ST. PAUL, MN – Governor Mark Dayton and Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Chairman Kevin Dupuis today announced that the State of Minnesota and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa have formalized an agreement to manage the Band’s fishing, hunting and gathering rights in areas of northern Minnesota that were established in an 1854 Treaty. The agreement will formalize collaborative efforts between the State and the Fond du Lac Band as they collect and share data to inform annual hunting, fishing, and gathering regulations. These practices have been in place informally for over two decades, and are essential for helping both parties ensure sustainable natural resource management practices in northern Minnesota.

 

“I thank Chairman Dupuis, and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, for working with the State of Minnesota to formally establish these important game management practices,” said Governor Dayton.

 

The agreement, set out in a Stipulation and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) filed today by state and tribal representatives resolves issues stemming from a 1992 federal district court case in which the court upheld the Fond du Lac Band’s rights to hunt, fish and gather natural resources from the lands ceded under the 1854 Treaty. The MOU details how the State of Minnesota and the Fond du Lac Band will continue to work together to monitor harvest levels for fish and wildlife in connection with the Band’s exercise of its off-reservation hunting, fishing and gathering rights. The agreement also reinforces data sharing and communications coordination processes already in place between the State and the Band since 1994.

 

“The exercise of our hunting, fishing and gathering rights under our 1854 treaty is central to the lives, culture and traditions of the Fond du Lac people. It is inaadiziwin – our way of life. Because of the critical importance of these rights, the Band has worked extensively to ensure proper management of the natural resources on which those rights depend,” said Kevin Dupuis, Chairman of the Fond du Lac Band. “We are very pleased that our work on these issues, and our history of coordination with the state on natural resource matters, allows us to now formalize those processes in an MOU with the State of Minnesota.”

 

The 1854 ceded territory is a geographic area in northeastern Minnesota that includes portions of Carlton, St. Louis, Lake and Cook counties. It also includes small portions of northern Pine County and east-central Aitkin County. A map of the 1854 ceded territory is available here.

 

The Band-State MOU reinforces practices the Band has exercised for two decades and presents no significant changes to state hunting and fishing regulations.

 

“The public won’t see much for changes to hunting or fishing regulations because of this MOU,” said Tom Landwehr, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “The Fond du Lac Band’s harvest rights under the 1854 Treaty are already established and they have been exercising those rights under terms of their conservation code for many years. The MOU allows the State of Minnesota and Fond du Lac Band to effectively manage individual harvests, resolve disputes, and coordinate on projects.”

 

The MOU signed by Minnesota Commissioner of Natural Resources Tom Landwehr and Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Chairman Kevin Dupuis includes the following provisions to ensure consistent hunting and fishing practices and data collection in northeastern Minnesota.

 

·         Fish Harvest Data Collection – The MOU solidifies processes for shared data collection, harvest management and methods, and potential commercial harvest for fishing on Lake Superior.

 

·         Wildlife Harvest Standards – The agreement clarifies both the State’s and the Band’s roles in conserving harvestable wildlife species by determining levels of harvestable wildlife surpluses. The MOU calls for consistent exchange of harvest data between Band and State.

 

·         Moose Population Estimates and Survey Data – The agreement determines moose harvest levels for the Fond du Lac Band, which are tied to the annual moose survey data and population estimate developed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources with support from the Band. The agreement includes provisions that both Band and State of Minnesota biologists believe will protect the moose population in northeastern Minnesota. This agreement will not immediately change existing moose hunting regulations.

 

·         Collaborative Process for Resolving Resource Management Issues – Creates Committees, consisting of Tribal and State representatives, where resource management issues can be discussed and resolved efficiently and cooperatively.

 

·         Dispute Resolution – Establishes a dispute resolution process if the State and Band have future disagreements related to game and fish management in the ceded territory.

 

The Stipulation signed by the parties informs the Court of the agreement reached.  The agreement between the State and Fond du Lac Band resolves the outstanding fish and wildlife issues related to the 1854 treaty.  The Bois Forte Band of Chippewa and the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa came to agreement with the state on coordination of their fishing, hunting, and gathering rights in 1988. 

 

To read the full Memorandum of Understanding between the State of Minnesota and Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, CLICK HERE. To learn more about the 1854 Treaty, including its legal history and text of the Treaty, CLICK HERE.