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The Boise Forte Indian Reservation in Minnesota. 



By Albert B. Reagan. 



Tlie Bois(p) Foi't(e) Chippewa Indians live in nortliern Minnesota 

 on a reservation of tlie same name surrouadini; tiic beautiful Nett Lake. 

 The reservation covers one wliole townsliij> and eight fractional townships. 

 Its eastern part is in St. Louis County, the bulk of it in Koochiching 

 County. It contains a total of 103,862.7.3 acres, exclusive of the area of 

 the lake. Of this area, 55,046.43 acres are allotted to 693 Indians, 48,216.- 

 30 acres remain luiallotted, and 4-34.64 is reserved for agency and school 

 purposes. Of the 48,216.30 acres unallotted much of it has been reserved 

 by the GoAernment as pine lands and from time to time the timber on 

 parts of the said lands has been sold under sealed bids, the closing out 

 sale occurring September 15, this year. In all the timber on 9,533.70 

 acres has been sold, 3,2.33.77 being sold September 15, 6,299.93 having 

 l>een sold previously. The other unallotted lands will be subject to settle- 

 ment as homestead lands in the near future. There will also be something 

 like 30,000 acres of Inherited Indian lands to be sold within the next 

 two j-ears. 



Xett Lake is in the east central part of the reservation. It is more 

 than half a township in area. It is in the shape of a giant lobster's 

 hand with the claws pointing eastward, the large claw being the north 

 digit. The lake is shallow and has a mud buttom. It is a rice field and 

 a duck pond combined. In summer, it looks like a vast wheat field. In 

 the fall it swarms with ducks and consequently is a sporting center for 

 the hunters of all this northern country. 



The lands included in the reservation are well timbered. The princi- 

 pal species represented are white and Norway pine, spruce, cedar, elm. 

 Cottonwood, oak, birch, and poplar. The latter two are the most abundant 

 and will be of value some day as pulp wood. 



The land of the reservation is very variable in condition of soil and 

 possible fertility. Ono-half of it is swamp and is known to the Indians 

 as "Muskeg" lands. Over this area there is a stratum of peat from six 

 inches to five feet in thickness. When once drained this will be the best 



