Bois Forte Heritage Museum 

About

Located on the grounds of Fortune Bay Resort & Casino near
Tower, MN on the Iron Range of northeastern Minnesota. The museum is dedicated
to telling the Bois Forte Ojibwe story-as our name-Atisokanigamig or LEGEND
HOUSE tells. We do have a guided tour for 10 persons or more, if you would call
ahead of time to set up. We encourage school groups to come and visit and learn
about our people of the North Woods.

Exhibits: The museum tour starts with the Mural of Migration
that traces our lineage back to the East Coast and tells the story of a 500
year journey with stops along the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes. It
moves to the Land without Borders to showcase the different areas in the region
where Bois Forte people had trails, villages, and seasonal camps. Next, you’ll
find the Waaginogan, a life-size birch bark dwelling. From there you visit the
Fur Post made to represent the first fur post on Lake Vermilion. The Lake
Vermilion Indian Boarding School exhibit is next where you’ll find a replica classroom
with copies of documents that tell the school’s history. The Lifeways exhibit is
next which showcases our traditional harvest activities from maple syruping,
wild ricing, games, and has Ojibwe floral patterned beadwork on display. Our
Veterans Wall comes next to honor our tribal members who served in the
military. Lastly, you’ll end up in the circle area which displays pow wow dancing
regalia. There is a T.V. where you can watch a movie about Bois Forte to
enhance your knowledge with history told by our Elders.

Gift Shop: Most of the items in the gift shop such as the
birch bark, beaded items, and artwork, are made by the talented artists of the
Bois Forte Band and bought by the museum to sell in the gift shop. Our most
popular gift shop item is our wild rice, which is harvested every fall when
people bring in their finished rice to sell. Money made by our members is used
for their children’s school clothing or to pay bills. We also have bead and
bead supplies available for sale for artists in the area and make birch bark gift
baskets, which can be filled with our wild rice, jellies, and various
memorabilia from the gift shop. The Bois Forte Heritage Center and Cultural
Museum has Carl Gawboy and Joe Geshick prints for sale, with photos of the
available work down further on the page. Contact us today
to learn more about our gift baskets and other items from the gift shop.

The Bois Forte Heritage Center and Cultural Museum’s mission
is “To preserve and perpetuate Ojibwe culture and to advance understanding by
presenting with dignity and respect, the accomplishments and evolving history
of the Bois Forte people of northern Minnesota.” The Bois Forte Heritage Center
and Cultural Museum does not sell anything considered sacred including sage,
sweet grass, cedar, drums, pipes, or anything else considered to be sacred. The
focus is on teaching the culture of the Bois Forte Band so our visitors will
have a greater appreciation and understanding of our people.