Red Lake Indian Reservation

The Red Lake Indian Reservation covers 830,000 acres (3,400 km²) in north-central Minnesota. It is divided into many pieces, though the largest portions are the unorganized territories of Upper Red Lake (nearly unpopulated) and Lower Red Lake (including the town of Red Lake, Minnesota), primarily in the counties of Beltrami and Clearwater. Seven other counties also have land that is part of the reservation. It is home to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa, and is the most populous reservation in the state according to the 2000 census when it recorded 5,071 residents. The only place in Minnesota with a higher Native American population is the state's largest city, Minneapolis, which recorded 8,378 Indian residents that year.

The tribe first negotiated a treaty with the United States in 1863, with additional agreements made in the following decades. While the tribe ceded large tracts of land, they successfully resisted attempts at allotment, which divided up land on many other reservations in Minnesota and elsewhere. The current reservation is wholly-owned by the Red Lake Band, making it unique among reservations in Minnesota (some tribes own less than 10% of the land on their reservations). While this is a source of pride for tribal members, it also means that Red Lake is one of the most isolated communities in the state. The tribe asserts a significant level of sovereignty, which can cause tension when outsiders attempt to visit (journalists have been barred from entering on multiple occasions), and also when crimes are prosecuted since jurisdiction can be unclear. The reservation was the first in the U.S. to issue its own license plates. It has technically been a "dry" community with no alcohol allowed since the 1860s, but regulations to that effect are violated on a regular basis.

Per capita income is lower at Red Lake than on any other reservation in the state. It was estimated at US$8,372 in 1999 according to the Northwest Area Foundation. About 40% of residents live at or below the poverty line. Between 1990 and 2000, the population also grew by 40%. Many people have been returning to the reservation after having difficulty finding work elsewhere (often in the Twin Cities region to the south). This is believed to be partially fueling the epidemic level of crime on the reservation—3,500 court cases were filed in 2004. Crimes are frequently drug-related, and violence has also been a significant problem. The population is also very young, with roughly half of the residents aged 18 or younger.

Some in the community have expressed hope that interest may be renewed in the tribe's traditions, and that this form of "traditional values" may improve life on the reservation. However, others have a more pragmatic view and believe that the community needs to focus on education and finding ways to get people to work—and paid adequately. Most jobs on the reservation have pay in the vicinity of $7 per hour as of 2005. The tribe operates three casino operations, though it is reported that even those jobs do not pay very well. A small operation is located in the village of Red Lake, the 13,000 ft² River Road Casino is located seven miles south of Thief River Falls, and the Lake of the Woods Bingo and Casino is in Warroad.

Crime and poverty are not new to the reservation. The tribe was led from 1959 to 1990 by Roger Jourdain, who became a rather well-known and respected leader due to his blunt comments and pragmatic attitude. However, in 1979, the level of discontent on the reservation boiled over after the tribal council fired the secretary-treasurer, resulting in riots. Roughly a dozen buildings were set ablaze, including the law enforcement center and Jourdain's home. Two teenagers also died as a result of accidental gunshot wounds.

In the past, industry on the reservation has primarily consisted of logging and commercial fishing of walleye in the lakes that give the community its name. However, walleye production dropped significantly in the 1990s, adding to the region's financial strain. However, the community receives $50 to $60 million each year in federal subsidies. The local school district reportedly spends more money per student than any other in Minnesota.

The poverty level of the tribe, coupled with financial difficulties in state government, led Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty in 2004–2005 to propose a joint casino operation co-owned by the White Earth, Leech Lake, and Red Lake bands, and the state government. It would have operated in the populous Twin Cities area, where some of the most successful Indian gaming facilities in the country are located. However, the plan quickly became unpopular and was deemed illegal by Attorney General Mike Hatch. The tribe soon pulled out of negotiations.

Contents

1 March 2005 shootings 2 External links 3 References 4 Further reading

March 2005 shootings

On March 21, 2005, Jeff Weise, a Red Lake High School student, shot dead ten people and injured several more. The gunman also killed himself.

External links

• Red Lake Nation (http://www.redlakenation.org/)

References

• Mike Mosedale (May 4, 2005). Same Country, Different Nation: The Real Red Lake. (http://citypages.com/databank/26/1274/article13249.asp) City Pages.
• Red Lake. (http://www.cri-bsu.org/IA_web/htdocs/tribes/redlake.html) Minnesota Indian Affairs Council.

Further reading

• Charles Brill (1992). Red Lake Nation: Portraits of Ojibway Life. University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 0-8166-1906-9.