Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

Statement/Clarification/Reminder on Red Lake Fishing Laws; Red Lake Nation is Sovereign, a Closed Reservation

Only Tribal Members are allowed to fish on Red Lake

At a special meeting of the Red Lake Tribal Council on Wednesday, January 3, 2018, Red Lake law enforcement, fisheries staff, fishermen, DNR, Red Lake members, family members of the lost fishermen, and spiritual/cultural advisors weighed in on whether the lake should be reopened to for fishing. The lake has been closed to fishers since November while searching for the two missing fishermen.

Cultural and spiritual advisors urged respect and caution as tradition and Ojibwe spirituality holds the lake sacred and alive and must be paid the utmost respect by the people to whom the lake has fed for centuries.

Among the reasons for agreeing to reopen fishing was the opportunity of fishers on the lake making it more likely to find the lost fishermen. Many members make a living or supplement their income working for Red Lake Fisheries.

After the resolution was passed, the tribe received inquiries from non-members (which includes Indian non-members) about fishing on the lakes, resulting in Chairman Seki issuing a formal statement reminding those who are not aware or may have forgotten that Red Lake is a sovereign nation and has absolute control of its lands and waters, and will exercise its sovereignty. Red Lake resides on Aboriginal Lands that were never ceded so have never belonged to the United States.

Statement from Darrell G. Seki, Sr. - 1/4/2018

Non-Members are not permitted to Fish the Waters of Upper and Lower Red Lake

The Red Lake Tribal Council recently met to address sensitive issues related to the recovery efforts of our two missing tribal fisherman from Lower Red Lake, and its impact on the opening of the Tribal Fishery. The Tribal Council ultimately decided to open fishing on Upper and Lower Red Lakes to Red Lake Tribal members only. The Tribal Council's recent resolution did not expand the individuals who are permitted to fish the waters on the Red Lake Reservation beyond Red Lake tribal members.

Red Lake is a closed Reservation, and the Red Lake Tribal Council, the governing body of the tribe controls activities on all Reservation lands and waters. With the exception of a small corner of the northeast corner of Upper Red Lake, only Red Lake tribal members are permitted to fish in Upper and Lower Red Lake, and non-members are not permitted to fish in these waters.

Any non-member who is apprehended for fishing the waters of Upper or Lower Red Lake will be arrested; their equipment will be confiscated; and the individual(s) will be permanently banned from the Red Lake Reservation.

Darrell G. Seki, Sr.

Tribal Chairman

Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians

 

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