Four Ojibwe tribal members were charged after exercising their tribal treaty rights to harvest wild rice in northern Minnesota. They are asking the court to uphold their off-reservation rights as protected by an 1855 treaty.
DULUTH, MN-Four tribal citizens entered not guilty pleas after being charged for exercising their treaty rights in off-reservation areas of Minnesota.
Harvey GoodSky and Morningstar GoodSky, who are from the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians, are accused of harvesting wild rice without a permit from the Department of National Resources. Todd Thompson, of the White Earth Nation and James Northrup, from the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, are accused of gillnetting without a permit.
The charges stem from a series of protests last August. Tribal members contend their off-reservation rights are protected by an 1855 treaty.
"We'll ask the court to dismiss the case because the state has no jurisdiction," attorney Frank Bibeau told Minnesota Public Radio. "Treaties are between the Tribe and the federal government."
Tribal members also say the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Minnesota v. Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians already confirmed their off-reservation rights.
