Here we have displayed both a link to a map that shows the location of the "Rum River", as well as quotations from historical markers and documents that will, we hope, give you an understanding as to why we are trying to restore this river's sacred Dakota name.

We are also trying to change the name of one of the "Rum River's" tributaries, the "West Branch Rum River".

The displays below present:

1.) A link to a section of a Minnesota, U.S.A. map that shows the location of the "Rum" River.

Click Map to view a map of the "Rum" River.

2.) A quotation from a historical document written by Vickie Wendel, the manager of the Anoka Country Historical Society Center and a board member of the Anoka Country Historical Society. In this historical document (River file # 26) Wendel informs us that..."in a 1868 St. Paul Daily Pioneer article, the "Rum" River name is listed, along with some other geographic names, as 'Profane'".

"The 'profane name' was already in use by some in 1861, as was the animosity toward the native people of Minnesota. A St. Paul newspaper reported."

3.) A quotation from a historical marker located at Peninsula Point Two Rivers Historical Park in Anoka, Minnesota. This historical marker credits the naming of the "Rum" River from a "faulty translation".

"In November of 1767, Jonathan Carver stopped at the Point. He is credited with naming the Rum River from a faulty translation of the Dakota words meaning 'spirit river,' which flowed out of Spirit Lake, now known as Mille Lacs Lake."

4.) A quotation from the Rum River historical marker located between Milaca and Onamia states that the "Rum" River name is thought to be a mistranslation.

"The Rum River history is as interesting as its name and thought to be a mistranslation of the Dakota Indian name, spirit, to Rum by white settlers."

5.) A quotation from Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origins and Historic Significances by Warren Upham, published by the Minnesota Historical Society. In this quotation Warren Upham states that the Rum River name is incompatible with its "Sioux" or rather Dakota name (Wakan), because "rum brought misery and ruin...to many of the Indians"

"The name of Rum river, which Carver in 1766 and Pike in 1805 found in use by English-speaking fur traders, was indirectly derived from the Sioux. Their name of Mille Lacs, Mde Wakan, translated Spirit lake, was given to its river, but was changed by the white man to the most common spirituous liquor brought into the Northwest, rum, which brought misery and ruin, as Du Luth observed of brandy, to many of the Indians..."

To view the displayed above quote on the Minnesota Historical Society's website click reference and then ...click "R" and then scroll down to "Rum River", and then click "Go", and then scroll down to Mille Lacs County.

6.) A quotation from Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origins and Historic Significances by Warren Upham, published by the Minnesota Historical Society. In this quotation Warren Upham states that the "Rum" River name is "the white men's perversion of the ancient Sioux name Wakan".

"Nicollet's map, published in 1843, has Iskode Wabo or Rum R., this name given by the Ojibways, but derived by them from the white men's perversion of the ancient Sioux name Wakan, being in more exact translation "Fire Water".

To view the displayed above quote on the Minnesota Historical Society's website click reference and then ...click "R" and then scroll down to "Rum River", and then click "Go", and then scroll down to Mille Lacs County.

To view the displayed above quote located on an on-line presentation of the book Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origins and Historic Significances by Warren Upham click "the white men's perversion of the ancient Sioux name Wakan"

7.) A quotation from Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origins and Historic Significances by Warren Upham, published by the Minnesota Historical Society. In this quotation Warren Upham admonishes the white men who named the river "Rum". He wrote in Minnesota Geographic Names that the "Rum" River is a "badly named" river.

"Anoka, Minnesota.....It was said to mean 'on both sides,' when rendered into less musical English; and to this day the name is by no means inappropriate, as the town is growing up and extending on either side of the beautiful but badly named river."

8.) A quotation from Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origins and Historic Significances by Warren Upham, published by the Minnesota Historical Society. In this quotation Warren Upham states that the white man's name for the river ("Rum") is both a "punning translation" name, as well as a "punning perversion" of the ancient Sioux name Wakan.

"Wakan island, noted on a following page for the present village of Wahkon, was the source of the name Mde Wakan, to the lake and to this great subtribe of the Siouan people, and was accountable, by a punning translation, for the Rum river, the outlet of this lake....." and Spirit island...Wonderful as this island is, it was the origin of the Sioux name of the lake, of this village, and, by a punning perversion noted on a later page, the name of Rum river."

To view the 'punning translation' segment of the displayed above quote on the Minnesota Historical Society's website click reference and then ...click "R" and then scroll down to "Rum River", and then click "Go", and then scroll down to Mille Lacs County.

9.) The City of Cambridge, Minnesota (population 5,520), Isanti County Active Living By Design and the Cambridge Campus of Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC) have made a multicultural statement that shows due respect for Native Americans. They made this multicultural statement by naming a Cambridge two mile long nature area - located along the currently named "Rum" River - SPIRIT RIVER NATURE AREA, instead of Rum River Nature Area.

Interpretive signs were created and added to trials in this nature area. These signs located along the SPIRIT RIVER NATURE AREA trails tell visitors about the plant and animal life, the ecosystems, the geology, and even some cultural history associated with this nature area.

On an interpretive sign located in this nature area there are the words: "The Rum River was the super highway for the Isanti Indians. To them, this important waterway was known as Watpa Wakan, the Great Spirit River, until a white man's pun turned 'spirit' into 'rum'."

Click Spirit River Nature Area to view more information about this nature area.