The Sandy Lake Tragedy
Title: Sandy Lake Tragedy
Author: Mike Mestelle
Overview / Description:
The Treaty of 1837 signed between the United States Government and the Ojibwe Tribe called for annuity payments to be made at Madeline Island. This video features the movement of the annuity payment location from Madeline Island to Sandy Lake, Minnesota in 1850, the difficult travel of the Ojibwe and the death of 400 tribal members, the trip of Chief Buffalo to Washington, D.C., and the decision to move the payment location back to Madeline Island.
Subject(s): Native American History, Wisconsin History, Treaty Rights
Grade Level(s): 9th grade - 12th grade
Learning goals/objectives:
After completing this activity, students should be able to:
- Understand the events surrounding the 1850 Order to move the annuity payment location
- Trace the journey of Chief Buffalo to Washington, D.C.
- Connect the outcome of Chief Buffalo’s visit with their lives today
- Compose of a formal letter of thanks
Type of Activity:
X Individual
- Small Group
X Whole Class
Teaching Strategies:
X Discussion
- Partner work
- Use of Technology
- Role Playing
X Video prompt for writing
Content Standards:
Length of Time:
1 class period
Materials:
- The Sandy Lake Tragedy - Accessed from Youtube at https://youtu.be/u6VaiLfy3CE (Published by the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission)
- Treaty map of ceded lands (attached)
- Sandy Lake Tragedy transcript of speech given to Millard Fillmore (contact www.wisconsinfirstnations.org for text (p. 153 Classroom Activities on Treaty Rights)
- Brochure from Great Lakes Indian Fish and WIldlife Commission (available for free download from the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission at http://www.glifwc.org/publications/pdf/SandyLake_Brochure.pdf)
Directions (Step-by-Step):
- Previous to this lesson, the students would have studied the Treaties of 1837, 1842, and 1854 and would have viewed the map of the land ceded from the Ojibwe Tribe to the federal government. They would also understand the concepts of retained rights to hunt, fish, and gather upon the ceded territories.
- Watch the video of the Sandy Lake Tragedy.
- Discuss the major ideas presented in the video.
Wrap-Up:
Students write a thank you letter to Chief Buffalo as if he were still alive and thank him for moving the payment spot back to Madeline Island. Their letter focuses on the traditions that are important to them and the impact that remaining in Wisconsin has had upon their family.
