Menominee Enterprises, Inc. (MEI) was created under Chapter 180 of the Wisconsin Statutes, in order to hold and administer the Menominee Indian tribal resources after the termination of reservation status by the federal government on April 30, 1961. In accordance with the Articles of Incorporation and the By-laws of the Corporation, each enrolled Menominee received a certificate of beneficial interest, representing 100 shares of common stock in MEI. Adult Menominees were entitled to vote directly for members of the Menominee Common Stock and Voting Trust, while the First Wisconsin Trust Company of Milwaukee was empowered to vote on behalf of Menominee minors and other persons of legal disability. The seven members of the Menominee Common Stock and Voting Trust held and voted all shares in MEI, and also selected the twelve member Board of Directors. In turn, the Board of Directors selected the officers of MEI who were responsible for the day-to-day business decisions of the corporation. The Board also created a number of standing committees, consisting of three to five Board members, including: Conservation, Executive, Forest and Mills, Historical, Land Use and Area Development (which became Resource and Business Development in 1969), Legislative, and Planning.
In order to broaden the weak tax base of Menominee County after termination, MEI implemented a number of far-reaching measures which included the leasing of scenic and recreational areas to the state; the sale of land, primarily lake-frontage, to non-Menominees; and the expansion and diversification of forest-products industries. Opposition to these measures and to the Voting Trust structure of the corporation, however, led to the creation of DRUMS (Determination of Rights and Unity of Menominee Stockholders) and a move to restore federal reservation status to the Menominees. In 1973 the Menominee Restoration Act was passed (P.L. 93-197) and in 1975 the tribal land held by MEI was put into trust with the U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
