Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa The Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin historically occupied a vast territory within a 100- mile radius of the present "reservation" location, 12 miles southeast of present- day Hayward, Wisconsin. The LCO people are one band of the Ojibwa Nation that originally occupied the upper eastern woodland area of the North American continent. As they migrated westward, they displaced the Sioux from the Great Lakes regions. The LCO Band of the Ojibwa Nation has since centered around the several lakes near the headwaters of the Chippewa River. The Treaty of LaPointe in 1854 established specific territorial rights of the Lac Courte Oreilles people. The Tribal elders at that time clearly wanted to maximize the opportunity to include resources. These resources included wild rice beds and fishing on the Grindstone, Chief and Lac Courte Oreilles Lakes. The land is also rich in timber stands of oak, conifer, maple, hickory, cedar and birch. There are bountiful fishing sites on the Chippewa, Chief and Courderay Rivers, as well as hunting and trapping areas for waterfowl, deer, bear, beaver, mink, muskrat, and other game. The tribe also wished to preserve their historical water transportation routes via the Chippewa, Flambeau and Namekagon Rivers. The selection of lands resulted in a very irregularly shaped reservation, but one with clear potential, both then and now. The Chippewa Flowage with it's beautiful rock formations is a natural wonder. It has become a sanctuary for bald eagles, blue herons, loons, geese, swans and ducks of every kind. Lodging, boat rentals and other amenities are available at the tribally owned Herman- Landing Resort, located on the world famous Chippewa Flowage. Lac Courte Oreilles tribal enrollment is nearly 6,000 members, of which 50 percent live at LCO in 23 different community villages. The LCO tribe occupies approximately 84,000 acres of land. The tribe owns and operates the following enterprises; K- 12 Tribal School, the LCO IGA Commercial Center, Mobil gas, Development Corporation, Community College, LCO Boys & Girls Club, several elderly centers, a cranberry marsh, 88.9 FM WOJB radio station, LCO Casino Bingo Lodge and Convention Center and Grindstone Creek Casino. Also, a beautiful living cultural center is now open. Tours are available at the cranberry marsh, college, WOJB, St. Francis Solanus Mission and in the new living culture center. In the LCO community and surrounding Hayward area, there is something for everyone: The Honor the Earth Pow wow's, musky and cranberry festivals, National Fresh Water Fishing- Hall of Fame, museums, game farms and riding stables, interesting shops, atmospheric supper clubs, the Lumberjack World Championships, American Birkebeiner cross- country ski race and rodeos. Hayward is also noted as the Golf Capital of Wisconsin. For more information about the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, call the LCO Visitor Center at(715) 634- 7419 or visit www.lcotourism.com Did You know Facts The French phrase "Lac Courte Oreilles" means "short ears" because the Ojibwa in that area did not wear earrings. LCO was settled by the Ojibwa in the mid 1700s when they defeated the Dakota in several important battles. It was one of the first permanent Ojibway settlements. The LCO tribe harvests between 1,500 and 3,000 barrels of cranberries from their marsh per year. WOJB 88.9 FM, owned and operated by the LCO tribe, is one of very few Native American radio stations in the United States offering news and information relevant to Indian and non-Indian communities alike. The Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College The mission of the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College is to provide, within the Indian community, a system of post-secondary and continuing education with an associate and bachelor degree and certificate granting capabilities, while maintaining an open door policy. The Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College curriculum reflects Ojibwa culture and tribal self-determination. The college-provides opportunities for individual self-improvement in a rapidly changing technological world, while maintaining the cultural integrity of the Anishinaabe. ("Original People") The college was founded by Tribal resolution in August of 1982. It is located in the beautiful woods of-Northern Wisconsin. "Dream Catchers" Native American oral tradition confirms the origin of the dream catcher lies with the Ojibwa, or Chippewa people. Ojibwa dream catchers were originally made with a 3 inch round wooden frame, filled with a web made of nettle-stalk cord that was dyed a deep red using bloodroot and wild plum inner bark. In parts of Canada and North East U.S. dream catchers are also fashioned in a teardrop shape. Early Ojibwa women would hang a dream catcher from the hoop of their child- cradleboard. A feather adorning the dream catcher represented the air. Babies watching the air playing with the feather on their cradleboard were kept entertained. Native Americans believe that dreams are messages from the spirit world. A dream catcher is said to attract dreams to its webs. The good spirits find their way through the center hole and float along the sacred feathers to the people sleeping below. The bad spirits get caught in the web and are melted by the morning sun. Traditionally, Ojibwa children would receive dream catchers made of willow and sinew that were not meant to last. Eventually, the willow would dry out and the tension of the sinew collapses the dream catcher. In this way, it represents the temporary nature of youth. Today, dream catchers are made of many different materials, each special and beautiful in their own way. They are hung from a baby- cradle and in the home so that everyone will have good dreams. Hang one in your home and allow only good dreams to enter. Attractions St. Frances Solanus Mission, Cty. E, 9 miles from LCO Casino. Native American arts and crafts store located within the mission. Open year round. Abiinoojii-Aki-Our Children- Land (Ojibwe Cultural Village) 2 blocks West of Honor the Earth Pow-wow grounds on Trepania Lake Road Lac Courte Oreilles Visitors Center located next to the LCO Casino. (715) 634-7419 Four Seasons of the Ojibwe People Mural (LCO Casino) 40-acre Cranberry Marsh, 10 miles West of LCO Casino on Hwy. NN The Lac Courte Oreilles community is located on the Circle of Wisconsin Fall Color Tours Living Cultural Center (LCO Community College) Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 13394 W. Trepania Road Hayward, WI 54843 Phone: (715) 634-8934 Fax: (715) 634-4797 http://www.wojb.org Lodging Information