Native American Evidence at Bertram

OjibweCanoeMany people have asked me if there was any evidence of Native American activity around the Bertram Lakes area and I can say that there was. In 2009, when interest in purchasing the area from the YMCA became apparent, the Wright County Parks Department contacted Trefoil Cultural & Environmental Heritage Group to conduct a study of the Bertram Lakes Area. Five sites were located, which I will talk about later.

I must first mention a little background on the Native Americans who used the area and why. One group was the Eastern Chippewa. I say Eastern because they were originally from the upper New York and Canada region but were slowly pushed west as the European/American expansion happened. Most settled in northern Wisconsin, Minnesota and Canada but did range as far south into the area east and northeast of the Mississippi River. Being hunters and gatherers who traveled by river, they had some influence along the rivers.

The major group who left their imprint on the area were the Sioux, mostly an extension of the Plains Sioux tribes, primarily Santee. The Sioux tended to be nomadic and moved about the land in a more random fashion. The most common element between the two is that they camped in their movements within 200′ of a water source. Thus, when the study of the Bertram Lakes property was conducted, five sites were identified around Bertram Lake and Long Lake. The sites noted include:

  • The north end of Long Lake
  • The beach area at the north end of Bertram Lake
  • The south end of Bertram Lake near the boat launch
  • The open camping area southwest of the old YMCA Camp headquarters building
  • The east side of Long Lake on the Kame

In studying the sites, the shovel and sifting method was used. Small pieces of quartz, chert and some remains of pottery were found. All areas had some remnants with the exception of the north end of Long Lake. None of the sites identified qualified for the National Registry.

The results of the survey seem to indicate that this was a “move through” area where natives stayed for a day or two and then moved on. Although, far from being proven, it seems that the Esker may be been the main avenue of travel for the native populations but this is only speculation.

Click the link here to view a map showing the sites with Native American evidence at Bertram.

 

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