Hundreds Gather for 2026 Sandy Lake Memorial Paddle

McGREGOR, Minn. — More than 300 people from Ojibwe communities across Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan gathered Wednesday, July 29, on the shores of Big Sandy Lake for the annual Mikwendaagoziwag Memorial Paddle, honoring the hundreds of Ojibwe men, women and children who died during the Sandy Lake Tragedy of 1850-51.

An estimated 50 to 60 canoes launched from the eastern shore of Big Sandy Lake following a traditional opening ceremony of prayer, tobacco offerings and reflection. Paddlers crossed approximately four and a half miles of open water to the Mikwendaagoziwag Memorial near Libby Dam, where several hundred additional participants awaited their arrival for the afternoon remembrance ceremony.

Mikwendaagoziwag, an Ojibwe word meaning “They Are Remembered,” commemorates one of the darkest chapters in Ojibwe history. Nearly 176 years ago, the United States government ordered Ojibwe people from present-day Wisconsin and Michigan to travel hundreds of miles to Sandy Lake under the false promise of receiving treaty annuity payments. Instead, they encountered delays, hunger, disease and harsh winter conditions. More than 400 people died at Sandy Lake or on the journey home.

Before the canoes departed, Mille Lacs Band Chief Executive Virgil Wind welcomed those gathered with a message centered on remembrance, unity and gratitude. “Good morning, relatives, elders, spiritual leaders, honored guests and descendants of those whose lives were forever changed by the Sandy Lake Tragedy,” Wind said. “On behalf of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, it is my honor to welcome each of you to this place of remembrance.”

Wind noted that participants had traveled from many Ojibwe nations whose ancestors endured the tragedy, reminding those gathered that while the suffering affected many individual communities, it continues to unite them as one Anishinaabe people.
“Today is not simply about remembering a painful chapter in our history,” he said. “It’s about honoring the lives of those who never returned home. It’s about recognizing the strength of those who survived and reaffirming our responsibility to carry their stories forward with truth and dignity.”

At the memorial overlooking Big Sandy Lake, Wind reflected further on the significance of the tragedy and the perseverance of the Ojibwe people.
He recounted how thousands of Ojibwe responded to the federal government’s order to travel to Sandy Lake expecting treaty payments guaranteed under earlier agreements. Instead, they were left waiting without adequate food, shelter or medical care until winter set in.
“Hundreds perished here and along the difficult journey back to their communities,” Wind said. “Families were forever changed, children lost parents, parents buried their children, and entire communities carried grief that would echo through generations.”

While acknowledging the injustice suffered by their ancestors, Wind emphasized that the story did not end in tragedy.
“Our people refused to disappear,” he said. “They endured, they resisted removal from their homelands, they protected our language, our ceremonies and our way of life. Because of their perseverance, we remain here today as proud Anishinaabe people.”
He encouraged younger generations to understand both the hardships and the resilience of those who came before them.
“Our young people deserve to know that they are descendants of survivors,” Wind said. “They come from people who refused to surrender their identity even when every effort was made to erase it.” Wind concluded by reminding those assembled that remembrance carries responsibility.

“We honor our ancestors by protecting our sovereignty, by teaching our children the truth of our history, and by strengthening our communities,” he said. “Every time we gather here, we affirm that this place will forever be one of remembrance, but also a place of resilience, unity and hope.”

Following prayers and tobacco offerings at the memorial, participants shared a traditional meal while visiting with relatives and friends from across the Great Lakes region. Elders, spiritual leaders and tribal representatives reflected on the lasting impact of the Sandy Lake Tragedy, including how public outrage over the suffering helped influence the Treaty of 1854, which affirmed permanent homelands for several Lake Superior Ojibwe bands and helped end federal efforts to remove them from their ancestral lands.

What began more than two decades ago as a small remembrance attended by only a handful of people has grown into one of the region’s most significant annual commemorations. Each July, the paddle across Big Sandy Lake serves not only as a memorial to those who never made it home, but as a visible reminder that the Ojibwe people, their language, traditions and treaty rights continue to endure.

As dozens of canoes glided quietly across the lake Wednesday morning, they carried more than paddlers. They carried generations of memory, honoring ancestors whose stories continue to shape the present and inspire future generations never to forget.