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Discover the intriguing history and culture of the Menominee Native Americans, Wisconsin's oldest residents. Explore their spiritual beliefs, creation story, and clan system. Learn about their current reservation, economic progress, and cultural significance today.
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The Menominee Native Americans A diverse culture with a rich history Michelle Smith EDU 210
history • Oldest continuous residents of Wisconsin • At the start of the treaty era, in the early 1800’s, the Menominee tribe occupied a land base of an estimated 10 million acres.
Brief timeline • 1634: Jean Nicolet, French made contact with the Menominee • 1775: Some fought against the American in the Revolutionary War • 1812: War of 1812, Some fought against the Americans • 1854: gave up lands except for a reservation on Wolf River in north-central Wisconsin • 1954 -1973: federal status Terminated • Two part plan • 1961: Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin was terminated, Tribal membership 3,270 Tribal land (Acres) 233,881 • 1972:Menomiee Restoration Act restored tribe
Treaties • 1817 March 30, at St. Louis, with the Chippewa • 1825 August 19, at Prairie du Chien, with the Sioux, Etc., • 1827 August 11, at Butte des Morts • 1831 February 8, at Washington • 1831 February 17, at Washington • 1832 October 27, • 1836 September 3, at Cedar Point • 1848 October 18, at Lake Powawhaykonnay • 1854 May 12, at Falls of Wolf River • 1856 February 11, at Keshena
Spiritual beliefs • Believed that children and elders were closest to the spirits • If a baby was unhappy, a special healer would find out why. Often it was thought that a certain ancestor spirit has been reborn in the baby and wanted the baby’s name changed. Therefore, a naming ceremony was held to give that child that ancestor’s name.
Culture • Algonquin speaking nation • Menominee refer to themselves as mameqtaw meaning “the people” • Other indian tribes call them menominee, derived from manomin- an algonkian word for wile rice as it is a staple food for the tribe. (mpm.edu) • French called them “the nation of wild oats”
Culture • Lived by hunting, fishing and gathering • Wild rice= staple food • Augmented by corn, beans and squash • Some food was dried in the sun to save for the winter • Boiling and roasting were common cooking methods • Maple sugar and syrup were commonly used as sweeteners and flavorings
Geography • Once occupied over 10 million acres of land which is now central and mid-eastern Wisconsin
Culture- Clans • Clans • Bear • Eagle • Moose • Crane • Wolf (Facts and figures 2004)
Bear Clan • Speakers and keeper of the law
Eagle/Thunder Clan • Freedom and justice
Moose Clan • community or individual security
Crane Clan • Crane Clan: architecture, construction and art
Wolf Clan • Hunting and gathering
Current location • Current location: • Current Menominee indian reservation is located about 45 miles northwest of Green Bay. • The reservation is 235,523 acres and countains roughly 223,500 acres of heavily forested lands
Affects on the tribes social and economic conditions today • Today Menominee are on their way to economic progress • Multi-million dollar organization • Provides employment to its people along with services such as a clinic, police protection, and a Tribal school
