HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 10 - Chief Oshkosh memorial Write Up Chief Oshkosh Monument—erected in 1911 in honor of the Menominee Tribe Chief
Chief Oshkosh and Menominee Nation History
The word Menominee is derived from the Algonquin word Omeaqnomenak or "people
of the wild rice" and the tribe has a name for themselves "Kayaes Mamahchitawuk"
which means the Ancient Ones. They are a sovereign federally recognized tribe with a
354 square mile reservation in northeastern Wisconsin. The tribe's Creation story took
place at the mouth of the Menominee River where the five clans were formed that
include the Great Bear, Eagle, Wolf, Moose and Crane. Their historic ceded territory
included an estimated 10 million acres in present-day Wisconsin and the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan. The tribe currently has about 9,000 members.
Chief Oshkosh, from the hereditary Bear Clan, served the tribe as chief from 1827 until
his death on August 29, 1858. Living to the age of 63 years. The word Oshkosh or
Okoss means "Claw" and around the age of 15, he was placed under the guidance of
Chief Tomah, ultimately becoming his successor.
The Negotiation Skills of Chief Oshkosh Help Secure the Tribe's Original Lands
After the reservation period, the US government made an effort to convert the
Menominee Tribe to an agrarian society, but the tribe was more interested in logging for
their economic base. The tribe is well known for their early history and modern day
commitment to forestry management and sustainability.
Chief Oshkosh understood the importance of the Tribe's land located on the west side
of Lake Winnebago with access to the Fox River. The Fox River flows into the Wolf
River providing easy access to the forests the tribe would depend on for logging. The
Menominee became known for their "sustained yield" forestry management practices
used to sustain the forest they depended upon for their livelihoods. Chief Oshkosh
fought hard to negotiate for these lands. His excellent oratory skills played an integral
role in the negotiation of several treaties that enabled the tribe to remain on their
ancestral land.
1848 Treaty of Lake Poygan—the government attempted to move the tribe to the Crow
Wing country of Minnesota as Wisconsin needed their remaining lands to become a
state. Provisions of the treaty were not carried out, as Chief Oshkosh, in 1852,
persuaded President Fillmore to permit the tribe to remain on their ancestral land on
the Wolf River.
1854 Wolf River Treaty—was signed at Keshena Falls creating a permanent reservation
of 276,000 acres and 10 townships of land, however the Treaty of 1856 the tribe ceded
two of the townships to the Stockbridge-Munsee tribe leaving the Menominee with
235,000 acres of land.
Federal Termination Program—Eisenhower Administration 1954
The Menominee Termination Act was signed on June 17, 1954 and did not take effect
until May 30, 1961. This took away the tribe's federal soveriegn status and the
reservation became Menominee County the 72nd, the poorest county in the state. This
was a direct abrogation of their sovereign treaties with the government.
The tribe fought for and was granted federal recognition as a sovereign nation on
December 22, 1973 with the passing of the Menominee Restoration Act that was signed
by President Nixon.
The Importance of Lake Winnebago, the Fox and Wolf Rivers, and Sturgeon
The waters of Wisconsin provided subsistence to the Native Americans. The
Menominee relied on the sturgeon found in Lake Winnebago to help feed their people.
The large fish would migrate upriver on the Fox and Wolf Rivers to spawn below the
rapids at Keshena Falls. Each spring the Menominee would gather to harvest the fish.
The tribe was able to feast on the abundant fish after the hardships endured during long
winters. The tradition became a welcome ceremonial celebration of the onset of spring.
This cultural tradition was threatened in the late 1800's when two dams were
constructed on the Wolf River to supply electricity below the reservation at Shawano.
The dams cut off the sturgeon migration to Keshena Falls and this was a great cultural
loss to the tribe. Removal of the dams proved nearly impossible, but over 100 years
later, government agencies cooperated with the Menominee tribe to develop a solution.
In 1993, the tribe negotiated with the state for the return of sturgeon to the Menominee
reservation and 15 sturgeons were provided to the tribe to revitalize the ancient
sturgeon ceremony. Currently, agencies are working with the tribe to provide "free
movement" of sturgeon in the Upper Wolf River.
This plaque was placed here by the City of Oshkosh in collaboration
with the Menominee Nation, Menominee South Neighborhood Association, and
Oshkosh Landmarks Commission.
Funding provided by The Heaney Family.
For more information visit—menominee-nsn.gov/
September 2017