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Menominee Indian Tribe may abandon its claim to hunting and fishing rights on millions of acres of off-reservation lands in eastern and central Wisconsin doubting the economic value of the fishing and hunting right on waters between Green Bay and Fox River Valley. "They're just not worth the cost", said Apesanahkwat, Menominee tribal legislator.
The tribe has maintained in a 1995 lawsuit its ancestors had been mislead when they had exchanged eight million acres in Wisconsin in 1848 treaty for land in Minnesota. In 1851 the MN land was deemed unacceptable by the tribe. who then traded it for the Menomonee Reservation. Judge Barbara Crabb dismissed the tribes suit in September of 96, ruling:"even if the U.S. had misled the Menominee on this point, this court cannot look beyond the clear language and rewrite a treaty". Even treaties that are the product of bribery, fraud or duress are valid and must be enforced. In October ,1996 the Menominees appealed Crabbs ruling. |
"If we withdraw, we withdraw forever",said Tribal legislator Lisa Waukau .
The Menominee's claim is similar to off-reservation fishing rights granted to Chippewa in 1831 treaty and upheld by the court in the 1980s. The decision resulted in several years of angry confrontations with sportsmen at launch ramps. This year the Lac du Flambeau tribe agreed to bag limits in exchange for $100,00, and revenue from fishing and game licenses sold on their reservation. Tribe chairman said their negotiations were in no way connect to current gaming talks. Tribal legislator Lisa Waukau said she is afraid early mistakes were made when the tribe "rushed into the case", and did not put their best foot forward. "Judge Crabb, who has been a champion of Indiana treaty rights" was very thorough in her review". The state also thinks the tribes case is a loser. "If we withdraw we withdraw forever", she said. "it's not the fish, it's the sovereignty of our nation to do what we want within our ceded territory". |
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US Coast Guard has proposed to decommission 12 fog signals and 8
lights located in the Great Lakes region. All Great Lakes would be
affected except Lake Superior.
The memo, or "Local Notice to Mariners" which was forwarded to us from
the offices of Boat US, rationalizes the commercial shipping industry,
with their high tech electronics, no longer needs these safety devices.
The Coast Guard apparently has given no thought to the safety of the
recreational boating community, and perceive the move as a prudent cost
cutting opportunity.
Specifically, these proposed changes includes the Disestablishment of
eight (8) Great Lakes lights including lights at Thirtymile Point,
Dunkirk, Port Sanilac, Point Aux Barques, Forty Mile, Sturgeon Point, and
St. Helena.
Proposed plans also call for the disestablishment of twelve (12) fog
signals including Frankfort North Breakwall, Manistee North Pierhead,
Ludington North Breakwall, Ludington North Pierhead, Pentwater North
Pierhead, Muskegon South Breakwall, Muskegon South Pierhead,Grand Haven South Pierhead Entrance, St. Joseph North Pierhead,
and Michigan City East Pierhead Lights.
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 These proposed changes will be detrimental to the welfare and safe being of the literally thousands of recreational boats utilizing near shore areas, and therefore these changes must not be allowed to take place. We recognize we are in an era of fiscal constraints, but it should not be at the expense of the safety of the recreational users of our waterways. Commercial shipping has the financial means to secure sophisticated electronics to avail themselves of the necessary safety equipment needed to navigate our waters The average recreational boater does not, nor should he have to secure this expensive type of electronic paraphernalia to use our nations waters. Because of the urgency of the situation we urge our readers to write or e-mail the Coast Guard as soon as possible expressing your opposition to this ill conceived cost cutting measure. Send your comments to the very top official: Adm. G.F. Woolever, Commander Ninth Coast Guard District, 1240 Ninth St., Cleveland, OH |
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