The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (Ojibwe language: Mikinaakwajiw-ininiwag) is a Native American tribe of Ojibwa and Métis peoples, based on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in Belcourt, North Dakota. The tribe has 30,000 enrolled members. A population of 5,815 reside on the main reservation and another 2,516 reside on off-reservation trust land (as of the 2000 census).[1]
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Around the end of the eighteenth century, prior to the advent of white traders in the area, the formerly woodland oriented group of Chippewas moved out beyond the frontiers of the woodlands of Minnesota and Manitoba and out onto the plains in pursuit of the buffalo and new beaver resources to hunt and trade. They successfully reoriented their culture to life on the plains, developing the bison-hide tipi, the Red River cart, hard soled footwear, and new ceremonial procedures. Around 1800, these Indians were hunting in the Turtle Mountain area of North Dakota.
The history of the Turtle Mountain Band as a contemporary band began on December 21, 1882 when Turtle Mountain Reservation was established under the Presidential Executive Order. Before this time, the Turtle Mountain Band was part of the Pembina Band of Chippewa Indians and is considered as one of its political Successor Inherent.
There is some small controversy over whether the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians includes the Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians or not. Several court cases have decided that they are indeed separate tribes, and have in fact recognized at least 3 tribal units, and several unassociated members of that band.[2] This case gives reference to Indian Claims Commission and United States Court of Claims cases that cannot be found online from their original sources, as the cases are old.[3]
In the history of the tribe there have been several splits, the hereditary Chief of the Little Shell voluntarily ‘removed’ from the tribal rolls of the Turtle Mountain Band (and reservation) in the 1890s.
The Turtle Mountain Chippewa are often known by other names which can include some elements of the band and its people, among which are Bungi, Saulteaux, Pembina Band which includes both Red Bear Band and Little Shell Band, Bois Brule, Mitchif, Métis, and Chippewa-Cree to name a few.
Members of the Red Bear Band have established the Pembina Descendants Committee under the 1971 Act of Congress Bill H.R. 6072 Report No. 142-92, this committee includes the Signatory Heirs of Ogimaa Muskomukwa or Chief Red Bear, Pembina sub-chief Joseph Montreuil and Pembina warrior Joseph Gornon (Gourneau) all signers of the 1863 "Old Crossing" Treaty. The Hereditary Chiefs or Signatory Heirs of Chief Red Bear and Joseph Montreuil include Jesse Peltier, Donna M. Patenaude, Bradley J. Vervalen,Carey Decoteau-Peltier Jr., they hold seats on the established Pembina Descendants Committee. The Signatory Heirs of Chief Red Bear and Joseph Montreuil include Rose Bear, Montreuil, Caribeau, Grandboise, Bushie, Nadeau (One bloodline)Frederick (One bloodline) and Grant (One Bloodline) all named family is also direct bloodline of Joseph Montreuil Pembina sub-chief and treaty signer.
Signatory Heirs Jesse Peltier and Bradley Vervalen along with researcher Vine Blackfeather Sr. appeared in one of Canadian Film maker Coleen Rajotte's documentaries about the similarities and differences of American Indians and Aboriginal Indians of Canada, Signatory Heir Bradley Vervalen also had editorials in local and regional newspapers.
The tribal offices are located in Belcourt, North Dakota. The current Tribal Chairman is Merle St. Claire, who took the office in December 2010.
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