Strawberry Island, Lac du Flambeau
Sacred Site
by Carol Brown Biermeier,
Esq.
Analysis Prepared for the
Tribal Historic Preservation Office,
Lac du Flambeau Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
GEOGRAPHY AND PHYSIOLOGY
Strawberry Island is located within the exterior boundaries of the Lac
du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indian Reservation, Vilas
County, Wisconsin, comprising approximately 26.5 acres of undeveloped
and densely wooded forest. The Island is covered by a mature forest
dominated by red pine, red oak, and big tooth aspen. The presence of
the red pine represents one of the few remaining stands of natural origin
in the upper Great Lakes region. There is a small wetland of less than
five (5) acres on the South end of the Island. A review of the endangered
and threatened plant species listed by the State of Wisconsin reveals
that five of these species have the potential to occur in the habitats
found on the Island, although a perfunctory walk-over revealed no such
plants evident. The plant qualities are not unique, but are of high
quality and worth preserving for the many plants traditionally used
by the Chippewa as well as for their aesthetic value. The Island is
also an important bald eagle and osprey hunting and perching area and
has significant potential as future nesting site. Strawberry Island
has remained virtually undeveloped through the years, with the exception
of natural erosion and minor clearing by the owner of dead trees and
brush in the mid-1960s.
TITLE
The Island is owned in fee by a non-Indian, who acquired title to the
Island in 1910 by warranty deed, purchasing the property from a Lac
du Flambeau Tribal member. Title has remained in the same family, with
the property being deeded through inheritance in the 1950s to an heir
to the family, who currently holds title under a family trust of the
same name.
For reasons uncertain, the Tribe was unaware that the Island had
passed title in fee to a non-Indian until the early 1960s, when the
owner hired some tribal members to assist in the clearing of some of
the trees and brush.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Early in the 1960s, the Wisconsin North Lakes Project, under the direction
of Beloit Archaeology Professor, Dr. Robert Salzer, obtained permission
from the owner to conduct an archaeological survey on the Island. The
interest in the Island was due to studies indicating historic or prehistoric
occupations and the discovery of artifacts on the Island.
The resultant report revealed significant evidence to support the
fact that three separate societies inhabited the Island: A Nokomis Phase
Middle Woodland occupation dating approximately 200 B.C. to A.D. 200,
a Lakes Phase Late Woodland occupation dating approximately A.D. 1000
to A.D. 1400, and a John Badger Phase Historic Chippewa occupation dating
approximately to the late 19th century. Artifacts were also discovered
in all parts of the Island, including a workshop area, pottery shards,
stone tools, copper beads, copper awls, historic fishing lures, and
evidence supporting potential unmarked burials and cemeteries. Further,
based on Lac du Flambeau Chippewa Tribal oral history, a significant
territorial battle occurred on the Island between the Chippewa Tribe
and the Sioux Tribe. Evidence of this battle have been discovered in
and around the Island. Finally, according to Chippewa Tribal legends,
the physical location of the Island, when viewed in conjunction with
other significant sites on the Reservation, plays a significant role
in the Tribe's philosophy and beliefs connected to the Tribe's origin
and creation. Tribal legends also indicate a taboo to anyone who walks
on, inhabits, or degrades the Island. Therefore, the Island plays not
only a significant role with regard to archaeology and history, but
weighs heavily in the Tribe's religious beliefs. As a result, the Tribe
has continuously viewed the Island as sacred, worshipping on the waters
around the Island for various ceremonial purposes. This revealing archaeological
study, together with the revelation that the Island was not owned by
the Tribe, launched an aggressive campaign by the Tribe to protect the
Island from degradation.
In 1976, the Tribe was successful in obtaining State and National
Historic Register status. Publicity about the impacts to the Island
by potential development led to the State of Wisconsin adding Strawberry
Island to its Ten Most Endangered Historic Properties List in 1994.
TRIBE-OWNER NEGOTIATIONS
>From the mid-1970s to the present day, the Tribe has unsuccessfully
attempted to purchase the Island. Discussions began in 1976, when the
owner subdivided the Island by plat into 16 lots. Negotiations included
bonafide offers by the Tribe to options of federal land trades involving
the Bureau of Land Management. Each option failed on the base disagreement
between the Tribe and the owner of a price mutually agreeable to the
parties. In 1988, the owner listed the property for sale for approximately
$350,000, but shortly after the Tribe showed an interest in the Island,
the price escalated to $1.2 million. The Tribe asked for an appraisal
from the owner justifying the asking price, but the resultant effect
was for the price of the Island to escalate to $3.5 million, which is
the current asking price to date. In 1995, the Tribe made an offer of
$200,000, which is 40% more than the highest appraisal conducted by
certified appraisers hired by the Tribe. The offer was rejected, and
the owner obtained a sanitary permit for one of the lots, and applied
for a building permit for the same lot (Lot #7). A tribal public hearing
and a county public hearing was conducted on whether a permit to develop
a condominium project on the Island was in the public's best interests.
The county hearing resulted in a denial of the building permit by the
Vilas county Zoning Committee. An appeal to the Board of Adjustment
resulted in an affirmance, and the owner appealed that decision to the
Vilas County Circuit Court. Before a decision was rendered, the owner
applied for a building permit on another lot on the Island. Immediately
thereafter, in October, 1996, the Tribe petitioned for and received
a temporary restraining order, against the Vilas County Zoning Administrator
issuing any building permits until the previously filed appeal was decided.
A preliminary injunction remains in effect...The owner has made it clear
he wants to sell the Island to the Tribe. The Tribe believes, however,
that with the advent of Indian gaming, the owner is under the misperception
that the Tribe has the financial wherewithal to purchase the Island
at any price. The Tribe is unwilling to purchase the Island for anything
other than a justified figure.
CONCLUSION
Land is central to Native American culture. More specifically, sacred
land is the center of many Indian religious practices. Native American
religious worship focuses on the intrinsic spiritual significance of
the site where spiritual events occur and not on the events themselves.
Therefore, the loss of tribal lands has had a devastating effect on
Tribes.
No situation is more evident than the one surrounding Strawberry
Island.
This particular land loss incurred by the Tribe, coupled with the
fact that Congress has yet to pass legislation that would protect sacred
sites from arbitrary governmental actions, even when those actions result
in the destruction of the site, leaves the Lac du Flambeau Tribe facing
an insurmountable uphill battle. Meanwhile, the owner of Strawberry
Island continues to threaten to clearcut the Island and other destructive
activities that place pressure on the Tribe to agree to his terms.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
To help the Lac du Flambeau Tribe reclaim Strawberry Island write or
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Vilas County Zoning Administrator, Vilas County Courthouse, Eagle
River WI 54521, phone: (715) 479-3620.
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Vilas County Zoning Committee, Chairperson, Vilas County courthouse,
Eagle River WI 54521.
-
Vilas County Board of Adjustment, Chairperson, Vilas county Courthouse,
Eagle River WI 54521.
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Editor, Lakeland Times Newspaper, Minocqua WI 54548.
-
Sen Feingold, 502 Hart Senate Office Bldg, Washington DC 20510.
Phone: (202) 224-5323.
-
Senator Roger Breske, Room 408 South, State Capitol, PO Box 7882,
Madison WI 53707. Phone: (608) 266-2509.
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Rep. Joseph W. Handrick, Room 21 North, State Capitol, PO Box
8952, Madison WI 53708. Phone: (608) 266-7141. For more information
contact the Lac du Flambeau Chippewa Tribe, Box 67, Lac du Flambeau
WI 54538. Phone: (715) 588-3303.
Reprinted, with
permission of the author, from the Winter 1997/98 issue of On Indian
Land, PO Box 2104, Seattle WA 98111. Phone: (206) 525-5086.
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