Tribal members exercised their off-reservation treaty rights last August in a protest against the state of Minnesota. Photo from Honor The Earth / Facebook
Two members of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Indians are defending their right to hunt in off-reservation areas of Minnesota. Tony Lee Morris and Randy Gregg Finn shot a deer just outside of reservation boundaries, Minnesota Public Radio reported. They were cited by the state Department of Natural Resources for killing a deer out of season, on private land, but they say their rights are protected by an 1855 treaty. “The two hunters were not part of any protest, they were hunting for food. This is exactly the problem” Frank Bibeau, the executive Director of the 1855 Treaty Authority, said in a press release. “Tribal members are intimidated by Minnesota DNR, but in reality it is unlawful for Minnesota to use its police powers against people gathering food with federally recognized and treaty protected rights.” Last year, other tribal members were cited for harvesting wild rice and fishing on off-reservation lands. The 1855 Treaty Authority is also defending them in state court with the hopes of resolving the matter in federal court. Get the Story:
Another Minnesota treaty rights lawsuit lands in court (Minnesota Public Radio 3/4)
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