White Earth Indian Reservation (Minnesota)

White Earth Reservation
It is a non federally-recognized reservation in Minnesota.

Established -- March 3, 1873

Agency (BIA) --

Principal tribes -- Chippewa of the Mississippi, Fond Du Lac Chippewa, Gull Lake Chippewa, Menominee Chippewa, Mille Lac Chippewa, Nett Lake (aka Bois Forte) Chippewa, Pembina Chippewa, Pillager Chippewa, Red Lake Chippewa (includes Bois Forte or Nett Lake Chippewa), and Winnebago Chippewa.

Population -- 3,378 (4,055 when including mixed bloods) - 2000 census

History
In the 1860s, the United States conspired to force the Chippewa's of Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin to relocate to one large Reservation in northern Minnesota. They actually first considered the removal in the 1850s. On March 19, 1867, the United States reached their first agreement with a band of Mississippi Chippewa's. However, it would take several more years (March 3, 1873) before Chippewa leaders including chief Little Shell II, agreed to make the move to the large Chippewa Reservation in northern Minnesota. Originally, the White Earth Reservation included Fond Du Lac, Leech Lake, Nett Lake (aka Bois Forte which is affilitated with Red Lake), and Red Lake Reservations. It covers over 20,000 sq. mi.

On March 3, 1873, a treaty formally set aside this Little Shell Pembina Chippewa Reservation. Over the course of the next two decades several thousand Chippewa's relocated to northern Minnesota, from North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Most came up from the old Menominee Chippewa and Winnebago Chippewa Reservations, located where Alexandria, Little Falls, Long Prairie, and Wadena are. Those two Chippewa Reservations were set aside in the 1840s but later reduced in size. Gull Lake Reservation for the Gull Lake Mississippi Chippewa's, became the new but much smaller Chippewa Reservation. It was situated adjacent to the northeastern side of the old Winnebago Chippewa's Reservation. The Mille Lac Chippewa's were closely related to those Reservations.

Many other Chippewa's from northern Wisconsin and Michigan, also moved to the new large Chippewa Reservation in northern Minnesota. Their numbers were few when compared to the Chippewa's from central Minnesota and the Chippewa's from North Dakota and South Dakota.

After the 1862 Minnesota Indian War, large numbers of Chippewa's fled west out to the plains of eastern North Dakota and northeastern South Dakota. They would dominate the negotiations for the large Reservation. That was accomplished on March 3, 1873. Among them were the Pembina Chippewa's of Red Lake. Along with the Pillager Chippewa's, the Little Shell Pembina Chippewa's were the most hostile.

By 1889, the Chippewa population on the White Earth Reservation probably exceeded 30,000. Not all the Chippewa's from central Minnesota moved to the new Reservation. They are refered to as the nonremoval. In that same year (1889), the Nelson Act was passed and it eventually led to the 1898 Rebellion. The United States never intended to honor the treaty they agreed to on March 3, 1873. In 1898, the United States passed the Curtis Act and another Nelson Act, and that led to war. Instead of dealing with the Chippewa's on a nation to nation level, the United States illegally allowed all Chippewa men of voting age who lived on the large Chippewa Reservation in northern Minnesota, to vote if they wanted to accept land allotments and have all Reservation surplus land sold to whites. They voted in favor of eradicating the vast Reservation which means the Reservation is still intact because the United States did not negotiate with the government of the Reservation.

In 1898, chief Bugonaygishig led many Chippewa soldiers in a war against the United States. Including women and children, the number of Chippewa's who followed chief Bugonaygishig, was probably over 20,000. After a series of battles, most Chippewa's surrendered but not chief Bugonaygishig and other important Chippewa leaders. Up to 15,000 to 20,000 of the defiant Chippewa's, were captured and probably relocated to the Navajo Reservation and other Reservations in the southwest.

After the 1899 negotiations in Washington D.C., new but smaller reservations were fragmented from the vast Little Shell Pembina Chippewa Reservation (aka White Earth Reservation) including Fond Du Lac, Leech Lake, Nett Lake (aka Bois Forte), Red Lake, and White Earth Reservations.

White Earth Reservation covers 1,310 sq. mi. Land was allotted which was eventually sold to non Indians. However, during those times most of White Earth Reservation was covered by lakes and a forest.White lumber companies cut down much of the forest but the land was especially covered with lakes during those times.It was unattractive land to white settlers, except the western part of the Reservation. In 1901, the population of White Earth Reservation was 4,719. Since the Reservation had more agriculture land, many more Chippewa's were allotted land at White Earth Reservation.

Communities
There are many predominantly Indian communities throughout White Earth Reservation. Nearly all are cdp's (census designated places). A few cities which are about half Indian including mixed bloods and half white, are also located on this Reservation. They include:


 * 1) White Earth (cdp - 2010 population 580)
 * 2) Naytahwaush (cdp - 2010 population 578)
 * 3) Pine Point (cdp - 2010 population 338)
 * 4) Riverland (cdp - 2010 population 276)
 * 5) Rice Lake (cdp - 2010 population 235)
 * 6) Twin Lakes (cdp - 2010 population 149)
 * 7) Elbow Lake (cdp - 2010 population 95)
 * 8) West Roy Lake (cdp - 2010 population 74)
 * 9) Ebro (cdp - 2010 population 64)
 * 10) Pine Bend (cdp - 2010 population 28)
 * 11) Midway (cdp - 2010 population 26)
 * 12) South End (cdp - 2010 population 25)
 * 13) Roy Lake (cdp - 2010 population 12)
 * 14) The Ranch (cdp - 2010 population 9)
 * 15) Waubun (2010 population 400)
 * 16) Callaway (2010 population 234)
 * 17) Ogema (2010 population 184)

Population Decline
In 1901, the Indian population of White Earth Reservation was 4,719. In 1920, it was 6,659. In 1930, it was 8,059. In 2000, it was 3,378 but 4,055 when including mixed bloods. White Earth Reservation has endured one of the most dramatic population declines of any Indian Reservation in the United States. However, since it is common for one household to share their home with other families, the Indian population of White Earth Reservation is probably closer to 5,000 to 6,000.