Chippewa Indian Agency (Minnesota)

Indian Tribes Associated With This Agency
Chippewa

History
The Chippewa Agency was established in 1851 to serve the Indians in Minnesota, also known as the Chippewa of the Mississippi (as opposed to the Chippewa of Lake Superior, assigned to La Pointe Agency). The Chippewa Agency headquarters was moved to the White Earth Reservation in 1872. In 1873, a separate agency was established for the Red Lake Chippewa.

In 1874, the Leech Lake Agency was established for the Pillager and Lake Winnibigoshish Chippewa residing at Leech Lake and for the Chippewa of the Mississippi living at White Oak Point. The Chippewa Agency then had jurisdiction over the other Chippewa of the Mississippi (including those at Mille Lacs), the Otter Tail Pillager, and the Pembina Chippewa.

In 1878, the Chippewa Agency began to be called the White Earth Agency.

Records
Many records for the White Earth Agency, successor to the Chippewa Agency, are in the Great Lakes Regional Archives of the National Archives and Record Administration (NARA) in Chicago and in the Central Plains Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in Kansas City.

Letters received from the Chippewa Agency, 1851-1880, are included among Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, filmed by the National Archives as their Microcopy M248, Rolls 149-168. This set of records is also available at the Family History Library and its family history centers (their microfilm roll numbers 1660879 thru 1660898).

Reports of Inspection of the Field Jurisdictions of the Office of Indian Affairs, 1873-1900 have been microfilmed by the National Archives as part of Microcopy Number M1070. The reports for Chippewa Agency, 1873-1877, are on roll 6 of that Microcopy set. Copies are available at the National Archives, their Regional Archives, and at the Family History Library and its family history centers (their microfilm roll number 1617679).

Reports of Inspection of the Field Jurisdictions of the Office of Indian Affairs, 1873-1900 have been microfilmed by the National Archives as part of Microcopy Number M1070. The reports for White Earth Agency (known prior to 1878 as the Chippewa Agency), 1874-1894 and 1896-1900, are on rolls 57-58 of that Microcopy set. Copies are available at the National Archives, their Regional Archives, and at the Family History Library and its family history centers (their microfilm roll numbers 1617730-1617731).