesota.
The Sandy Lakers played a vital role in establishing a permanent Ojibwe presence in the north-central Minnesota region.
The Sandy Lake Band strategically made its home on the historic Mississippi water route - rich in wild rice and game - and the legendary Savanna Portage, which linked the Mississippi and Great Lakes drainage systems. This important transportation network hosted the exploratory travels of notables like David Thompson, Zebulon Pike, Lewis Cass, and Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, to name a few, who all wrote about the Sandy Lake Ojibwe.
Traders and government officials did business with the Sandy Lakers; and missionary activity at Sandy Lake went on for decades. In fact, the first school in what is now Minnesota was established at Sandy Lake by Rev. Frederick Ayer and his wife in 1831. Prominent missionaries like Ely, Hall, Pierz, Spates, and Whipple speak of the Sandy Lake Band in their correspondences and memoirs. The British Northwest Company and the American Fur Company established posts there in 1794 and 1826 respectively.
Chiefs and headmen of the Sandy Lake Band figured prominently in Ojibwe history. Grosse Guelle, a Sandy Laker, was among the Chippewa who addressed the 1825 treaty conference which included Chippewa, Sioux, and U.S. Government officials at work on the Chippewa-Sioux boundary line, Ka-ta-wah-be-dah (Broken Tooth), Kroseweezais-hish (Curly Hair), Hole-in-the-Day I, We-we-shan-shis (Bad Boy), and Ka-nan-da-wa-win-zo (Le Brocheux), were a few of the Sandy Lake leaders during a long period in the 18th and 19th centuries when Sandy Lake was the most prominent power base for the Chippewa. In 1864, Chief Hole-in-the-Day II (younger) represented the Chippewas of the Mississippi in treaty negotiations.
Sandy Lake Band prominence, as a people and as an Ojibwe leadership capitol, are treated at length by historians, from the Ojibwe writer, William Whipple Warren(History of the Ojibway People) to William Watts Folwell, scholar and first president of the University of Minnesota(A History of Minnesota, 4 vols.);
from N.H. Winchell's The Aborigines of Minnesota (1911)to ethnohistorian Harold Hickerson's Ethnohistory of Mississippi Bands and Pillager and Winnibigoshish Bands of Chippewa. (1974).
Scores of academic works in the areas of history, ethnohistory, and archaeology detail the Sandy Lake Band record. In his book, Minnesota's Chippewa Treaty of 1837 (Brainerd, Minn,: Historic Heartland Association, 1993), Historian Carl Zapffe observed correctly that for many years "Sandy Lake was to the Ojibwe people what Washington D.C., is to the United States today."
Indian agency and subagency records from places like St. Peters (Fort Snelling), Fond du Lac, La Pointe, St. Louis, Crow Wing, and Sandy Lake- plus the correspondences of agents and other government personnel, refer specifically to the Sandy Lake Band and help detail its ongoing condition, its relations with the U.S. government, and its continuing existence as an autonomous Indian group.
Today's Sandy Lake Band archives include scores of documents for each decade beginning in the 1820s, when the Sandy Lake Band travelled to the St. Peters Agency at Fort Snelling. (The papers and diaries of Agency Lawrence Taliaferro, at the Minnesota Historical Society, are detailed).
The Annual Reports of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs contain considerable information about the Sandy Lake Band, including descriptions of the Band (example: Alexander Ramsey's Smith's report on how attempts to remove the Sandy Lakers in the late 1860s were "a farce", and how despite government efforts, the Sandy Lake people "with few exceptions, returned to their old haunts". (Annual Report, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, For the year 1872, p. 208.) Records of annuity payments and census reports of Chippewas of the Mississippi include the Sandy Lake Band as a separate Indian group.
The Sandy Lake Chiefs and Headsmen were signatories to ten (10) treaties with the United States beginning in 1825 and ending in 1867 during the 1871 treaty-making period. The original Sandy Lake Indian Reservation, was created by the Treaty of Feb. 22, 1855 (10 Stat., 1165), included all of what is now called Big Sandy Lake and a surrounding land area. The reserved tract at Sandy Lake is specifically described in the treaty document.
History Highlights
Sandy Lake Band History Highlights
1730s -First Ojibwe group to establish a power base west of the Mississippi River. Major force
in Ojibwe conquest of the Dakota Sioux pushing them south and west thereby
establishing Ojibwe dominance in what would become central and northern Minnesota.
1782 -The village of Sandy Lake became nearly depopulated by the ravages of smallpox. The
Band gradually recovered their former strength and numbers through accessions from
the villages of their people located on Lake Superior.
1794 - Establishment of British Northwest Company trading post at Sandy Lake.
1800s - The ill-fated village of Sandy Lake again received a severe blow due to the implacable
hatred of the Dakotas which cut off its inhabitants nearly to a man at Cross Lake as
they were trekking back to their village in the spring.
1826 - American Fur Company post built at Sandy Lake.
1831 - Mission school established at Sandy Lake by Frederick Ayer and wife, the first school in
what is now the state of Minnesota.
1850 - U.S. Indian Department established a sub-agency at Sandy Lake.
Treaties with the United States: 1825, 1826, 1837, 1842, 1847, 1854, 1855, 1863, 1864, 1867.
1855 - Original Sandy Lake Indian Reservation created by treaty.
1864 - Article 12 of the treaty of 1864 deemed “that those of the tribe residing on the Sandy
Lake Reservation shall not be removed until the President shall so direct.”
1886 - Northwest Indian Commission came to meet with the Sandy Lake Indians.
1889 - U.S. Indian Commission and Henry Rice travelled to Sandy Lake and Kimberly, MN to
hold five councils with the Sandy Lake Band.
1915 - March 4, 1915, 32.35-acre Sandy Lake Indian Reservation established on Sandy Lake by
Executive Order of President Woodrow Wilson upon recommendation of the Interior
Secretary.
1934 - Post Indian Reorganization Act – without care for culture and history and apparently
for administrative convenience, the U.S. Government included the Sandy Lake Band in
the realm of the Mille Lacs Band government.
Monroe Skinaway Sr. and John Skinaway Jr. are appointed to represent Sandy Lake.
Tom Skinaway, is delegated to represent Mille Lacs Band on the newly created
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Executive Committee.
1937 - J.S Monk, Acting Superintendent, Consolidated Chippewa Agency, Cass Lake, sends
letter to Department of Interior requesting lands for non-enrolled Mille Lacs Indians at
Sandy Lake and East Lake stating, ‘Owing to their peculiar situation living by themselves
away from the White Earth Reservation on which they are enrolled and not belonging
to the Mille Lacs Band they are isolated, and it appears that the funds allotted for
purchase of land within the White Earth Reservation and for the Mille Lacs Chippewa
do not apply to these people. This office is in sympathy with them and favor acquiring
land where they are living and have been living for so many years that they have
become attached to this territory where they pickup odd jobs not and then and are
acquainted there to the extent that they do not desire to move way.” Acting
Superintendent ends stating, ‘I do not believe these Indians will cease to write about
this matter or will be satisfied until some definite plan for them is made or decided
upon.’
1940 - 147-acre Sandy Lake Indian Reservation was established for the Sandy Lake people via
purchase by the Interior Department from the fund “Acquisition of Land for Indian
Tribes.”
1941 – April 10, 1941, Monroe Skinaway, Sandy Lake representative writes F.J Scott,
Superintendent, Consolidated Chippewa Agency, Cass Lake, requesting lot surveys to
be completed on acquired reservation lands. He also requests road projects and well
drilling.
1954 - June 14, 1954, Sandy Lake Local Council, chaired by George Skinaway, met to sell
Timber on the reservation in order to repair community water pump at Sandy Lake.
1979 - Clifford Skinaway, Sandy Lake Band leader, began study and work toward restoration
of federation recognition status of the historic Sandy Lake Band.
1984 – On March 17, 1984, Sandy Lake Local Council was re-established with Clifford Skinaway
elected as Chairman, Melvin Skinaway as Executive Director, and Charles Durant as
Secretary/Treasurer. A letter was sent to Mille Lacs Chairman Art Gahbow and Mille
Lacs Reservation Business Committee. It was due to the need for more representation
in the Sandy Lake area, due to the Sandy Lake area being left out of any economic
development and housing.
1988 - On June 7, 1988, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Branch of Acknowledgement and
Research, received a petition requesting “recognition of the Sandy Lake Reservation”
under 25 C.F.R. Part 83.
1990 - August 13, 1990, Mille Lac Band files federal lawsuit to exercise treaty rights under the
1837 Treaty.
- August 24, 1990, Clifford Skinaway Sr, files intervention on behalf of the Sandy Lake
Band to recognize the treaty rights of the Sandy Lake Band in the Mille Lacs Band 1837
Treaty Lawsuit.
1991 - On September 10, 1991, a petition was submitted from the Sandy Lake Band
requesting a Secretarial election to accept or reject the application of the provisions of
the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) of June 18, 1934, to the Band.
1992 - On March 10, 1992, the Aitkin County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution in
support of the Sandy Lake Band as a governmental entity to be established as a tribe in
a reservation, separate and apart from all other Ojibwe bands in Minnesota.
1992 - Minnesota State Department of Natural Resources considers state legislation to settle
The 1837 Treaty litigation with the Mille Lacs Band.
1993 - State of Minnesota offers Mille Lacs Band proposed settlement offer for that Mille Lacs
Band to not fully exercise its treaty rights under the 1837 Treaty. March 2, 1993, the
Mille Lacs Band allowed a tribal vote to approve the settlement offer. The vote passed
200 for and 134 against. The Mille Lacs Band ratified the vote the next day and notified
the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. On Tuesday, March 16, 1993, the
Minnesota State Senate Settlement Offer was scheduled to be heard on the Minnesota
State Senate floor for vote of approval. After a 12 hour debate the Settlement was
pulled from further discussion and vote. On Friday, March 19, 1993, it was reported by
the Brainerd Dispatch Editorial Board, Brainerd, Minnesota, that on Wednesday, March
17, 1993, Mille Lacs Band Chairwoman Marge Anderson reported her tribe will seek to
begin commercial fishing if the Minnesota State DNR ‘scuttled the compromise’.
Sandy Lake Band members and Minnesota Chippewa Tribal members rallied during the
Settlement process in opposition to the obvious sellout of the 1837 Treaty Rights. The
Settlement did later pass the Minnesota State Senate but was defeated in the
Minnesota House of Representatives. The Sandy Lake Band was signatory to the 1837
Treaty and will continue to ensure all rights to hunt, fish, and gather in all treaty areas.
1993 - On March 12, 1993, Chief Clifford Skinaway Sr., A.K.A. Chief Hole in the Day VII,
testified before the State of Minnesota Senate Environment Natural Resources
Committee Against the Proposed negotiated 1837 Treaty Settlement S.F. 220 to settle
the Mille Lacs Band’s hunting and fishing rights lawsuit against the state of Minnesota.
1994 - On July 5, 1994, Chief Clifford Skinaway Sr., passed away. Due to extreme political
pressure of the Mille Lacs Band and the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, he was unable to
restore federal recognition in his lifetime. Sandy Lake Band members continue efforts
to restore federal recognition to the historic Sandy Lake Band.
1996 - On February 6, 1996, the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe enacted Resolution #114-96,
‘NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the people of Sandy Lake are members of the
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and are now and forever will be enrolled as members of the
Mille Lacs Band. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe
considers the effort of a few persons at Sandy Lake to undermine the sovereignty of
the Non-Removal Mille Lacs Band to be inimical to the interests of the Tribe and all
member Bands. BE IT FURTHER AND FINALLY RESOLVED, That the Minnesota Chippewa
Tribe opposes any attempt at administrative of legislation recognition that are now
being undertaken, or that may be pursued in the future, by members of the Non-
Removal Mille Lacs Band residing at Sandy Lake.’ Signed Norman W. Deschampe,
President, and Peter J. Defoe, Secretary, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
- On November 26, 1996, the Aitkin County Board of Commissioners passed a second
resolution thereby reaffirming their support of the Sandy Lake Band as a governmental
entity to be established as a tribe in a reservation, separate and apart from all other
Ojibwe bands in Minnesota.
1997/ - State Recognition of the Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa. A bill for an act
1998 relating to Indians, S.F.1098 and H.F. 2208 were introduced in the Minnesota State
Legislature on March 6, 1997 recognizing the Sandy Lake Band as a state recognized
Indian tribe. Due to budget issues and the end of the legislative session, our legislation
was tabled until the next legislative session.
1999/ - State Recognition of the Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa. A bill for an act
2000 relating to Indians, S.F.3703 and H.F. 2382 were introduced in the Minnesota State
Legislature on March 1, 2000 recognizing the Sandy Lake Band as a state recognized
Indian tribe.
2000 - On December 2, 2000, members of the Sandy Lake Band gathered with members of
the Lake Superior Chippewa at Sandy Lake to commemorate the 150th anniversary of
the Sandy Lake Tragedy where four hundred Lake Superior Chippewa died from
exposure, dysentery and hunger when the Minnesota Territorial Governor Alexander
Ramsey and Indian Sub-agent John Watrous schemed to move the Lake Superior
Chippewa into Minnesota and trap them there over the winter of 1850 by changing the
annuity payment location from LaPointe, WI to Sandy Lake, MN.
2001 - On September 17, 2001, members of the Sandy Lake Band again attempt enrollment
into the Mille Lacs Band to gain services for the Sandy Lake member residents and in
accordance with 1996 Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Tribal Executive Committee
Resolution #114-96.
2003 - September 18, 2003, members of the Sandy Lake Band receive notice of denied
enrollment into the Mille Lacs Band from 2001 applications.
2003/ - State Recognition of the Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa. A bill for an act
2004 relating to Indians, S.F.1351 and H.F. 0455 was introduced in the Minnesota State
Legislature on April 2, 2003 recognizing the Sandy Lake Band as a state recognized
Indian tribe.
2007 - A House Concurrent Resolution – recognizing the Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi
Chippewa as a state recognized Indian tribe was introduced in the Minnesota State
Legislature on July 31, 2007.
While state recognition would largely be symbolic, it would help honor and preserve
the history, identity and culture of the historic Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Ojibwe.
2010 - On September 1, 2010, the Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa filed a
Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief to hold an election so that Sandy Lake’s
tribal members could vote on a proposed constitution submitted by the tribe to the
Secretary for approval.
Federal Judge Donovan Frank dismissed the Complaint WITHOUT PREJUDICE for lack of
subject matter jurisdiction because Sandy Lake had not exhausted its administrative
remedies.
- December 6, 2010, Marge Anderson, Chairwoman, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe sends a
opposition letter to Larry Echo Hawk and George Skibine, Assistant Secretary and
Deputy Assistant Secretary- Indian Affairs, Department of Interior stating ‘To accede to
the demands of the “Sandy Lake Band” could also have enormous consequences for
Indian tribes across the country. Decades ago, on reservations throughout the country,
historic tribes and bands organized as a single tribe under the IRA. For generations,
these IRA tribes have developed the institutions of self-government and exercised
jurisdiction over their members and their territory. It would create havoc thought
Indian Country if, today, the Department were to permit the descendants of every
historic tribe or band to withdraw unilaterally from the single governing tribe on their
reservations and obtain separate recognition and an election under statute 476.
- December 15, 2010, Norman W. Deschampe, President, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe
sends a letter to Larry Echo Hawk, Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs, Department of
Interior stating the MCT believes that there is an existing process for federal
recognition of an Indian Tribe, band or group. Although that process may end with
some judicial review, it certainly does not begin with a lawsuit that makes unfounded
assertions in hopes of a quick settlement. Recognition by the United States should be
based on merit and not on a race to the district court.
2011 - On March 4, 2011, the 1855 Treaty Commission was formed, and Sandy Lake was
invited to join the commission meeting and become a member of the board.
- On August 13, 2011, members of the Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa held
demonstrations on maple syrup and wild rice harvesting during the Savanna State
Park’s 50th Birthday celebration event.
- On September 28, 2011, Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa filed a second
Complaint (Sandy Lake II) to challenge the decision of the Assistant Secretary for Indian
Affairs holding that the tribe was not eligible for an election conducted by the
Secretary of the Interior to organize a tribal government under a written constitution
pursuant to the Indian Reorganization Act and other claims that the band had alleged
in its first complaint and proposed amended complaint.
2012 - On May 4, 2012, Federal Judge Donovan Frank dismissed WITH PREJUDICE, Sandy Lake
Band’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment.
- The Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa, by tribal resolution, declares their
Reservation lands as a wolf sanctuary and prohibits wolf hunting on all tribal lands on
the Sandy Lake Indian Reservation.
2013 - On March 14, 2013, the Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa files an appeal to the
United States Court of Appeals.
On May 20, 2013, The Appeals court is bound by the district court’s original
Determination that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction to hear Sandy Lake’s claims.
Issue preclusion thus disallows the Appeals court from reaching the merits of this
appeal. Accordingly, the court affirms the dismissal of the case modifying it to be
WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
2014 - On January 28, 2014, Sandra Skinaway, Chairwoman for the Sandy Lake Band of
Mississippi Chippewa, testifies before the Minnesota House Environment and Natural
Resources Policy Committee in an Informational hearing on wolf management
by the State of Minnesota.
- On March 12, 2014, tribal members of the Sandy Lake Band and the East Lake Band
spoke in opposition, at a public hearing in McGregor, MN regarding a route permit for
the Enbridge Sandpiper pipeline proposed to pass through a portion of Aitkin County.
2015 - On March 4, 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of Presidential Executive Order #2144
which was signed into law on March 4, 1915 by President Woodrow Wilson setting
aside 32.35 acres of land for the Sandy Lake Ojibwe on Big Sandy Lake.
- On August 17, 2015, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, St, Paul District invited the
Sandy Lake Band Chairwoman, Sandra Skinaway, to attend and conduct a ribbon
cutting ceremony officially rededicating the Sandy Lake Visitor center. The center, a
former lock house located next to the Sandy Lake dam, has artifacts and information
about the Sandy Lake region’s rich history.
- On August 27, 2015, the 1855 Treaty Authority of which consist of tribal members
From the Sandy Lake Band, White Earth Band, Leech Lake Band, and the Rice Lake Band
held a wild rice harvest event at Hole in the day Lake in Nisswa, MN to test the validity
of their off-reservation hunting, fishing, and gathering rights which were retained in
the 1855 Treaty with the United States. This event eventually led to a Minnesota state
law where tribal band members who possess a valid tribal identification card from a
federally recognized tribe located in Minnesota are deemed to have a license to
harvest wild rice and will not need the additional state wild rice harvesting license.
- On September 2, 2015, Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa Chairwoman, Sandra
speaks in opposition during an open house in McGregor hosted by the Enbridge
Corporation to seek public comments on their proposed Line 3 Replacement oil
pipeline. Many local people also made opposing comments.
2016 - On May 10, 2016, Governor Mark Dayton accepts a one-day fishing permit from the
Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa and the 1855 Treaty Authority as guests to
fish during the 2016 Governor’s fishing opener on Big Sandy Lake, which is within the
reservation boundaries of the Sandy Lake Indian Reservation located in McGregor, MN.
2017 - On August 31, 2017, a MN DNR citation was issued to four tribal members from the
Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa, the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Chippewa,
Leech Lake Band, and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, for harvesting Natural
Wild Rice – Harvest Hours within original boundaries of the Sandy Lake Indian
Reservation created by the treaty with the Chippewa on February 22, 1855. Court
Case scheduled for February 10, 2020 in Aitkin County District Court.
2018 - On March 27, 2018, Chairwoman of the Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa,
Chippewa, Sandra Skinaway testifies against state legislation H.F. 3759, Pipeline
Construction and Routing Authorized. This legislation would bypass and circumvent
the public hearing process on the Pipeline Construction. Legislation was tabled.
2018 - On May 31, 2018, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Tribal Executive Committee meeting
heard testimony from Monroe Skinaway II regarding his research and actions for Sandy
Lake. Monroe Skinaway II had testified that he pursued enrollment into the Mille Lacs
Band and cited MCT TEC Resolution 114-96. TEC Member, Mille Lacs Chief Executive
Melanie Benjamin stated she was not on the MCT TEC in 1996. MCT TEC President
Kevin Dupuis stated Resolution 114-96 is inconsistent with the Sandy Lake member
current recognition and there must be minutes from that meeting in 1996. MCT
Executive Director Gary Frazer commented that those minutes may have been ‘lost in
the fire’. President Dupuis reads Resolution 114-96 stating that members of the Sandy
Lake Band will forever be members of the Mille Lacs Band, signed by Chief Executive
Marge Anderson. President Dupuis asks to clarify resolution. Gary Frazer states that
Monroe did take the matter to Carolyn Day, but no parent enrolled (Mille Lacs).
- August 31, 2018, members of the Sandy Lake Band submit en masse applications for
enrollment into the Mille Lacs Band pursuant to the MCT TEC Resolution 114-96. These
applicants are in fact children of enrolled Mille Lacs Band member.
- September 2018, Members of the Sandy Lake Band met with the Mille Lacs Band
Assembly at their regular meeting at the East Lake ALU building to discuss a resolution
of support for the Sandy Lake Band’s 40-year efforts to restore their federal
recognition. Also, discussed was the en masse tribal enrollment of the Skinaway family
of the Sandy Lake Band into the Mille Lacs Band. No action was taken.
2019 - February 19, 2019, members of the Sandy Lake Band receive notice of denied
enrollment into the Mille Lacs Band from August 31, 2018 applications.
- On March 27, 2019, Sandra Skinaway, Chairwoman for the Sandy Lake Band of
Mississippi Chippewa, testifies before the Minnesota House Environment and Natural
Resources Policy Committee in support of a bill prohibiting an open season on wolves,
HF 1327 sponsored by Rep. Peter Fischer.
- On March 29, 2019, Minnesota State Representative, Dale Lueck, meets with the
Sandy Lake Band Tribal members to discuss the history of the Sandy Lake Bands effort
to restore their federal recognition status. A tour of the 1915 Executive Order land is
also conducted for Representative Dale Lueck as requested.
- On May 24, 2019, tribal members from the Sandy Lake Band, Rice Lake Band, and
Leech Lake Band met with newly elected Pete Stauber of Congressional District 8 in
Duluth, MN. Congressional District encompasses the northern half of Minnesota and
covers all Ojibwe reservations in Minnesota. Discussed was the Minnesota Chippewa
Tribe’s proposed legislation to transfer all MCT trust lands to individual Ojibwe bands
who administer those trust lands of which we are very OPPOSED to this land transfer.
All Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Trust lands are held in common with all Minnesota
Chippewa Tribal members.
- On June 25, 2019, members of the Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa spoke in
opposition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the only public hearing in the nation
on their proposal to delist the gray wolf from endangered species protection. The
public hearing was held in Brainerd, MN.
- On July 31, 2019, Sandy Lake Band members attend the 19th annual Sandy Lake
Tragedy Mikwendaagoziwag Memorial and Paddle at the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers
Sandy Lake Recreation Area to remember those 400 Lake Superior Chippewa who died
at Sandy Lake from complications caused by dysentery and the measles. Alexander
Ramsey, Territorial Governor & Superintendent of Indian Affairs in Minnesota, worked
with Indian Sub-agent, John Watrous and schemed to lure the Lake Superior Chippewa
to Minnesota by changing the annuity site from LaPointe to Sandy Lake.
- On September 19, 2019, members of the Sandy Lake Band met again with the Mille
Lacs Band Assembly at their regular meeting at the Mille Lacs Band Government Center
to discuss a resolution of support for the Sandy Lake Band’s 40-year efforts to restore
their federal recognition. Also discussed was the tribal enrollment of the Skinaway
family of the Sandy Lake Band into the Mille Lacs Band. No action was taken.
- October 15, 2019, two members of the Sandy Lake Band met with the Grand Portage
Band of Lake Superior Chippewa council and the new Chairwoman, Beth Drost, to
discuss the Sandy Lake Band’s efforts to restore federal recognition to our band and
seek their support.
- On December 9, 2019, members of the Sandy Lake Band and East Lake, attended and
conducted an informational presentation on Sandy Lake and East Lake during the
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe’s Special meeting of the Tribal Executive Committee at the
Black Bear Casino Resort.
2020 - January 31, 2020, the Sandy Lake Band hereby respectfully requests the rescinding of
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Executive Committee Resolution #114-96 and the adoption
of proposed Resolution of Support for future Federal Recognition of the Sandy Lake
Band of Mississippi Chippewa. Both requests passed.
Treaties and Executive Order
The effect of the ten treaties that the Sandy Lake Band signed, as represented by Chief Hole-in-the-Day, was to transfer, to the United States of America, millions of acres of land in exchange for a guarantee of certain portions of the land being reserved to them, the payment of annuities, the construction of roads, the provision of farmers and mechanics and other personnel and services to assist them in improving their lives, the provision of schools, and guarantees of their ability to conduct hunting and fishing activities in the ceded territories. The United States only completed and carried out the parts pertaining to the taking of title to the lands from the Indians, and failed, by any substantial measure, to complete its responsibilities, e.e. to pay the annuities, to provide the other services, and to protect the rights guaranteed in the treaties.
TREATIES (10)
Treaty of Prairie du Chein with the Sioux in 1825 in the territory of the Michigan on August 19, 1825;
Treaty with the Chippewa concluded at the Fond du Lac of Lake Superior on August 5, 1826;
Treaty with the Chippewa of the Mississippi and Lake Superior made and concluded at the Fond du Lac of Lake Superior on August 2, 1847;
Treaty with the Chippewa made and concluded at the City of Washington, D. C. on February 22, 1855;
Treaty with the Chippewa of the Mississippi and the Pillager and Lake Winnibigoshish Bands, made and concluded at the city of Washington, D. C. on March 11, 1863;
Treaty with the Chippewa of the Mississippi, and Pillager and Lake Winnibigoshish Bands made and concluded at the City of Washington, D. C. on May 7, 1864; (Treaty is similar to the treaty of 1863, only addition was the tribe residing on the Sandy Lake reservation shall not be removed)
Treaty with the Chippewa of the Mississippi made and concluded at Washington, D. C. on March 19, 1867;
EXECUTIVE ORDER
It is hereby ordered that the following described land in Aitkin County, Minnesota: viz., Lots 2 and 3 of Section 32, Township 50 North, Range 23 West of the Fourth Principal Meridian, containing 32.35 acres, be, and the same is hereby, withdrawn from sale, settlement, entry, or other disposition, and set apart for the use and occupancy of a band of Chippewa Indians, now living thereon, and for such other Indians as the Secretary of the Interior may see fit to settle thereon.
This order is made subject to any prior valid existing rights of any person.
WOODROW WILSON
The White House,
4 March, 1915.
(No. 2144.)
Tribal Council
Chairwoman: Sandra Skinaway
Secretary/Treasurer: Jean Skinaway'Lawrence
REPRESENTATIVES:
Bemidji: Elizabeth Skinaway
Sandy Lake: Monroe Skinaway III
Sandy Lake: Kenny Skinaway
Cloquet: Ken Skinaway
Duluth: Tashina Perry
Tribal Council Meeting Information
Meetings: Quarterly - March, June, September, December - 1st Saturday
Time: 1:00 pm
Location: Turner Township Hall, Mcgregor, MN
Recorder: Tribal Secretary
