Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa A visit to the Bad River Chippewa Reservation in Northwestern Wisconsin is an exciting and enlightening experience for young and old alike. More than 95 percent of the reservation's 124,234 acres remain undeveloped and wild. It is located along Wisconsin's northern most coast of Lake Superior - the largest freshwater lake in the world. The Bad River Chippewa have been living in this area for hundreds of years, although the present Bad River Reservation was established by a treaty in 1854 with the United States Government. Odanah, the Chippewa word for town, has been the cultural center for generations. It is located five miles east of Ashland on U.S. Highway 2. Some newer settlements have grown, but governmental and social activities remain in this area. The Kakagon and Bad River Sloughs, 16,000 acres of high- quality Lake Superior wetlands, have been called Wisconsin's Everglades. It is from these sloughs that past generations of Chippewa have been able to sustain life through the harvesting of wild rice. This is done during the month of August and is followed by the Manomin Fest and Pow-wow, a true celebration of culture. The Bad River Chippewa operate a fish hatchery, annually stocking more than 15 million walleye into reservation rivers and other area lakes and streams. There is a monthly tribal newspaper that is published and distributed throughout the region and mailed to subscribers who want to keep up with the happenings on the Bad River Reservation. Visitors to the reservation enjoy the Bad River Lodge and Casino facilities. The Casino recreation complex offers the music of regional bands, snack bars and a restaurant serving daily specials, plus gift and souvenir shops with genuine Indian crafts and monthly promotions. The entertainment center is available for conferences/workshops, wedding receptions, etc. The Lodge houses 50 beautiful rooms and Jacuzzi suites, along with a swimming pool and hot tub, and a game room for kids and adults alike. New to the Bad River Tribe is the Moccasin Trail Center, consisting of a full- service IGA grocery store, mini-casino, gas station and convenience store, small conference room for meetings of up to 30 people and the Bad River Tribal Transportation Department. This new complex shares a parking lot with the casino on Hwy 2. RV parking is also available here. Area events include the Chequamegon Fat Tire Race, Red Clay Classics, Bayfield Apple Festival, Ashland Snowmobile Races, ABC Raceway, Northland Folk Fest, Bay Days, Winterfest, Muskie Festival, Native American Awareness Week at Northland College (culminating with a Pow wow's at the College), Whistle Stop, Rendezvous, the Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua (live entertainment under the big top tent), several annual fishing contests and weekly car races on the ice (on Chequamegon Bay). For more information on this beautiful area, call (715) 682- 7111 or visit www.badriver.com Did You know Facts Bad River is one of only three rivers in the U.S. that has a self-sustaining population of lake sturgeon. The Bad River Tribe has its own American Legion Post #25. The Menomin (wild rice) Pow-wow is held every August in celebration of the harvest. This event is open to the public and everyone is welcome. Desiring always to protect Mother Earth, the Bad River have started their own Air Quality Program monitoring air quality six days a week using a PM 10 Monitor. The Giitiganing Gardening Project offers an ancestral tie for members of the Bad River tribe. This project serves to educate tribal members on growing flower and vegetable gardens and establishes tribal gardens near the ancient tribal gardens found along the riverbed. The Bad River Tribal Fish Hatchery The Bad River Tribe owns and operates a fish hatchery established in 1975. The fishery is a highly valued resource to tribal members for cultural, social, subsistence and recreational purposes. Although Reservation waters are hosts to many species of fish, the walleye is the one most valued by the membership. Therefore, the fish hatchery focuses on raising walleye. The Bad River Tribal Fish Hatchery annually stocks more than 15 million walleye into the Kakagon and Bad Rivers and other area lakes and streams. In 2001, the fish hatchery received a grant to replace worn and outdated equipment. The grant also allowed for the purchase and installation of 40 solar panels and a wind generator. The improvements greatly enhance the economic efficiency of the hatchery, and will help to replenish a resource used heavily by both members and non-members. Another fish that is significant to the Bad River is the lake sturgeon. Only three rivers in the United States support a self-sustaining population of lake sturgeon. In 2001, an intense monitoring program was egun to estimate the population of this species. In 2001, the fish hatchery received a grant to replace worn and outdated equipment. The grant also allowed for the purchase and installation of 40 solar panels and a wind generator. The improvements greatly enhance the economic efficiency of the hatchery, and will help to replenish a resource used heavily by both members and non-members. Another fish that is significant to the Bad River is the lake sturgeon. Only three rivers in the United States support a self-sustaining population of lake sturgeon. In 2001, an intense monitoring program was begun to estimate the population of this species. Reservation history� The reservation is known in English as Bad River but the common Ojibwe name is "Mashki Ziibii", meaning "Swampy River." This may have been mistaken at some time in the past as "Mazhi" or "Maji" Ziibii, which would mean Bad River. The main village of Odanah, meaning village or town in Ojibwe, was originally located at the confluence of the Bad, White and Kakagon Rivers. This area remains full of rich topsoil. The original settlement was known as "Gete Gitigaaning" meaning "at the old garden." This is where the tribe planted their domestic crops for late summer harvest. Up river to the south, (the rivers here flow north from the continental divide to Lake Superior) the river is lined with hard and soft Maple trees where the tribe traditionally harvested Maple Sugar. Down river to the north on the Bad and Kakagon Rivers are the tribe- rich wild rice lands. The Kakagon, meaning "Walleye Waters," is also home to the tribe's walleye harvest and hatchery operations where eight to ten million walleye fry are hatched out annually. Attractions The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) P.O. Box 9, Odanah, WI 54861 (715) 682-6619 - Fax: (715) 682-9294 Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa P.O. Box 39 Odanah, WI 54861 Phone: (715) 682-7111 Fax: (715) 682-7118 http://www.badriver.com Lodging Information