One of the northernmost bands and reservations of the Chippewa or Anishinabe people found in
the United States, the 565,000 acres (NAA, 280) belonging to the Red Lake Ojibwe is
found in north central Minnesota.
The center piece of the reservation is the large Red Lake for which the reservation
is named. That lake, actually two - Upper Red lake and, naturally, Lower Red Lake
connected by a very narrow mouth, is also the center piece of the seal of the Red Lake
Ojibwe nation.
The seal of the Red lake Ojibwe bears the image of both Upper and Lower Red
Lake as well as several of the rivers that feed the lakes. This image appears above a
grove of coniferous trees recalling the pine forests of northern Minnesota. The seal is
formed by this image being surrounded by a ring edged in red. Across the top of the ring
appear seven totem animals of the Ojibwe which also reflect the wildlife of the area.
Included among these totems are the: Bear, Turtle, Bullhead, Otter, Eagle Marten (the largest of the weasels) and the Kingfisher. These animals all appear in black and
represent the various clans of the Ojibwe people.
Hanging from this circular seal are two eagle feathers. The addition of the feathers helps
turn the seal into an image recalling the warrior shields of the past.
The seal is used on a white flag to represent the tribe.
Go on to the flag of the Sac & Fox of Iowa
