Anishinaabeg assert treaty rights, collect sap, and hold off logging in Northern Minnesota

WHAT:

At least a dozen people are currently collecting maple sap and holding space at the Mikinaako-ziibi (Turtle River) Camp to exercise and retain treaty rights and obligations - including hunting, fishing, gathering, and travel - while protecting approximately 600 acres of wilderness owned by the State of Minnesota.

This place, Turtle River, is spiritually significant in the Anishinaabeg Mide migration story and is also home to mature trees, plants, and wildlife.

QUOTE:

"We are not here to protest. Our goal is to build a community to preserve and revitalize our spiritual knowledge and reclaim the language, culture, and lifeways of the Anishinaabeg to improve our health and the health of our ecological family. We are all related. Finding our way back to our way of life brings healing and also builds on our resiliency. We're still here," said Nancy Beaulieu, one of the Mikinaako-ziibi camp leads. "We are doing everything we can to protect about 600 acres of mature maples that are going to be logged off, while also raising awareness and educating the state of Minnesota and law enforcement about treaty rights, responsibilities, and obligations in a peaceful way as the treaties intended."

WHERE:

12 miles east of Bemidji, just north of the Leech Lake reservation boundary and west of Turtle River within the 1855 treaty territory. Leech Lake, White Earth, Sandy Lake, and Mille Lacs Bands and the US Government are parties to the 1855 Treaty.

WHEN: Ongoing until the sale of the timber is stopped.

WHO:

Camp leads include Nancy Beaulieu, Zac Earley, Kaitlyn Grenier, and Joe Sutherland; camp elders are Ty Stately, Bob Shimek, and Leonard Thompson.

The camp is hosted in partnership with Manidoo Ogitigaan and supported by the 1855 Treaty Authority, the Leech Lake Historical Preservation officer, and the Leech Lake Tribe's Department of Resource Management.

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