Though, historians claim Ogimaa (chief) Bagonegiizhig was never an actual leader, that could be misleading.
The goal of the 1889 Nelson Act was to relocate all Minnesota Chippewas to the White Earth Reservation.
However, many Chippewas continued to live on their Reservations and the whites dealt with a determined people who did not want to lose their remaining land.
After being forced to walk back to the Leech Lake Reservation from Duluth (an over 100 mile journey), after being arrested for bootlegging, Chief Bugonaygeshig became extremely angry.
The event occurred at Onigum on September 15, 1898 after Chief Bugonaygeshig and Shaboondayshkong, paid a visit to the village for supposed annuity payments.
Instead of pursuing the two fleeing Chippewa leaders, the Indian Agent at Leech Lake Reservation knew he could only call for military support.
The Battle of Sugar Point was not over an average Anishinabe citizen facing jail time but was about saving all Minnesota Chippewa Reservations.
Once the commander of Fort Snelling received the message from Onigum, he sent a force of 20 soldiers to the Leech Lake Reservation.
An indication that the United States wanted to show a stronger military presence or the Chippewa's soldiers were increasing in numbers for a war.
An Indian account of how the battle commenced, tells of white soldiers shooting at boats carrying Chippewa women.
may claim other events occurred but ogima Bugonaygeshig and the Chippewas under his leadership refused to end the war.
An agreement was reached between ogima Bugonaygeshig and other Chippewa leaders and representatives of the United States, which set aside a new and larger closed Leech Lake Reservation.