The Leech Lake Reservation (Gaa-zagaskwaajimekaag in the Ojibwe language) is an Indian reservation located in the north-central Minnesota counties of Cass, Itasca, Beltrami, and Hubbard. The reservation forms the land base for the federally recognized Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, one of six bands comprising the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, organized in 1934. The Leech Lake Reservation has the second highest population of any reservation in Minnesota with White Earth Nation being the largest Minnesota Ojibwe tribe, Leech Lake Nation has a resident population of 11,388 indicated by the 2020 census.[1]
The Leech Lake Reservation was not established in a single act, but came about as the cumulative result of treaties, executive orders, and legislation spanning many decades. The core areas of the reservation were established by the 1855 treaty of Washington, which formed three smaller reservations for the Pillager Band of Chippewa Indians at Leech Lake, Cass Lake, and Lake Winnibigoshish. These reservations were reshaped and consolidated by new treaties in 1864 and 1867, when the United States sought with little success to concentrate Ojibwes from other reservations together at a single location. The reservation was further modified by several executive orders in the 1870s, one of which created the White Oak Point reservation of the Mississippi Band.[2][3]
Under the Dawes Act of 1887 and the Nelson Act of 1889, the United States allotted tribal land on the Ojibwe reservations into private parcels. Some parcels were held by individual tribal members, but much of the reservation was alienated into the ownership of timber companies and white settlers. In addition, the United States established what became the Chippewa National Forest in the early twentieth century on the remaining unallotted tribal land. As a result, by 1934, less than 5% of the reservation was still in Ojibwe ownership.[4]
Following the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, the present "Greater" Leech Lake Indian Reservation was formed from the merger of the Leech Lake, Cass Lake, and Lake Winnibigoshish reservations of the Pillager Band, the Chippewa Indian Reservation of the Lake Superior Band, and the White Oak Point reservation of the Mississippi Band. A minimal percentage of reservation land is owned by citizens of the Band; additionally, most of the reservation remains within the Chippewa National Forest, making settlement expansion extremely difficult.[2][5]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Leech Lake Reservation has a total area of 1,310.36 square miles (3,393.8 km2), of which 973.37 square miles (2,521.0 km2) is land and 336.99 square miles (872.8 km2) is water. In addition, the Leech Lake Band held off-reservation trust land with a land area of 0.083 square miles (53 acres; 0.21 km2) in 2020.[6]
About one-fourth of the reservation is covered by lakes. The largest lakes on the reservation are Leech Lake, Lake Winnibigoshish, and Cass Lake. The band uses 40 lakes for the production of wild rice, and the community produces more rice than any other reservation in the state. The reservation is the second-largest in Minnesota (after the White Earth Indian Reservation) in terms of land area, and the largest in terms of total area.
Communities
The reservation consists of eleven villages; two additional communities have a substantial number of Leech Lake Band members. Nearly all Leech Lake communities are located in or near the woods of the Chippewa National Forest. The largest community is Cass Lake, situated on the southwestern shores of the eponymous lake. The next largest settlements are Ball Club, Onigum, Inger, and Bena. In some communities, housing is located along only one road, with each side lined with homes.
As of the census of 2020,[1] the population of the Leech Lake Reservation was 11,388. The population density was 11.7 inhabitants per square mile (4.5/km2). There were 7,229 housing units at an average density of 7.4 per square mile (2.9/km2).
The Leech Lake Reservation has a significant non-native population due in part to the allotment and sale of reservation lands in the late nineteenth century. In 2020, the racial makeup of the reservation was 49.3% White, 43.8% Native American, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 6.3% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 1.7% Hispanic or Latino of any race.[1]
^ abc"2020 Decennial Census: Leech Lake Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, MN". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
^ abCarpenter, Leah J. (2008). "Tracking the Land: Ojibwe Land Tenure and Acquisition at Grand Portage and Leech Lake". Retrieved 2022-07-16.
^"Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe History". www.llojibwe.org. Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
^Janke, Ronald A. (1982). "Chippewa Land Losses". Journal of Cultural Geography. 2 (2): 84–100. doi:10.1080/08873638209478619. ISSN 0887-3631. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
^"History". www.llojibwe.org. Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
^"2020 Gazetteer Files". census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
^"'We're going to school in a tin can'". Minneapolis Star Tribune. 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
leech, lake, indian, reservation, leech, lake, reservation, zagaskwaajimekaag, ojibwe, language, indian, reservation, located, north, central, minnesota, counties, cass, itasca, beltrami, hubbard, reservation, forms, land, base, federally, recognized, leech, l. The Leech Lake Reservation Gaa zagaskwaajimekaag in the Ojibwe language is an Indian reservation located in the north central Minnesota counties of Cass Itasca Beltrami and Hubbard The reservation forms the land base for the federally recognized Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe one of six bands comprising the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe organized in 1934 The Leech Lake Reservation has the second highest population of any reservation in Minnesota with White Earth Nation being the largest Minnesota Ojibwe tribe Leech Lake Nation has a resident population of 11 388 indicated by the 2020 census 1 Flag of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Location of the Leech Lake Indian Reservation Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Communities 4 Demographics 5 Education 6 See also 7 References 8 External links 9 Further readingHistory EditThe Leech Lake Reservation was not established in a single act but came about as the cumulative result of treaties executive orders and legislation spanning many decades The core areas of the reservation were established by the 1855 treaty of Washington which formed three smaller reservations for the Pillager Band of Chippewa Indians at Leech Lake Cass Lake and Lake Winnibigoshish These reservations were reshaped and consolidated by new treaties in 1864 and 1867 when the United States sought with little success to concentrate Ojibwes from other reservations together at a single location The reservation was further modified by several executive orders in the 1870s one of which created the White Oak Point reservation of the Mississippi Band 2 3 Under the Dawes Act of 1887 and the Nelson Act of 1889 the United States allotted tribal land on the Ojibwe reservations into private parcels Some parcels were held by individual tribal members but much of the reservation was alienated into the ownership of timber companies and white settlers In addition the United States established what became the Chippewa National Forest in the early twentieth century on the remaining unallotted tribal land As a result by 1934 less than 5 of the reservation was still in Ojibwe ownership 4 Following the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 the present Greater Leech Lake Indian Reservation was formed from the merger of the Leech Lake Cass Lake and Lake Winnibigoshish reservations of the Pillager Band the Chippewa Indian Reservation of the Lake Superior Band and the White Oak Point reservation of the Mississippi Band A minimal percentage of reservation land is owned by citizens of the Band additionally most of the reservation remains within the Chippewa National Forest making settlement expansion extremely difficult 2 5 Geography EditAccording to the United States Census Bureau the Leech Lake Reservation has a total area of 1 310 36 square miles 3 393 8 km2 of which 973 37 square miles 2 521 0 km2 is land and 336 99 square miles 872 8 km2 is water In addition the Leech Lake Band held off reservation trust land with a land area of 0 083 square miles 53 acres 0 21 km2 in 2020 6 About one fourth of the reservation is covered by lakes The largest lakes on the reservation are Leech Lake Lake Winnibigoshish and Cass Lake The band uses 40 lakes for the production of wild rice and the community produces more rice than any other reservation in the state The reservation is the second largest in Minnesota after the White Earth Indian Reservation in terms of land area and the largest in terms of total area Communities EditThe reservation consists of eleven villages two additional communities have a substantial number of Leech Lake Band members Nearly all Leech Lake communities are located in or near the woods of the Chippewa National Forest The largest community is Cass Lake situated on the southwestern shores of the eponymous lake The next largest settlements are Ball Club Onigum Inger and Bena In some communities housing is located along only one road with each side lined with homes Ah gwah ching part Baker Ball Club Bena Benedict part Brevik Cass Lake Deer River part Dunbar Inger Longville part Max Mission Oak Point Onigum Oslund Pennington Ryan Village Smokey Point Squaw Lake Sugar Point Whipholt WilkinsonDemographics EditAs of the census of 2020 1 the population of the Leech Lake Reservation was 11 388 The population density was 11 7 inhabitants per square mile 4 5 km2 There were 7 229 housing units at an average density of 7 4 per square mile 2 9 km2 The Leech Lake Reservation has a significant non native population due in part to the allotment and sale of reservation lands in the late nineteenth century In 2020 the racial makeup of the reservation was 49 3 White 43 8 Native American 0 1 Black or African American 0 1 Asian 0 4 from other races and 6 3 from two or more races Ethnically the population was 1 7 Hispanic or Latino of any race 1 Education EditThere are tribal schools Bug O Nay Ge Shig School 7 and Leech Lake Tribal College 8 See also Edit Leech Lake Indian Reservation highway route marker Battle of Sugar Point Bryan v Itasca County Leech Lake Tribal College List of historical Indian reservations in the United States List of largest Indian reservations Minnesota Indian Affairs Council Palace Bingo and CasinoReferences Edit a b c 2020 Decennial Census Leech Lake Reservation and Off Reservation Trust Land MN data census gov U S Census Bureau Retrieved 16 July 2022 a b Carpenter Leah J 2008 Tracking the Land Ojibwe Land Tenure and Acquisition at Grand Portage and Leech Lake Retrieved 2022 07 16 Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe History www llojibwe org Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Retrieved 16 July 2022 Janke Ronald A 1982 Chippewa Land Losses Journal of Cultural Geography 2 2 84 100 doi 10 1080 08873638209478619 ISSN 0887 3631 Retrieved 2022 07 16 History www llojibwe org Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Retrieved 16 July 2022 2020 Gazetteer Files census gov U S Census Bureau Retrieved 16 July 2022 We re going to school in a tin can Minneapolis Star Tribune 2015 04 02 Retrieved 2021 08 11 http www lltc eduExternal links EditOfficial websiteFurther reading EditEkidong Aaniin 2009 Ojibwe Vocabulary Project St Paul Minnesota Minnesota Humanities Center ISBN 9780578034645 Treuer Anton 2001 Living Our Language Ojibwe Tales amp Oral Histories Minnesota Historical Society Press ISBN 9780873514040 Treuer Anton 2010 Ojibwe in Minnesota Minnesota Historical Society Press ISBN 9780873517683 Coordinates 47 21 19 N 94 15 25 W 47 35528 N 94 25694 W 47 35528 94 25694 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leech Lake Indian Reservation amp oldid 1139572334, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
