hunting – Page 5 – Turtle Talk

Still More Press Coverage of Inland Settlement

October 3, 2007October 17, 2007Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Key dates in the battle over Indian hunting and fishing rights in Michigan:

1836: Treaty of Washington between Ottawa and Chippewa bands and the United States. Tribes cede ownership of about 13.9 million acres in northern Lower Peninsula, eastern Upper Peninsula.

1930: Michigan Supreme Court rules no Indian fishing rights exist under previous treaties.

1971: Court reverses itself, saying Bay Mills Indian Community has treaty fishing rights.

1973: Federal government files suit, seeking state recognition of tribal fishing rights.

1985: Consent decree reached, setting tribal and non-tribal fishing zones in portions of Lakes Michigan, Huron and Superior.

2000: Updated version of consent decree approved.

2003: Michigan asks court to rule that tribal fishing rights on inland waters and 1836 treaty lands have expired.

Sept. 26, 2007: State, tribes announce settlement of inland rights case.

Michigan Inland Treaty Rights Settlement

September 28, 2007October 17, 2007Matthew L.M. Fletcher2 Comments

The big news in Michigan Indian Country is the settlement after three years of negotiation of the biggest question left open in the United States v. Michigan litigation — inland hunting and fishing rights.

Links to news reports/press releases are here and here. The Sault Tribe is holding a referendum. One interesting question is whether the other four tribes (Grand Traverse Band, Bay Mills, Little Traverse, and Little River) will be bound by the consent decree if Sault Tribe votes to reject it. Hopefully, that question won’t come up.