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). It was the successor to the Sandy Lake Subagency which had been responsible for both the Chippewa or Lake Superior and the Chippewa of the Mississippi.

In 1853, the Chippewa living along Lake Superior were assigned to the Mackinac Agency. In 1858, a separate agency for the Lake Superior Chippewa was created. It was called the Lake Superior Agency, the Chippewa of Lake Superior Agency, or the La Pointe Agency. By this time, the Chippewa Agency was also responsible for the Pillager and Lake Winnebigoshish (Winnebegoshshiwininewak) Chippewas.

After 1863, the Chippewa Agency was responsible for the Red Lake (Miskwagamiwisagaigan) and Pembina (Anibiminanisibiwininiwak) Chippewas.

The Chippewa Agency headquarters was located at the site of the old Sand Lake Subagency at Sandy Lake, Minnesota. From 1852 5o 1870, it was located a Crow Wing River. A new agency was built in 1866/1867 on the southeast side of Leech Lake, which was used part of the time for the Chippewa Agency. The Chippewa Agency headquarters moved to the White Earth Reservation in 1872.

In 1873, a separate Red Lake 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.

Agents and Appointment Dates
John S. Watrous June 30, 1851, David B. Herriman April 18, 1853, Cyrus K. Drew March 3, 1858, Joseph W. Lynde April 30, 1858, Lucius C. Walker March 23, 1861, A. Lawrence Foster September 29, 1862, Ashley C. Morrill February 14, 1863, Edwin Clark April 12, 1865, Joel B. Bassett November 9, 1866, Charles T. Brown April 8, 1869, Bvt. Capt. J. J. S. Hassler June 17, 1869, Bvt. Capt. George Atcheson December 8, 1869, John P. Bardwell September 21, 1870, Edward P. Smith February 18, 1871, Ebenger Douglass May 12, 1873, Lewis Stone May 13, 1874, and Charles A. Ruffee February 18, 1878

Records
Agencies and subagencies were created as administrative offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and its predecessors. Their purpose was (and is) to manage Indian affairs with the tribes, to enforce policies, and to assist in maintaining the peace. The names and location of these agencies may have changed, but their purpose remained basically the same. Many of the records of genealogical value (for the tribe and tribal members) were created by and maintained by the agencies.

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 FamilySearch Library and its family history centers (their ).

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 FamilySearch Library and its family history centers (their ).

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 FamilySearch Library and its family history centers (their ).