White Pine Treaty

Millions of acres, including all the land seen from this bridge and beyond, were ceded under an 1837 treaty between Ojibwe and Dakota bands and the United States government. This acreage contained vast tracts of prized white pine growing north of Taylors Falls and throughout the St. Croix River watershed. The treaty transferred land used by Native tribes for fishing, hunting, ricing, sugaring, and gathering roots and herbs to logging interests. After being denied treaty rights to hunt and fish on the ceded land, the Ojibwe and Dakota moved on. Many descendants of these Native people now live on reservations and in communities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and beyond. The lumber industry cleared the forests in the St. Croix watershed in about 60 years.

Houlton, Wisconsin · United States