I wonder the tribe's are also willing to claim finacial resposibility of mining and timber operations, sometimes there is no profit in these industries. just a thought. I think some of these people that stir this up need to realizethis is not 1855. Nobody will benifit by all this bs.
I see alot of dollar sign's flashing arround and the only benifactors are the Atourneys.
I dont have any Idea, but where were the US and Canadian bourders back then? did the tribes rights extend into Canada, we are talking 1855, ya never know, just another thought.
take, take, take, is that what is realy important?

I wrote this but never posted it I will now, mabey its just my bableing, but these forums are for expression and throwing ideas and information around


My intention here is not to offend or belittle anyone involved in tribal netting on Mille Lacs Lake. It is my response to wonton waste of natural resources occurring due to the actions of a few greedy, selfish, lawbreakers.

I do not hate or dislike any of the Native Americans that are involved with this netting thing. I do think the way that this netting thing is carried out by tribe members shows a total lack of respect for a resource that is not exempt from devastation and permanent harm. This lake is not managed by the tribe it is managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, key word “Resources”. It is managed by law abiding sportsman, sportsman that want to maintain a fishery for the future, for their families. The management is paid for by Minnesota taxpayers, license fees, and federal grants. There are Livelihoods that depend on this fishery, resort owners, restaurants, local retail stores, and bait stores. There is not dime one that comes from the netting of walleyes out of Mille Lacs Lake. Once again we are talking about a few individuals that seem to take, and take, giving nothing in return. Not all from the Chippewa tribe are involved in this, it is just a few, I am sure there are some that are ashamed of what this has become. I know little about the Chippewa way of life nor do I pretend to, but with all my heart I cannot even imagine that the elders and the ancestors of your elders had this total disregard for nature in mind. It is a selfish act taken to extremes, because some judge says you can. I cannot believe that anyone taking these quantities of fish can truly say that they are needed by any individual. It is totally incomprehensible that anybody netting all these fish, cleaning only some, dumping the others, can truly say it is what they were taught to do, hand down from your ancestors. Yes . You bet, you have a treaty, a treaty that was forgotten, dug up, reworked, rewritten, by lawyers and judges that really have no clue about natural resource; they got your money and turned you into the bad guys
You use modern equipment, nets manufactured commercially, aluminum bouts, outboard motors, GPS , depth finders, high power lights. You say you have a right to keep up with the modern ways, well it’s time to pull your heads out boys, and there are way too many people on this planet to have the total disregard for a resource that is only renewable with our help. Now it’s time for you to keep up with the times, you can still net for your ceremonies, to feed your under privileged, but do it in a respectful way, a way that honors your ancestors not pushes them under a rug. I know it’s not all that net, that are causing the problems, but it’s all that net that allow the problem to exist. The only people that can stop this embarrassment are the local Mille Lacs tribes. For your next generations and the pride of your people, please.

RIGHT ON!

It all comes down to a treaty that was written before the state on MN even existed.
Things evolve and need adjustments at times. I remember when i use to be able to catch a 6 fish limit on mille lacs also.

-- Edited by Doug Ertl on Friday 23rd of April 2010 11:07:22 AM