Wolves and walleyes and mines, oh, my. There’s trouble brewing in Wisconsin’s northwoods again after 16 years of relative peace between the Chippewa tribes and the state. For those too young to remember, disputes over the tribal fishing rights in the northern third of Wisconsin triggered nasty protests in the late 1980s and early 1990s when the Chippewa asserted their off-reservation walleye spearing rights. Anti-spearing protesters created gauntlets of jeering crowds at fish landings — some carrying racist signs reading “Save a walleye, spear an Indian.” It was a regrettable black eye in the state’s history — and one which the governor, the GOP-controlled Legislature and the state Department of Natural Resources should make sure does not repeat.Get the Story:
Editorial: Time for state and tribes to mend fences (The Racine Journal Times 3/27) Also Today:
Tribal head: Wis. lawmaker overreacting to limits (AP 3/27) Related Stories:
Treaty tribes defend fish quotas amid complaints in Wisconsin (3/26)
Opinion: Wisconsin politicians should pay attention to tribes (3/20)
Ojibwe tribes in Wisconsin raise spring walleye spearing limits (3/19)
Lac du Flambeau Band hosts treaty rights fishing tournament (3/15)
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