WISCONSIN INDIANS
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Ho-Chunk (Winnebago)
Menominee
Oneida
Stockbridge-Munsee
(Mohicans)
Potawatomi
Chippewa (Lake Superior)
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Bad River Band
Lac Courte Oreilles Band
Lac du Flambeau Band
Red Cliff Band
Sokaogon (Mole Lake) Band
St. Croix Band
Review: Band/ Tribe/ Nation
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Tribe is a Nation
Band (basic unit, average 5-6 clans)
Confederacy is also a Nation (groups of
tribes that come together)
Recap Culture
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Family
Political
Religion
Language
Family
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Clan Structure
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Maternal or Paternal
Economy organized
around the clan
If a clan member
needs help and you
can…you must.
Exogamous (have to
marry outside of clan)
Political
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Chiefs
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Calumet
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War (Red), only Chief on War parties
Peace (White), diplomats and bringing people
together
You become chief if people follow you, convince
them you have better ideas…etc)
Peace Pipe: Fictive Kinship, when smoked with
someone else, you treat each other as clan members
Lex Talionis (Eye for an Eye)
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Clans enforce this principle
Justice is clan based
Religion
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Purity and Balance
Fire and Water
Green Corn Ceremony
Ethics, Morality, and
Religion are tied
together, and can not
be separated.
Language
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The Indians of Wisconsin, due to coming
from various places, spoke many different
dialects
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Algonquian
Iroquoian
Siouan
Ojibwe/Chippewa
Ho-Chunk History
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People called them Winnebago (Stinky people),
they for obvious reasons prefer Ho-Chunk (big
voice or people of the sacred language)
In 1634, Jean Nicolet encounters the Ho-Chunk
people in Green Bay
1837, Ho-Chunk people ceded their land to the
whites, although Tribal leaders argued that the
treaty was no valid due to misinterpretation and
were forced to move off their lands.
Ho-Chunk Today
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In 1963, The Wisconsin
Winnebago Nation became
federally recognized due to the
Reorganization Act of 1934.
Today approximately 6,100
people are enrolled as tribal
members
The Ho-Chunk people also fear
the loss of their language
Menominee History
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In 1634 Jean Nicolet visited the
Menominee Nation (the first
European to do so)
1848, Treaty of Poygan was signed
 Ceded 4.5 million acres to the US
and forced them to go to
Minnesota, although Chief
Oshkosh refused.
1892, Dam was built on the Wolf
River, which prohibited the Sturgeon
to go to their spawning grounds,
which left the people without their
main food source.
Menominee Today
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On June 17, 1954 The Menominee
Termination Act was signed into law which
provided the Menominee the right to
control their own Reservation.
Then in 1973, The Menominee Restoration
Act was signed.
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Provided the Menominee with full tribal status
as a sovereign nation.
Oneida History
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“People of the Standing Stone”
Played a major role in the
American Revolution (Patriot
Side).
Part of the Iroquois Confederacy
Due to a falling out with the Six
Nations and a treaty with the US
and Menominee, the Oneidas
came to Wisconsin
Oneida Today
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Turtle School
15,000 members and growing
Cool Fact: Oneida Tribal
Member Tom Skenandore was
the first professional football
player employed by the team
today known as the Green Bay
Packers
Stockbridge- Munsee History
Band of Mohicans
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In 1609, The Stockbridge were the first
tribe that Henry Hudson came in contact
with.
Like the Oneida, they played an important
role in the winning of the American
Revolution.
Left New York in the 1700’s and came to
Wisconsin.
Stockbridge- Munsee Today
Band of Mohicans
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1,500+ members today
Cool Fact: The first public school teacher
in Wisconsin was Electa Quinney
(Stockbridge Indian)
Potawatomi History
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43 Treaties were made with them, more than any
other tribe or band.
Closely related to Chippewa and Ottawa
Moved around the least
Separate Language
Potawatomi Today
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Today they are located in the UP Michigan,
Wisconsin, Kansas, and Oklahoma
1,200 + Tribal Members Today
Chippewa
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“Keeper of the Faith”
Settlements began in the 1700’s
Origin of the Dream Catcher
Also known as Ojibwa
Bad River
Chippewa
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1854, Treaty with US created Bad River
Reservation
Main Staple- Wild Rice
Preservation of land and air is a major
concern of these people.
Lac Courte Oreilles
Chippewa
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1854- The Treaty of LaPointe
established specific territorial rights
of the LCO
The LCO, ousted the Sioux and
took their lands as the LCO pushed
westward
“Lac Courte Oreilles” means “short
ears” because the Ojibwe in that
area did not wear earrings.
Harvest Cranberries (1,500-3,000
barrels each year.)
Lac du Flambeau
Chippewa
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Location of the sacred “Strawberry Island”
(the place of the little people)
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At this island, the last battle with the Sioux
occurred in 1745.
In 1966, the island through archaeological
survey was determined to have artifacts
dating back to 200 B.C.
Fact: The world’s largest Sturgeon was
speared on the Reservation (7ft 1 in, 195 ibs,
40 inches around)
Red Cliff
Chippewa
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1854, As stated before, The Treaty of
LaPointe, established the Red Cliff
Reservation
1866, President Andrew Jackson by
executive order expanded the Reservation
Red Cliff is known as the “hub of the
Chippewa Nation”
Approximatley 5,000 people are members
of the Red Cliff Band
Sokaogon (Mole Lake)
Chippewa
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1806 Battle of Mole Lake (Sioux v. Chippewa in
battle over Wild Rice)
Sokaogon means “Post in the Lake” people
“The Lost Tribe”
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Treaty of 1855 promised money and 12 square miles
of reservation for them
Treaty lost in a shipwreck on Lake Superior on its way
to Washington DC
St. Croix
Chippewa
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2,000 Tribal Members
Reservation is scattered in a checkerboard
of 11 separate communities over a fourcountry area.
Discussion Questions
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How have treaties impacted the
movement of American Indians both in
and out of Wisconsin?
Why do you think the Menominee were
chosen for Termination?
Why would the Stockbridge Munsee and
Oneida join the Patriot side of the
American Revolution?