Warrior Nation: A History of the Red Lake Ojibwe

by Anton Treuer

The Red Lake Nation has a unique and deeply important history. Unlike every other reservation in Minnesota, Red Lake holds its land in common—and, consequently, the tribe retains its entire reservation land base. The people of Red Lake developed the first modern indigenous democratic governance system in the United States, decades before any other tribe, but they also maintained their system of hereditary chiefs. The tribe never surrendered to state jurisdiction over crimes committed on its reservation. The reservation is also home to the highest number of Ojibwe-speaking people in the state.

Warrior Nation covers four centuries of the Red Lake Nation's forceful and assertive tenure on its land. Ojibwe historian and linguist Anton Treuer conducted oral histories with elders across the Red Lake reservation, learning the stories carried by the people. And the Red Lake band has, for the first time, made available its archival collections, including the personal papers of Peter Graves, the brilliant political strategist and tribal leader of the first half of the twentieth century, which tell a startling story about the negotiations over reservation boundaries.

This fascinating history offers not only a chronicle of the Red Lake Nation but also a compelling perspective on a difficult piece of U.S. history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Indigenous, Native American, Indigenous History, American History

456 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2015

About the author

Dr. Anton Treuer (pronounced troy-er) is Professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University and author of many books. His professional work in education, history, and Indigenous studies and long service as an officiant at Ojibwe tribal ceremonies have made him a consummate storyteller in the Ojibwe cultural tradition and a well-known public speaker. In 2018, he was named Guardian of Culture and Lifeways by the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums. Anton's first book for young adults, Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask (Young Readers Edition), won the SCBWI Golden Kite. Where Wolves Don’t Die is his first novel.

Reviews

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up not far from the Red Lake Reservation, but I never knew much about it. This book more than helped to fill that gap. It is a very detailed history, told primarily through the biographies of seven political and cultural leaders spanning the last two centuries. Due to their political savvy, skill in negotiation, and plain old persistence, they were able to assert the tribe's sovereignty and fend off allotment -- the repeated push by the U.S. Government to break the land into parcels. Thus there never has been private ownership of land at Red Lake. All land is owned in common by the Band, one of the very few reservations where this is true. Anton Treuer has done a tremendous amount of research to write this history. It tells the story not only of The Red Lake Nation but illuminates yet again the painful clash of worldviews between Native land stewardship and White land extraction.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an in-depth look at the history of the Red Lake Indian Reservation in northern Minnesota, primarily from the 1800's to the present. The author takes a unique perspective by sharing the history not so much in eras as through seven key political and cultural figures through the years, focusing on the cultural and political climate of their days and how these individuals so strongly influenced their nation.

Considering how many wrongs the Red Lake nation (and the Ojibwe and other Indians in general) has suffered the last couple centuries, it's also an impressive journey of strength in holding onto homeland and sovereignty in a way no other Indian nation has so completely managed.

[John Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the same time I was reading this book by Anton Treuer, I was reading books by his father, Robert, and brother, David. This book connects less with those two books. It is much more academic but it gives an excellent history of this unique closed Ojibwe reservation, one where all the land is held communally by the tribe and no non-tribal members live within its borders. He tells this history through the biographies of key native political and spiritual leaders that pushed to make this reservation one that Natives can look to with a great deal of pride. As he brings out each biography, you get a sense of how this sovereign territory within the state of Minnesota grew in power. As an Ojibwe himself and speaking the language and teaching nearby at Bemidji State University, Anton Treuer, helps tell their story well, one that shows why they have a right to proud of their heritage.

[Sara floerke · Rating 1 out of 5]

We read this for book club...which is why I love book club. The book choices are not things I would pick up.

This is very academic. Very necessary, I'm sure, but I'm such a neandrathal who needs entertaining that I found it very difficult to keep track of what was going on without a story vehicle. It was an academic cataloging of events and peoples. Absolutely necessary. Absolutely vital, but I had a hard time wanting to pick it up.

It's a topic I care a lot about, and I did learn....but again, it was too dry.

[Merit Floerke · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh, if I had read this for a history class I wouldn't have minded so much. I read this as an ebook so it was 500-700 pages of boredom. Yes it was really informative and yes white Americans have done a lot of horrible things to races previously living here and races we relocated here. However, there was little plot aside from historical context and people. The author is an Ojibwa professor and I know he put a lot of research and time into it but it was just so bland and put me to sleep.

[Karla Rust · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written history of Red Lake Native population in northern Minnesota. Interesting to approach from the view of each leader and what they faced over many, many years. This unique band has been blessed with some very strong leadership, to retain some of their land despite white interests in land, timber, and fisheries.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A joyous and varied look at the extraordinary resilience on the only collectively managed, unceded reservation in the US

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

High esteem for He Who Is Spoken To.

[Steve Hobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sorry, Finished long ago. Great book. A must read!. I am currently reading 'The Cultural Toolbox: Traditional Ojibwe Living in the Modern World', also written by Anton Treuer.

[Dalton Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I waited too long to read it and as a result only got about 2/3 through it before the library reclaimed it. Super interesting, especially since I have family from Red Lake. Most especially was the Nodin Wind chapter that clearly explains how the Ojibwe separate culture and cultural pride from religion. It reminds me of what I've learned recently about Vikings and their conversion from many deities to Christianity. This book was thorough and detailed, though I think it would have been easier to read had it been outlined chronologically.

[Gay Galles · Rating 5 out of 5]

A trek through the political history of the Red Lake Nation. One of Treuer's best. Highly recommended.

[J. Childs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing detail of the history of Red Lake. Very different style and tough to follow the timeline but quality of research is amazing. Would have liked more info on Anna Gibbs.