Boozhoo! Welcome to Nawapo, run by Red Lake, Inc. and owned by the Red Lake Nation. The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians is a federally recognized tribe of Ojibwe located in Red Lake, Minnesota. The tribe is a sovereign nation with its own government, laws, and traditions. While the nation was adamant about holding on to hereditary chiefs over an elected government, eventually they found medium ground with both an elected council while still honoring the hereditary chiefs.
The Red Lake reservation is located in northern Minnesota and covers over 800,000 acres of land. It is the largest reservation in Minnesota and is the traditional homeland to approximately 16,000 tribal members.
The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians is known for their strong cultural traditions, including the preservation of the Ojibwe language and traditional practices such as wild rice harvesting, fishing, and hunting. The tribe also operates several businesses, including a casino, a construction company, Red Lake Foods and the Fisheries (famous for their walleye) which provide jobs and economic opportunities for tribal members. The nation strives to expand on education opportunities and has an accredited 2-year college as well as a K-5 Ojibwe language immersion school.
The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians has a long and complex history, including a significant uprising in 1862 known as the Dakota War. In resisting the Dawes Act, the Red Lake Reservation remains “untouched Indian land,” as it has never left tribal control. Overall, the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians is a resilient and culturally rich community that continues to thrive and preserve their traditions in the modern world.
