[2] In 1781, a large band of Ojibwe had taken control of Leech Lake and were designated by white traders as "Pillagers" or Muk-im-dua-win-in-e-wug (men who take by force).

He built a bark house for himself and within a few months he managed to complete a mud-walled cabin to protect himself from the onset of winter.

On April 12, 1865, President Lincoln assigned Edwin Clark to be agent for the Ojibwe indians of Minnesota as well as Pembina and Turtle Mountains.

The Leech Lake Indian Agency was established by an Act of Congress, approved March 1, 1899, and $15,000 appropriated for constructing the suitable buildings and related work.

In January 1926, Congressman Knutson introduced a bll to set aside 276 acres at Onigum for a village, but it was not passed.