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 Ojibwe language meaning “wild rice people”. They are a federally recognized nation of Native Americans, with a 354 square mile reservation in Wisconsin. Their historic territory originally included an estimated 10 million acres in present-day Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The tribe currently has about 8,700 members. Chief Oshkosh served the tribe from 1827 until his death on August 29, 1858. Living to the age of 63 years. The word Oshkosh means “Claw”. 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 The US government made an effort to convert the Menominee Tribe to an agrarian society, but the tribes were 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 lands 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 Menominee Tribe would depend on for logging. The Menominee became known for the early development of forestry management practices used to sustain the forests they depended upon for their livelihoods. Chief Oshkosh fought hard to negotiate for these lands. His skills in persuasion played an integral role in the successful negotiation of several treaties. The Menominee was one of very few Native American Tribes to remain on their original lands.

Treaty of Lake Poygan—attempted to move them to Minnesota. It was negotiated on October 18, 1848 at Lake Poygan. Provisions of the treaty were not carried out, as Chief Oshkosh, in 1852, persuaded President Fillmore to permit the tribe to remain on its Wolf River lands in Wisconsin. Wolf River Treaty—in 1854 the tribe refused to move to Minnesota, the Wolf River Treaty was negotiated creating a permanent reservation of 250,000 acres. Federal Termination Program—Eisenhower Administration 1954 In 1961 the reservation was terminated and became part of Menominee County. The tribe regained federal recognition in 1973 in an act of Congress, and re-established its reservation in 1975.

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 celebration of the onset of spring. This cultural tradition was threatened in the late 1800’s when two dams were constructed to supply electricity. The dams cut off the sturgeon spawning grounds. Removal of the dams proved nearly impossible, but over 100 years later, government agencies cooperated with the Native American tribes to develop a solution. The sturgeon were relocated a few miles and successfully spawned in the Wolf River below Keshena Falls. The Menominee people have been able to restore their traditional sturgeon feast celebration.

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—http://www.menominee-nsn.gov/ June 2017