Minnesota Native Americans

Minnesota Native Americans

Minnesota Ojibwe

The culture and history of our state is closely tied to that of our first residents, the Minnesota Native American tribes. Many city, town, lake and other place names come from the Ojibwe or Dakotah language. Many of our best-loved foods and Minnesota recipes use foods that are traditional in the Native American community.

My connections to the Ojibwe community meant that I grew up hearing many of the stories that are part of the Ojibwe oral traditions.

Minnesota Native Americans are almost exclusively either Ojibwe or Dakota with the Ojibwe predominating. This reflects the balance of power that was achieved between them by the time the European settlers began to appropriate their lands.

The Dakota now have four reservations, all less than three acres.

The larger, Ojibwe tribes occupy seven reservations, none smaller than 48,000 acres.

Minnesota is home to more bands of the Ojibwe or Chippewa nation than any other state. According to Ojibwe oral tradition they originally settled up and down the East Coast. Those who do not share this traditional view think it is more likely the Ojibwe lived next to Hudson's Bay and moved southward.

Minnesota Ojibwe culture is deeply ingrained in our family history. I spent many of my growing up years on Native American reservations. I lived on the Leech Lake reservation, the White Earth reservation and near the Red Lake reservation.

My pastor father taught at Mo-kah-um, the Indian school near Cass Lake. He also pastored churches in the reservation towns of Cass Lake, Ponsford and White Earth....all towns on, or near, Ojibwe reservations.

Most of my friends in those years were Ojibwe children and my best friend from those wonderful days is still one of my best friends.

The Pond-Dakota Mission Park is a place where you can explore some of Minnesota's Native American history and the connection to early missionaries. Gideon and Samuel Pond worked with the Dakota people during the mid-nineteenth century teaching people to farm and interpeting the Bible and other works into the native languages. the Gideon and Agnes Pond House is a facinating look at early Minnesota life.

That part of my history continues to inform my interest in Ojibwe history, culture and spirituality. There is a beautiful video that, I think, expresses much of what I feel and remember about that part of my life. It is not in Ojibwe, but the theme is one I deeply feel.

Explore More Minnesota Ojibwe Links:

Minnesota Ojibwe Tribes

Ojibwe Oral Traditions

Minnesota Recipes

Subscribe to Minnesota Visitor

Return from Minnesota Native Americans to
Minnesota Visitor Home Page