The Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservation is situated in beautiful Northeastern Wisconsin. The Mole Lake Band enjoys three beautiful lakes either on or adjacent to the small reservation: Mole Lake, Bishop Lake, and Rice Lake which lies at the headwaters of the Wolf River. The Mole Lake area boasts hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails, as well as hiking and mountain biking trails, ATV trails, and cross-country ski trails. There are over 800 lakes, 82 trout streams and 400,000 acres of public wilderness land teeming with wildlife in the vicinity. Mole Lake is also perfect for birders: If you are looking for bald eagles, they are easy to spot soaring above the village of Mole Lake and nearby lakes and streams. Mole Lake is home to one of the last remaining ancient wild rice beds in the state of Wisconsin.
The Sokaogon Chippewa Community is also known as the Lost Tribe because the legal title to the 12 mile square reservation from the treaty of 1854 was lost in a shipwreck on Lake Superior. Under the provisions of the 1934 Reorganization Act, 1,745 acres of land were purchased for the Mole Lake Reservation. In 1930, a roll had been taken in the Mole Lake area and 199 Native Americans were determined to be in this band. They had been promised this land by a treaty signed with Franklin Pierce. This agent, who was to confirm the treaty and secure the land for them, drowned on his return trip from Washington. The Tribe, under the leadership of Chief Willard Ackley, received federal recognition and reservation status in 1937. To this day, the Tribe actively pursues any knowledge or document to support their claim to the original treaty lands.
