County board hears history of 1854 Treaty and more

At a meeting of the Cook County Commissioners in May, Commissioner Robert “Bobby” Deschampe suggested holding a special meeting to share information on the 1854 Treaty and its impact on the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Band Chippewa.

His board colleagues said they would like to learn more about the history and the importance of the Treaty and a meeting was set. More than 50 community members turned out Tuesday, June 5, to hear a presentation by John Morrin of the Grand Portage Tribal Council and Willam “Bill” Latady, the Tribal historic preservation officer for the Boise Forte Heritage Museum.

In front of a large map of Indian territories in the 1800s, Morrin spoke of the interaction between the Ojibwe tribes and the United States government leading up to the Treaty of 1854, which ceded the Arrowhead region and created the Grand Portage, Fond du Lac and Boise Forte reservations, or “homelands.”

He said elders accepted the treaty to end the conflict with the government, but because of language barriers—and different world views—they didn’t understand what it meant to cede the land. Morrin said the concept of owning land was foreign to the Ojibwe leaders, as the people were part of the land.

Morrin also shared the historic struggle of the Minnesota Chippewa tribe through passage of the 1887 Dawes Act and 1889 Nelson Act.

After his thoughtful presentation, Morrin turned things over to Bill Latady who shared a more current look at Native American interaction with the U.S. government, including the passage of the 1990 Native American Grave Protection and Reparation Act (NAGPRA).
Lataday explained that NAGPRA established tribal ownership of cultural items discovered on federal lands

It also requires that if federal agencies plan activities on American Indian lands, those agencies must consult with tribal officials regarding possible historical artifacts on those lands.

And, he noted, historical value could include the various ways the land was used—for wild ricing or maple syrup production (sugar bush). That too, must be taken into consideration when activities such as mining and development are planned.

He noted that the 1990 passage of NAGPRA was significant. And although it has taken some time, Lataday said the federal government is starting to consult with tribes. He said change is coming—slowly. 

As Lataday wrapped up his talk, he said there was much more that could be covered. He said he taught four-day classes on Native American history and treaty rights in the past. 

After a round of applause for the speakers, there a brief question and answer session. An audience member thanked Commissioner Deschampe for arranging the presentation and asked what made him decide to do so.

Deschampe said the proposed expansion of the Lutsen Ski Hill brought the requirement that the Grand Portage Band be consulted during the US Forest Service permit process to light. And, he said, he didn’t think the public knew about that requirement.

Deschampe said it seemed to be a good time to offer information on the 1854 Treaty and other laws governing the Grand Portage Reservation and Ceded Territories.

The meeting ended and community members lingered to talk to Morrin and Lataday and to discuss the various historical treaties.

For information on the 1854 Treaty, which protects natural resources on tribal and ceded lands, read the 2017 report created by the 1854 Treaty Authority.