MITW history - 1960-1979
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To capture the mood of the 1960’s and 70’s is a somewhat difficult task. It was distressing, overwhelming, painful but also exciting. The Tribe was faced with a number of very important decisions but as usual it was bombarded by many outside influences who felt they had all the answers. One of the main areas they had to deal with was setting up the Tribe’s Termination Plan, covering both governmental and business operations. They also had to organize the newly formed Menominee County. As in the past they had to fight for the land. There was still some fear of the State because of the Governor’s announcement in 1956 that the Reservation should be purchased and made into a state park. There was the belief that he was more interested in our white pine than in us. Creating the new county was the major concern of the State. For the Tribe it was organizing the tribal lumber business. Crucial to the issue was the preservation of the forest and mill as a source of livelihood for tribal members. For the 1960’s efforts centered around Termination, for the 1970’s the activities
were based on Restoration. The following are some of the major dates:
June
The Corpus Christi parade was celebrated for the last time. This was a unique Catholic celebration that was observed every June in
Keshena. It was introduced to Tribal Bands living in the Lake Poygan area by a Rev. Theodore VanDen Broeck in 1846. This feast day
was highlighted by a colorful procession; benediction at outdoor chapels specially prepared by the ladies of the four Reservation
communities; and by a visit from the Bishop of the Green Bay diocese, who confirmed the young people in the Catholic faith. Hundreds
of clergy, Holy Name members, Christian Mothers society, the Menominee Indian Band, school children and others took part in this
eventful demonstration of faith. Another unique thing about it was that the whole Reservation celebrated the event, even the mill shut down for the day so the mill workers could take part in the celebration. It also signaled the end of the school year. December
The Tribe, who before termination received only $144,000 a year of federal funds, in 1960 had been allotted $2,357,000. This money
had been authorized to reimburse the Tribe for termination studies and planning expenses, upgrading the school program, building
roads, sponsoring adult education programs and health-welfare needs.
1961
April 30th, the Menominee plan submitted to the Secretary of Interior and put into practice at the time
of Termination.. Shortly after Termination was finalized the hospital, in Keshena, was closed by the State on the grounds that it did not meet state fire standards. 1962
The Menominee Council of Chiefs was organized as a Wisconsin nonprofit corporation. The main purpose of the organization was to
preserve the name "Menominee Indian Tribe" which was technically abolished at the time of Termination. To preserve our name as a
Tribe the Council of Chiefs acclaimed the special name as "Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Inc."
1964
789 Menominees signed a petition requesting the repeal of termination. It was submitted to President Johnson, who chose to ignore it.
1966
The State of Wisconsin enacted legislation (Chapter 313) which provided for preservation of the Wolf River and to provide free public
access for fishing and camping.
1967
March
Ernst & Ernst, a Management Firm from Washington, DC, under a grant from the Economic Development Administration of the
Dept of Commerce, made a study and submitted a report entitled "Potential for Tourism and Industrial Development in
Menominee County".
August
First annual Menominee Indian Powwow.
September 23rd
Endorsement was given, by the MEI Shareholders, for the creation of an economic development zone.
1968
January DNR issued a permit to construct the first of 3 dams, at the outlet of Wahtohsah Lake.
May
Hunting & Fishing Rights Case. The US Court of Claims ruled in favor of the Tribe. It was the Courts opinion that the Menominees did
not relinquish their hunting and fishing rights when the Tribe was terminated from federal control. This was a land mark case that helped other tribes because the Supreme Court ruled that Termination did not abrogate treaty rights. This helped force the federal government to abandon their termination plans. June
One million dollars in financial assistance was allocated by the Upper Great Lakes Regional Planning Commission for the development
of the Visitors Destination Center, in Keshena.
July 9th
Menominee Enterprises, Inc. entered into the "Lakes of the Menominees" project with NE Isaacson & Associates, lake developers
from Reedsburg, WI. The agreement provided for the eventual development of Legend Lake.
Also in 1968, to remedy the high unemployment a training program was instituted including 3 phases of the Manpower Development and Training Act. 1969
January. DNR authorized construction of a Dam (phase II) at the outlet of Blacksmith, Little Blacksmith, Spring and Peshtigo Lakes. The
extent of the destruction to the land became obvious with the building of the dam.
1970
Spring
A grass roots organization entitled DRUMS (Determination of Rights & Unity of Menominee Shareholders) was established to stop
the land sales and restore the Reservation to federal status. There were chapters in Chicago, Milwaukee and Menominee County.
June
The lumber mill was devastated by a fire.
July
The first demonstration at the Legend Lake lodge protesting the sale of Menominee land in the form of lake lots on Legend Lake.
September
DNR granted authorization for construction of a dam (phase III) in Linzy Creek at the outlet of Pyawasit Lake to create Legend Lake #3.
1971
October 2nd
Menominee March for Justice. The DRUMS members began a 220 mile march from Keshena to Madison. The central purpose of the
march was to dramatize the Tribe’s problems (caused by Termination) to the people of Wisconsin and to seek Governor Lucy’s help
in dealing with those problems.
November
MEI, DRUMS, and County officials began discussions concerning the restoring of the Reservation to federal status.
1972
January
Wisconsin’s US Congressional delegates met with the Menominees, and Senator Edward Kennedy requested that the Native
American Rights Fund, in Boulder, CO., assist the Tribe in writing the request for restoration into a Congressional Bill.
April 20th
Wis. Senators Proximire and Nelson introduced Senate Bill #3514 calling for Menominee restoration.
May
Menominee County Parents & Students for Better Education filed a discrimination suit against Joint School District #8 in the US District Court.
July 8th
A dissolution agreement in the case of the Lakes of the Menominees partnership went into effect.
Three weeks after the dissolution, Judge Duffy in Circuit Court, Green Bay, ordered further land sales stopped. 1973
May 2nd
Senators William Proximire and Gaylord Nelson in the Senate and Congressmen Harold Froelich in the House again introduced
a Menominee Restoration Bill.
May 25th & 26th
The House subcommittee on Indian Affairs, headed by Congressman Lloyd Meads of the State of Washington, held a preliminary
hearing on the Menominee Restoration Bill at Keshena.
June 25th-29th
The hearings were continued in Washington, DC before the full subcommittee. Governor Lucy of Wisconsin, addressed the June
28th session in support of the Menominee Tribe.
September
Senate hearings on restoration began before the subcommittee on Indian Affairs, chaired by Senator James
Abourezk of South Dakota.
October 16th
House Bill 10717, originally sponsored by Congressman Froelich and recommended by the House Subcommittee on Indian Affairs,
passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 404 to 3.
December 7th
The Senate Interior Committee recommended a slightly amended bill. This measure was considered and was passed by the Senate.
The House concurred with the Senate amendments and the bill went to the President.
December 22nd
President Nixon privately signed the Menominee Restoration Act into law. Public Law 93-197, The Menominee Restoration Act, made
provision for the return of the Menominee Indians to full tribal status and the return of tribal assets to trust status.
Before termination the Menominees were one of the few tribes which paid for its own services. The year before termination the Tribe had budgeted $520,714 for services in the following manner:
The Federal Government, which was obligated to provide all of these services, actually spent only $ 95,000 for roads and $ 49,999 for education, on a matching basis with the State and Tribe. The total Federal cost per year for the Menominee Tribe was $144,000. Not much was saved by the Termination policy. How much did the termination process save the Government? Within 5 years they gave the Tribe about $5 million in special aid and over $1 million came from the state. Termination was a congressional disaster. 1974
January
The Menominee County Education Committee requested detachment from the Shawano School District #8 and the creation of a new
school district in Menominee County. Public hearings were held in Shawano and Keshena. On January 15th the Shawano School Board
President informed the State Agency School Committee that the Shawano Board of Education endorsed the plan for detachment.
January 26th
The State Agency School Committee voted in favor of detachment.
1975
January 1st
The Menominee Warrior Society occupied the abandoned Alexian Brothers’ Novitiate near Gresham, Wisconsin.
April 23rd
The formal ceremony of restoring the Menominee Tribe to federal status was presided over by Secretary of Interior, Rogers C.B. Morton,
Washington, D.C. The Menominee Restoration Committee was given the responsibility of administering Menominee Affairs until the transfer
plans and new constitution were put into effect.
May 16th
The tribal roll, closed since June 17, 1954, was reopened. Between May 16th and August 13th the Enrollment Committee approved of
2,342 applicants.
November 17th
The federal government authorized the Menominees to establish a tribal police force, adopt a tribal law and order code, and undertake
correctional functions.
1976
March 1st
The State of Wisconsin retroceded their jurisdictional powers over the Menominees, and the tribe was authorized to establish a
court of Indian offenses.
May
The State approved of the detachment from Joint School District #8 and created the new Menominee County/ Reservation public school
district. The newly elected school board chose to call the new district "Menominee Indian School District".
May 6th
Control of hunting and fishing rights was restored to the Menominees by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The Tribe was awarded a 1.4 million dollar grant for the construction of the new Reservation based clinic. July 20th
The first meeting of the first Menominee Indian School Board for the newly formed Menominee Indian School District.
1976
September 7th
Menominee Indian School District opened its doors for the first time. The enrollment the first year was 734 students, 62 more than anticipated.
November
The new constitution accepted by the tribal members paved the way for the election of a 9-member council to govern all reservation programs.
1977
October
Menominee Tribal Clinic, the first Indian owned and operated health facility, opened its doors.
1978
Exxon Minerals Company discovered a zinc & copper deposit near Crandon, WI. Tribal concern because of the impact to the Wolf River
and its watershed. The mine’s tailing ponds and waste treatment facility are to be located in the upper portion of the Wolf River.
1979
The first Tribal Legislature was elected under the new Tribal constitution.
Gordon Dickie Sr. - Chairman
Herman Fredenberg - Vice Chairman Lucille Chapman - Secretary Kenneth A. "Bum-Bum" Fish John "Hoppy" Hawpetoss John M. "Mannie" Boyd Jerome "Jerry" Grignon Alex "Askie" Askenette Sr. Harley Lyons Sr. |
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Last Updated: Wed August 27, 2008