The Sokaogon Chippewa Community signed an offer to purchase on October 31, 2018, for 190 acres known as the Hoffman Property.
The property, currently owned by the family of Ray Hoffman, is culturally significant, is located adjacent to the property that was formerly known as the Crandon Mine, and borders the Tribe’s reservation.
“This allows our community to increase the size of our reservation and take back land that is culturally and environmentally significant to us,” said Chris McGeshick, Chairman. “This purchase means a lot because historically this was all once Ojibwe land. This property is that much closer to linking our Crandon Mine property with the actual trust lands of the reservation. Ray Hoffman took excellent care of his land. It’s like a sanctuary with an old spring, a creek and pond with trout. In one of the 40-acre plots, there are beautiful maple trees and he has a sugar camp still set up. We could set up a community sugar camp for our kids,” said Tina Van Zile, Environmental Director. “We had a good relationship with Ray, and will maintain this pristine property. It will be gated, and no vehicles will be allowed,” continued Chairman McGeshick.
The Tribe agreed to a purchase price of $475,000. The offer to purchase was accepted by the Hoffman family, and closing is expected within 60 days.
About the Sokaogon Chippewa Community: The Sokaogon Chippewa Community Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is located in the Town of Nashville, in Forest County, Wisconsin. The reservation is southwest of the city of Crandon. The Mole Lake Indian Reservation is 4,904.2 acres in size, and includes land around Rice Lake, Bishop Lake and Mole Lake. About 500 Tribal Members live on the reservation, while an additional 1,000 Members live off the reservation.
The Sokaogon Chippewa Community continues to harvest wild rice and spear fish in traditional ways and exercise their treaty rights. The Tribe utilizes state of the art technology to protect the resources of their environment for future generations. The Tribe uses gaming revenues wisely by investing in cultural preservation and restoration projects, environmental planning of their resources, education of their community members, and social programs that enhance the general health and welfare of the Sokaogon Chippewa Community.
