Sokaogon Chippewa Community

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The Mole Lake Chippewa are now known as the Sokaogon Chippewa Community. They are a federally recognized tribe in Wisconsin.

Official Tribal Name: Sokaogon Chippewa Community

Address: 3051 Sand Lake Road, Crandon, WI 54520
Phone: 715-478-7500
Fax: 715-478-5275
Email:

Official Website: www.sokaogonchippewa.com

Recognition Status: Federally Recognized

Traditional Name / Traditional Meaning:

Anishinaabe– Original People.

Today the Anishinaabe have two tribes: Ojibway/Ojibwe/Chippewa (Algonquian Indian for “puckered,” referring to their moccasin style) and Algonquin (probably a French corruption of either the Maliseet word elehgumoqik, “our allies,” or the Mi’kmaq place name Algoomaking, “fish-spearing place).

Common Name / Meaning of Common Name:

Alternate names / Alternate spellings / Misspellings: Chippaway, Chippewyn, Chipewa, Chipawa, Ojibwe, Ojibwa, Ojibway, More names for Ojibwe

Ojibwe / Chippewa in other languages:

Aoechisaeronon or Eskiaeronnon (Huron)
Assisagigroone (Iroquois)
Axshissayerunu (Wyandot)
Bawichtigouek or Paouichtigouin (French)
Bedzaqetcha (Tsattine)
Bedzietcho (Kawchodinne)
Dewakanha (Mohawk)
Dshipowehaga (Caughnawaga)
Dwakanen (Onondaga)
Hahatonwan (Dakota)
Hahatonway (Hidatsa)
Jumper, Kutaki (Fox)
Leaper, Neayaog (Cree)
Nwaka (Tuscarora)
Ostiagahoroone (Iroquois)
Rabbit People (Plains Cree)
Regatci or Negatce (Winnebago)
Saulteur (Saulteaux)
Sore Face (Hunkpapa Lakota)
Sotoe (British)
Wahkahtowah (Assiniboine)

Region: Northeast (Eastern Woodland) –> Ojibwa, Chippewa and Potawatomi

State(s) Today: Wisconsin

Traditional Territory:

Confederacy: Ojibwe (Chippewa)

Treaties:

According to tribal history, these Indians had been promised land by a treaty signed with Franklin Pierce. This agent, who was to confirm the treaty and secure the land for them, drowned on his return trip from Washington. The tribe, to this day, actively pursues any knowledge or document to support their claim to the original treaty lands.

Reservation: Sokaogon Chippewa Community and Off-Reservation Trust Land

This area lies in southwestern Forest County, near Crandon, Wisconsin.
Land Area: 4,904.2 acres
Tribal Headquarters:
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Population at Contact:

In 1930, a roll had been taken in the Mole Lake area and 199 Indians were determined to be in this band.

Registered Population Today:

There are currently 1,377 Sokaogon Chippewa Community Tribal Members.

Tribal Enrollment Requirements:

Genealogy Resources:

Government:

The Sokaogon Chippewa Community is a sovereign nation chartered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Federally recognized as a Native American Tribe/Nation, and operates under a ratified constitution.

Charter: Under the provisions of the 1934 Reorganization Act, 1,745 acres of land were purchased for the Mole Lake Reservation.
Name of Governing Body: Tribal Council
Number of Council members: Six member council, including executive officers.
Dates of Constitutional amendments:
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Elections:

Elections are held annually for council members not holding officer positions. Officer elections are held every two years.

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Bands, Gens, and Clans

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Economy Today:

The Sokaogon Chippewa Community has a limited economic base that is highly dependent on tourism dollars. Plans are underway to improve the utility infrastructure which will allow for a diversification of business enterprises to begin.

 Mole Lake Casino and Bingo

 Mole Lake New Business Incubator (Niijii)

 Sokaogon Chippewa Community C-Store

 Café Manoomin Restaurant

 New in 2008 – 75 Room Hotel with Pool Facilities Attached to Casino

 New in 2008 1.3 million Youth Center

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Wedding Customs

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Ojibwe / Chippewa People of Note

Renae Morriseau

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Tribe History:

Before the reservation was incorporated, the Mole Lake Chippewa lived in extreme poverty. These Chippewa welcomed the Reorganization Act and accepted a constitution on October 8, 1938.

At that time, the principle means of gaining a livelihood for this group were boat building, wild rice, wreath greens, selling souvenir bows and arrows, and other novelties. The soil, a sandy loam with gravel outcroppings, yields fair crops of potatoes, short season vegetables, oats, clover, and timothy hay. The game on the reservation included deer, bear, fox, muskrats, and water fowl.

With the advent of gambling casinos and bingo, the tribe has continued with an age-old Chippewa tradition of playing games of chance. The introduction of bingo and casinos drastically altered unemployment on the reservation. Rates fell from 80% to 10% within a couple of years. The surrounding communities have also benefited financially and reduced their dependency on federal aid.

Today, the Sokaogon Chippewa Community continues to harvest wild rice and spear fish in traditional ways. And now, utilizing state of the art technology, they continue to protect the resources of their environment for future generations. The tribe continues to use its money wisely by investing in cultural preservation and restoration projects, environmental planning of their resources, education of their community members, and social programs that enhance the general health and welfare of the Sokaogon Chippewa Community.

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Sokaogon Chippewa Community

Official Tribal Name: Sokaogon Chippewa Community