McGirt vs. Oklahoma ruling: the exception that proves the rule. The rule being, according to Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, ‘treaties matter’

The Mille Lacs Messenger recently discussed implications this ruling could have on the Mille Lacs Band’s lawsuit against Mille Lacs County. “Supreme Court ruling regarding Oklahoma reservation” T.A. LeBrun, Jul 17, 2020.

This is a long read but well worth the time if you want to understand all the implications for the McGirt ruling on related legal efforts in Minnesota. Our starting point in listing a few takeaways below is that PERM honors all treaties as written.

The Supreme Court in McGirt v Oklahoma ruled recently that the disestablishment of the Muscogee Creek Nation’s reservation in Oklahoma was never properly completed.

The McGirt case was over the claim that a 1997 […]

Mille Lacs Lake is closed for targeting catch and release walleyes from July 1-31

PERM believes this is in violation of state and federal discrimination laws since it only applies to NON-TRIBAL members. Tribal members may continue to harvest 10 walleyes per angler per day with no size limit.

That’s discrimination, plain and simple!

And it’s totally unwarranted. As Joe Fellegy points out in a recent article, Wrong Mille Lacs-Red Lake Comparisons (Excerpt from Rocking the Boat By Joe Fellegy, Outdoor News, June 19, 2020). “There is nothing in the Mille Lacs biosphere justifying extremist regs prohibiting state-licensed anglers from keeping any walleyes.”

Joe Fellegy is again unraveling the Mille Lacs is “another Red Lake” misconception. He confirms the difference by quoting Tom Heinrich, the DNR’s Mille Lacs area fisheries supervisor. Heinrich said, “The […]

Here are the winners of PERM’s Spring Legal Fund Raffle.

June 1, 2020

I really enjoyed visiting with the winners I called about their good news.
Only wish PERM could have a prize for every one of our supporters.

Thank You! to everyone who entered the raffle. We are encouraged by the
strong support from so many of our members. You make it possible for PERM
to stand up for all Minnesotans.

Again, thanks for your support. Visit us at perm.org and on Facebook
(comment, like, share too).

Doug,
Douglas Meyenburg,
President, PERM

Chris S. Little Falls Henry Golden Boy .22 Long Rifle
Thomas L. Minneapolis Ruger Predator 6.5 Creedmore
John G. Stillwater Ruger American 7mm-08 Remington
Dick K. […]

How is this not discrimination? Why is this not surprising?

OUTDOOR INSIGHTS
By Rob Drieslein, Outdoor News, May 15, 2020
TRIBAL HARVEST

Tribal harvest had been underway on Lake Mille Lacs in the weeks leading up to the state opener. Tom Jones, DNR state treaty coordinator, said that as of May 5, three bands had taken a combined 30,125 pounds of their 62,200 walleye quota. Mille Lacs, Fond du Lac, and Wisconsin’s Lac du Flambeau band fished the lake this year. The other five Wisconsin bands that signed the 1837 Treaty stayed home.

I asked Melissa Treml, DNR Fisheries research manager, if the state had any objections to Wisconsin bands traveling to Minnesota to take walleyes in the treaty area given pandemic protocols. She said Gov. Tim Walz’s original stay-at-home order included an exception for […]

Principles of Native American journalist Bill Lawrence are needed today

Joe Fellegy in “Principles of journalist Lawrence needed today” writes about Bill Lawrence, Editor of Native American Press/Ojibwe News on the 10th anniversary of Lawrence’s death. Outdoor News March 14, 2020. (See below)

He recognizes Lawrence’s leadership and courage in calling for transparency and accountability as they dealt with State and Federal governments. A critical point always made by Lawrence was the importance of understanding the difference “between the Indians—meaning the people—and what he called today’s “Indian industry.”

Lawrence, formerly from the Red Lake reservation, asked hard questions about information often kept from Minnesotans and tribal members alike. He asked questions about following the money and power players behind today’s tribal related issues—“Pipeline politics. Mining issues. ‘Treaty rights’ harvests.”

Walz evasion of County officials while bowing to tribal reservation claims is disappointing

Traci LeBrun, “Walz, Ellison opinion regarding Reservation boundaries fail to meet due diligence test” Mille Lacs Messenger, February 26, 2020 reports on the Governor’s obvious failure to meet with Mille Lacs County officials.

Gov. Walz’s disregard was heightened by his recent appearance nearby as a keynote speaker for the State of the Band Address at the Mille Lacs Grand Casino January 21. This after months of ignoring the County’s request for a meeting.

LeBrun does not take a position on the controversial tribal claims for the existence of a long dis-established reservation. Which is laudable given Gov. Walz’s support for AG Ellison’s total reversal of over 100 years of settled public […]

T.A. LeBrun reported on a court filing that backs tribal reservation boundary claims, “Walz, Ellison deviate from long-held opinion on Reservation boundaries,” Mille Lacs Messenger, Feb. 25. (See article below)

LeBrun’s report details how Attorney General Ellison, with Gov. Walz’s support, recently filed court papers backing tribal claims that the long-disestablished 61,000 acre Mille Lacs reservation still exists.

The filing is considered by some to be purely political. It’s just a way to put pressure on the County, which is defending itself against a lawsuit to expand Tribal law enforcement jurisdiction.

It’s political because it carries little legal weight. First, the Ellison filing is not likely to be used in the current lawsuit, according to Randy Thompson, attorney for the County in that lawsuit. Second, as Thompson explains, it also has […]

In the past, the public was always invited to observe MLFAC and DNR rep discussions. Plus, 15 minutes were reserved for public comments and questions. Not this time.

A DNR Press Release for the January 28 MLFAC meeting never showed up. We found out about it the day before and quickly sent out an Email Alert. Three hours later, the meeting was canceled.

This gave the DNR time to conference call MLFAC members about the harvest quota for 2020 before it went public. Then they notified MLFAC by email about the next meeting date. Wednesday, February 19th from 5:00 pm-8:00 pm at Appeldoorn’s on Mille Lacs–45401 Mille Lacs Parkway, Isle, MN 56342)

Again, no Press Release. The public really needs to know what’s happening with “co-management.” Go to PERM’s Facebook page to get […]