Bena, Leech Lake Reservation

Located at Leech Lake Reservations central portion, Bena has a population of 143 according to 2020's census. Below is a map of Bena, Minnesota and links to Bing Maps photos of this small Ojibway Town. Bena is located on "Fee Land" or Private Land as it's also known! Native Americans make up 72.7% of it's population. Whites make up 15.4%. Mixed bloods 11.9%. Bena may be a predominantly white community. It's an organized community and many claiming to be native are probably predominantly white. By claiming to be native they gain access to benefits natives receive. According to 2010's census, Bena has 60 total housing units, with 43 lived in. 2020's census reported that Bena had 49 housing units yet both are wrong. Bena is a city with boundaries. At the extreme northeast of Bena is a mobile home park adjacent to Lake Winnibigoshish. There are as many as 30 housing units located there. Further south where the main part of Bena is located, the number of housing units is 60 or more. Adjacent to Chesapeake Drive and Chesapeake Drive Northeast and Main Street (you'd think they'd include Main Street but they don't) are another 10 housing units. They're not being honest. Though housing units located adjacent to Chesapeake Drive, Chesapeake Drive Northeast and Main Street are excluded, it they were included Bena would have near 100 housing units. Including the mobile home park, the population of Bena is closer to 200. Bena's housing units are not uniform. They're scattered about. Few businesses are located at Bena. Using google earth you can count up to 60 housing units. It does not include public buildings. A post office has been in use at Bena since 1898 or about the same time Cass Lake was established. Whites established Bena and were quick to learn that Pillager Ojibwa's refused to relocate to White Earth Reservation. During October 1898, a minor rebellion was fought at Pokagomin Reservation (aka Leech Lake Reservation) to prevent relocations. After the minor rebellion the United States returned Pokagomin Reservation (aka Leech Lake Reservation) and all other Minnesota Ojibwa Reservations they illegally eradicated using 1889's Nelson Act. Bena has a land area of more than 0.5 sq. mi. or 1.3 sq. km. From it's south boundary to Lake Winnibigoshish it's 1.25 miles. On average it's width is slightly less than 0.5 miles. Bena is probably a predominantly white town! However, I would need to know the demographics of the mobile home park to be certain! Mobile homes there, are in good condition and lived in year round. Most people living at the mobile home park are obviously white. Why they included the mobile home park as being a part of the land area of Bena is not known. Excluding the mobile home parks population from the population of Bena is also not known. Another factor is the community less than 1/2 a mile northwest of Bena. A school is located there along with near 15 housing units. Adjacent to it on it's east is Nodak Lodge and Resort. Twice as many housing units are located there than at the mobile home park to it's east that's a part of the land area of Bena. The United States is obviously trying to assimilate Ojibwa People. Bena is pronounced "Bay-na." It means Partridge in Ojibwa Language. Most citizens living in this small city are not doing well financially. Around 58% live under poverty line. It's a city yet it's a poor one which indicates it's an Ojibwa City. Elevation is 1,316 feet above sea level. Zip code is 56626. It is a region that is especially beautiful during spring, summer, and autumn.

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