Mikwendaagoziwag: They Are Remembered…Reflections on experiences from the Sandy Lake Memorial ceremony

By Jordan Tabobondung, 1st year MDP student

Lac Courte Oreilles Chairman Mic Isham giving a representative from Army Corps of Engineers an opportunity to speak 

The flowing memory encapsulated through Nibi (water) continues to renew and replenish the thoughts, memories, experiences and hearts of those who attended the Sandy Lake Tragedy Memorial ceremony, a historic event also referred to as the Chippewa Trail of Tears. Through what was shared by elders and leadership representing more than 12 Ojibwe/Anishnaabe Tribes of the Great Lakes region I have learned a great deal more about what had happened during the Fall and Winter of 1850 as Anishinaabeg waited for their annual treaty payments. A plot was constructed by President Taylor’s administration and officials who wanted to put pressure on Anishinabeg Tribes of the southwestern Lake Superior region in the hopes of permanent western relocation to free up land for settler use and control.

The president’s administration as well as territorial officials pressured the move west to Minnesota by changing the location of Treaty payments from Madeline Island to Sandy Lake in Minnesota. As the Anishinaabeg waited for their treaty payments and much needed supplies at Sandy Lake in Minnesota the seasons shifted to winter and many died due to the resulting effects of little to no food, quality supplies, harsh weather conditions and illnesses among other reasons. It was December by the time agents made partial Treaty payments. It is estimated that 400 or so Anishinaabeg had died at Sandy Lake or on the way back to their home territories, after they decided to no longer live under such horrific conditions. A delegation of Chiefs, fueled by the tragedy at Sandy Lake and other events had journeyed to Washington in 1852 to lobby an order to stop the illegal removal of Lake Superior Anishinabeg, to return Treaty payments to Madeline Island and eventually establish reservation boundaries.

One of the Sandy Lake Mikwendaagoziwag activities is to paddle across Sandy Lake as a way to reconnect ourselves and retrace part of the experience of those ancestors. On the shores before the canoe journey begins the elders and tribal leaders hosted pipe ceremony and shared their hopes and reflections about the tragedy in what took place here 167 years ago and the efforts that have been made to ensure we remember those ones who didn't make it back home and the actions that caused the tragedy. We began to place canoes into the water when Migizi (Eagle) first flew by and as we paddled across Sandy Lake the water was calm, still and reflecting the sky so clearly. As we approached the shoreline where the Sandy Lake Memorial rests now after the tribes came together to ensure its presence in 2001, Migizi was calling out and could be heard across the water. It's been so long it seems since I got to be out paddling, and I feel grateful to have had such a beautiful day and calm waters for the journey, learning and participation in ceremony with the people. 

At Sandy Lake Tragedy Memorial ceremony

We waited for all the canoes to make it to shore as preparations were made for the feast we would be sharing together. We gathered to send out our prayers through asemaa (tobacco), to sing our songs and share a meal with the ones who have walked on before us in ceremony as shown to us by the elders and bundle keepers from the societies that exist within the communities. The elders, tribal leaders and bundle carriers spoke about the importance of us remembering our Anishinaabeg histories, connections to the water, animals and plant life that sustains us as human beings. Those in attendance were reminded to remember those ones who lived, who have died and appreciate their actions, achievements, sacrifices and hardships. It is through the work in their lifetimes which ensured that we descendant generations have our Anishinaabeg lifeways intact to carry forward in our time to the generations yet to be.

Part of that reminder was to share about what happened at Sandy Lake such as like I am doing now with this blog post, sharing information with the people, so that it is history that does not become forgotten, and there is a broader awareness of these events. We need to understand where we come from to help us determine where we are going as people, tribes and nations. These events of the collective history of North America, both in Canada and the United States should not, and must not be ignored and forgotten for the sake of Reconciliation- for these events and this history is what determines WHY there must be reconciliation between the governments and our Tribes and First Nations. The truth must be revealed to the people, and must be felt by all of us as descendants in order to extend our understandings of who we are, where we come from and what we must do to ensure these kinds of tragedies do not happen again.

Links for Reference:

1.      The Sandy Lake Tragedy: In Three Minutes- https://youtu.be/FnNS26btMXA

2.      Chequamegon History- The Removal Order of 1849- https://chequamegonhistory.wordpress.com/category/sandy-lake-tragedy-and-ojibwe-removal/

3.      Sandy Lake Tragedy- or the Chippewa Trail of Tears- http://www.chiefbuffalo.com/buffalo/Sandy_Lake_Tragedy.html