It has been assumed by some archaeologists that the Menominee were descended from the late Woodland cultures. According to other archaeologists they were part of the Mound Builders which flourished during the Woodland stage, probably because of the mounds that are located on the Reservation. However, according to the Menominee oral history Mound Builders were considered the enemy. There is also evidence that a battle could have been fought in the Middle Village area of the Reservation where numerous arrowheads have been found in the vicinity of an effigy mound. It is the opinion of some Menominee that they drove these people out of the area. Furthermore, there is nothing in Menominee legends to verify this connection to the Mound Builders.

According to the oral traditions Menominee's have always resided in this area. It is known that they ranged from the upper peninsula of Michigan south to Illinois and west to Minnesota. There is no migration story like other Tribes have: our story begins at the mouth of the Menominee River, "Kiash Machatiwuk", Ancient Men (Humans), is what the Menominee called themselves. This information was related to a Dr. Edwin James in 1827. He became interested in the tribal histories of the Menominee's and Chippewa's while stationed at Mackinac, Mi. He was told the name "Menominee" was given to them by neighboring tribes. This was because the Menominee were more deeply influenced by the wild rice than other tribal groups in the area.

The Menominee in ancient times lived in an area of indefinite size. The exact boundaries of early Menominee territory cannot now be defined. It can be assumed their area embraced those lands on northeastern Wisconsin lying west of Lake Michigan and Green Bay, the northern boundary reaching into northeastern Michigan and westerly to the Mississippi. Physically this land was flat, cut by many streams, numerous lakes and swampy areas. Forest covered the greater part of the area. There were occasional sandy places and rolling plains to the south. The trees were mainly conifers and mixed hardwoods and became a part of tribal economy. The birch, basswood, oak, cedar and hickory were especially important. From the forest these early people gathered nuts, berries and edible roots. Roots and plants had special significance in their religious life and medical lore. From the lakes and streams they harvested the fish and their cherished wild rice.