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History of Lac du Flambeau
The band has inhabited the Lac du Flambeau area since 1745 when Chief
Keeshkemun led the band to the area. The band acquired the name Lac du Flambeau from its
gathering practice of
harvesting fish at night by torchlight. The name Lac du Flambeau or
Lake of the Torches refers to this practice and was given to the band
by the French traders and trappers who visited the area.
The Lac du Flambeau Reservation was officially established by treaties
in 1837
and 1842. The area was continually logged in the following years and
became a tourist destination for families from southern Wisconsin and
Illinois around the turn of the century.
To increase economic activity and foster self-reliance among the
various Native American
communities, the tribe began bingo and casino operations. Revenues
generated by the casino operations would go to the tribe and directly
benefit the economic and social development of the community. The
casino has enhanced both the economy of the Lakeland area and to
provide public services to residents in Lac du Flambeau.
DID YOU KNOW?
Lac
du Flambeau is the location of sacred Strawberry Island "the place of
the little people," a site recognized by the National Register of
Historical Places. This island is the place where the last battle
between the Sioux and the Ojibwe was fought in 1745. In 1966, the
island was identified through an archeological survey as a place with
artifacts and remains dating back to 200 B.C.
The Lac du
Flambeau reservation has 260 lakes, 65 miles of streams, lakes, and
rivers and 24,000 acres of wetlands. The lakes and other waterways are
regularly restocked by the tribal fish hatchery with over 200,000 fish
per year. Over the last 30 years the tribal fish hatchery has restocked
the lakes with well over 415 million walleye fry.
The
world's largest sturgeon to be speared was hauled in on the shores of
Lac du Flambeau's Pokegama Lake. It measured 7 feet and 1 inch, weighed
195 pounds and 40 inches around. This world record fish is located in
the local museum.
Lac du Flambeau's Famous Eagle:
A Civil War Legend
The
most famous bird in American history came from the Waswagoning area,
now known as the Lac du Flambeau Indian Reservation. In 1861, the Lac
du Flambeau Indians were on their annual spring expedition into the
maple sugar bush of the northern forests. Chief Sky, the son of Chief
Thunder-of-Bees, encountered two baby eaglets way up atop the pines and
took them down. As the people traveled down river they came upon the
home of Dan McCann to whom they gave the baby eaglet who would one day
become the famous "Old Abe."
McCann cared for the eagle until it
became older and decided to present the special eagle to the Union
soldiers of Wisconsin. McCann presented Old Abe to the 8th Wisconsin
Regiment at Eau Claire. After accepting the eagle, the company changed
their names from the Badgers to the War Eagles and Old Abe served as
their mascot for many years.
As a part of the War Eagle Company,
Old Abe became more famous each day and provided a great source of
pride to the men of the Wisconsin 8th. Abe was carried into battle on a
perch in the same way as the American Flag. He withstood battles in
Wisconsin, Illinois, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. After the war
ended, Old Abe traveled across the country and attended national
conventions, centennial celebrations and many major events. Abe rested
in his home in Madison, Wisconsin at the end of his life and actually
resided in the Capitol building.
In recent years, Abe has been
awarded honors by the U.S. government and military service. In 1999,
the 8th of Wisconsin rededicated the Old Abe statue in Jim's Falls, WI,
along with a 20-mile trail in that area in his name. This famous bird,
born in the beautiful north country of Lac du Flambeau, an area still
abundant in eagles, was found by Chief Sky, and then spent his life
with the brave soldiers and historical leaders of the United States.
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