Bois Fort Indian Reservation (Minnesota)

The Bois Fort Reservation is a federally-recognized reservation in Minnesota.


 * Established -- 7 August 1866
 * Agency (BIA) --
 * Principal tribes -- Bois Fort Band of Chippewa
 * Population -- 2010 is 613

History
The Bois Fort Reservation was established by Treaty of Apr. 7,1866 (XIV, 765) and an act of Jan. 14,1889 (XXV, 642). Bois Forte (Nett Lake) Reservation, has links to Red Lake Reservation. The Lac Du Bois Chippewa's of Red Lake Reservation, are obviously the same Chippewa's from Bois Forte Reservation. The Reservation is probably a part of the 11 million acre (17,187 sq. mi. or 44,515 sq. km.) Little Shell Pembina Chippewa Reservation.

There are 3 different sections which make up Bois Forte. One is located around Nett Lake, Lake Vermillion and Dry Creek. Both Nett Lake and Lake Vermillion, have Chippewa populations, while Dry Creek is not being utilized at this time by Reservation leaders.

In 1901, the Indian population of Nett Lake Reservation or Bois Forte Reservation, was 771. In 1930, the Indian population of the Nett Lake Reservation was 627. According to the 2010 census, the Indian population of Bois Forte Reservation or Nett Lake Reservation, was 613 (when including mixed bloods it's 638). An exact cause to why this Chippewa Reservation is not gaining a significant Indian population is not known.

After the short conflict, many of the Bois Forte Chippewa's were probably relocated to Red Lake Reservation. The Indian Reorganization Act may be responsible for the the decreasing American Indian population at Bois Forte Reservation. One of the goals of the Indian Reorganization Act was to relocate Native American Indians from reservations, to white communities. "Minnesota Indian Reservations," Handbook of Indians North of Mexico, by Frederick Webb Hodge Available online. There are only two communities within the Bois Forte (Nett Lake) reservation.

Records
Land Records: Allotted Land: 55,211 acres