presently is considerable unmet demand for housing on the reservation. Tribal
authorities receive
several calls a week from members as far away as Chicago, Milwaukee, and
Los Angeles requesting
housing of any kind.

Reservation Traffic - Automobile and truck traffic on Highway 55 is a continuous
hazard to the
residents of the Mole Lake Chippewa Reservation. Four pedestrians have been
struck and killed along
the roadway between the Arrowhead Cafe and Mole Lake Elementary School since
1962. Three
others have been seriously injured. In 1966, a sidewalk was constructed from
the trading post north
to the bridge over Swamp Creek. An adjacent sidewalk is utilized by a large
number of pedestrians
when the weather is good. During the winter, however, snow piles make the
sidewalk generally
impassable.

Mole Lake Chippewa Reservation Land Use - All land within the Mole Lake Chippewa
Reservation
boundary is tribally owned. Rice Lake and the adjoining wetlands are the
dominant physical features
on the reservation. Upland brush and low-grade timber land cover the remainder
of the reservation.
In addition to the wild rice produced each year, the waters of Rice Lake
provide fish and waterfowl.
The Sokaogan fish and hunt on the lake, and collect numerous plant foods
and herbs from the
reservation' s wetlands and forests. They also hunt, fish, and collect plant
foods from lands adjoining
the reservation. A prime collecting area, especially good for wild raspberries
and medicinal herbs is
found in the area south of Swamp Creek to the east of the reservation.

Government Structure - The Mole Lake Chippewa Reservation was established
in 1939 by
proclamation of the Assistant Secretary of the Interior. The tribe is governed
by a chairman,
vice-chairman, secretary, and treasurer, each of whom serves a two-year term.
Two councilmen are
elected for terms of one year. The two councilmen, together with the elected
officials, serve as the
tribal council. Between 175 and 220 members vote in a typical tribal election.
Any tribal member 18
years old is eligible to vote. A number of permanent committees serve the
tribal council. There are
permanent committees on health, education, housing, forestry, treaty rights,
mining impact (Exxon
project), Bluegrass Festival, and nuclear waste. The relatively small tribal
population and complex
government results in a wide participatory democracy, with a large proportion
of members directly
involved in tribal government.

Forest County provides law enforcement services for the reservation. Since
Forest County does not
keep separate statistics for the reservation, crime rates are not available.
Tribal authorities report
no murders or suicides in recent years.



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