Bugonaygishig

Bugonaygishig lived on the Leech Lake Reservation during a time when the United States was actively screwing up his Reservations land base. By 1898 the Pillager leader had seen enough of what the United States was doing (the United States had opened up Leech Lake to white settlement, and also imprisoned Bugonaygishig). By October of 1898 Bugonaygishig had enough of the illicit actions of the United States and fled from American law which wanted to prosecute the pillager leader over charges of illegal alcohol use. However, old bug had many fellow Pillagers who supported him and they gathered round him to aid him in his time of need. The United States ordered almost 100 American soldiers to an island on Leech Lake Reservation Bugonaygishig was hiding on, and upon their arrival, Bugonaygishigs warriors wasted little time initiating a battle which they won. After the battle some 23 American soldiers had been either killed or wounded in the last battle between Native Americans and the United States army. Bugonaygishig lived for almost another 20 years after the October 5, 1898 battle, and even saw the evil United States preserve much of his Leech Lake Reservation land as part of the Chippewa National Forest of northern Minnesota. Bugonaygishig died in 1917.