[RedM2]

One thing that had not been taken to the courts is hunting rights on all the private land that falls under the treaty. Neither side wants to lose that in court, that’s why neither side has filed suit. I know I would not want to share my private land that I thought I purchased all the rights for.

While it would suck in the near-tear, this is what would certainly move the needle. Most people have zero clue about the treaty and because what's taken from the lakes is a trivial matter to them, they could care less and hop on the feel good social wave and side with the tribes without all the info. You start infringing on their land rights and i think the tide would turn swiftly. People would start to care about the lakes because it would add to their case to reestablish land rights.

I certainly believe in the tribes right to the natural resources found in Michigan, but it needs to be in a balanced (sustainable quantities taken) and responsible (nets removed when needed, fish harvested from nets in a timely mannner, nets safely marked, boats properly tended/maintained at moor, work to leave no evidence of commercial fixing behind) manner.

 

[RedM2]

As a non tribal member I was pretty ignorant on what tribal rights/treaties were all about. My only real exposure was going with my landlord down to the reservation in Lanse/Baraga and help his Mother put up firewood for the winter and whatever chores were deemed necessary. She lived in a dirt floor shack. I was paid in choke cherry brandy in a Clorox jug. That was in the pre casino era. I moved below the bridge in ‘76. In ‘86 some of my buddies and I purchased some land and built a camp in Mackinac county which renewed contact with tribal members. About 20 years later I purchased another camp in Chippewa county, by then casinos were up and running allowing the tribe to purchase businesses with their new found wealth to become the largest employer in the UP. It wasn’t until I after meeting more tribal members and sitting on the Coalition board that I broadened my knowledge. I used to bitch on this site about tribal rights until I found out was not seeing both sides of the equation. I was wrong in so many ways. It’s everybody’s right to remain ignorant but that doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do.

To put things in perspective our government has given more money to the Ukraine in the last couple of months than it has provided to our tribal communities in the last +/- 50 years.

In your experience, or view, what's the bigger picture that most are missing regarding the tribes position on the Great Lakes fishery?

 

[RedM2]

Lack of understanding on the part of the public. The public’s opinion is formed by one sided news releases like the OPs. In this age of instant fact checking it should never happen but it does everyday of the week. Ignorance is bliss.

So what is it that you think the general is missing? What information have you learned that the general public doesn't know?

 

[RedM2]

I’ve read the consent degree along with the Federal court opinion.

You seemed to have implied that you learned a good deal by having conversations with tribe members, which shed light on information the general public isn't privy to. The consent decree and federal court's opinion on the matter is public information, so the information you're eluding to won't be found there. What's the side of the equation that you've been informed of as it relates to the tribes position others aren't aware of?

I'm guessing there are many folks who'd look at things through a different lens with the knowledge of the information you've obtained through discussions with tribal members or those closely connected.