Mole Lake Sokaogon Chippewa

A strongly worded statement from the Mole Lake Sokaogon Chippewa Tribal Council defends Chair Chris McGeshick after state charges were filed Monday in Forest County Circuit Court.

Internet court records find McGeshick was charged Monday with false imprisonment, a lower felony, and two misdemeanors of battery and disorderly conduct. In a statement from the tribal council, they say the charges against McGeshick involve a former employee who is allegedly under investigation by tribal authorities.

A spokesperson says the donation of recording equipment by the State Bar of Wisconsin to the Sokaogon Chippewa Community at Mole Lake will help record elder histories. The Tribal Historic Preservation program was recently notified of the gift.

Tribal Historic Preservation officer Adam VanZile says they were donated two cameras and related equipment after the State Bar bought new equipment. But some rarely used equipment was available and VanZile says that equipment was donated to the tribe....

March 10th, Native Americans from area tribes were in Washington, D.C. to protest policy toward the Standing Rock tribe by the federal government. Today we hear from three Members of the Mole Lake Sokaogon Chippewa Community... Arlyn Ackley, Jr., Tribal Vice-Chairman, Vickie Ackley, Tribal Treasurer, and Carson Ackley, tribal councilman. They spoke with WXPR's Ken Krall. We hear first from Arlyn Ackley...

Representatives from the state’s eleven tribes are wrapping up a conference on Native American tourism. Many are looking to tourism to provide an economic boost.  

The Sokoagon Chippewa Community hosted the annual Native American Tourism of Wisconsin, or NATOW, conference this week.  Tribes from around the state gathered in Mole Lake to talk about fresh ways to market themselves and draw visitors.

Fish hatcheries in Mole Lake and Lac du Flambeau will be getting money from the DNR to raise larger walleye fingerlings.  It's part of a round of grants to nine hatcheries statewide totaling $2 million.

  The Wisconsin DNR wants to stock lakes with bigger walleye fingerlings, because they have higher survival rates.  This round of grant money will pay for infrastructure like ponds and tanks….that will allow hatcheries to raise more of those 6 to 8 inch fingerlings.

Today marks 10 years since two Native tribes purchased land that was once slated for a copper and zinc mine near the Mole Lake Sokaogon Reservation.

That tribe and Forest County Potawatomi bought the land for more than 16 million dollars. 

WXPR’s Natalie Jablonski went to a celebration this weekend marking the anniversary…and she sat down with some of the tribal activists from Mole Lake. 

Hear from Fred Ackley Jr.:

Hear from Francis Van Zile:

Today marks 10 years since a proposal for a copper and zinc mine in Forest County came to an end.  Members of the Mole Lake Sokaogon Chippewa and Menominee tribes gathered this weekend to celebrate…but pointed out that mining remains a controversial issue in northern Wisconsin.