Menominee

Menominee, also called Mamaceqtaw or Menomini, are a federally recognized Native American tribe in the state of Wisconsin. The Menominee language is Algonquian, and the people identify with the ethnonym Mamaceqtaw, meaning “the people.” Their historic homeland was along the Fox River, Green Bay, and the Menominee River in eastern Wisconsin.

Today, about 9,000 enrolled members live, primarily on the Menominee Indian Reservation in eastern Wisconsin, centered on the town of Keshena in Menominee County. The tribe operates under a constitutional government led by a chairperson and a tribal council, and it runs a range of enterprises.

The Menominee are known for sustainable forest management; the reservation contains extensive timberlands managed by the tribe. Economic ventures include timber operations and the Menominee Casino Resort, along with other tribal businesses that support community services and development.

Historically, the Menominee signed various treaties with the United States in the 19th century, ceding land in exchange for reservation lands and protections. In 1954, federal policy terminated their status as a federally recognized tribe, but the Menominee Restoration Act of 1973 restored recognition and self-government.

Culturally, the Menominee maintain ceremonies, crafts, and language revitalization programs, and continue to teach and practice traditional practices alongside contemporary life.