Both parties to the Mille Lacs reservation boundary dispute in U.S. District Court made requests for Summary Judgement. While summary judgments can sometimes lead to a quick resolution, there won’t be one in this case. The question of the Court actually having the jurisdiction to make a decision has led to the court stepping back and asking both parties for legal briefs on the jurisdictional issue. T.A.LeBrun’s report outlines various scenarios and options for litigation that could lead all the way to the Supreme Court.

From PERM’s perspective, the outcome of this case could have a significant impact on access to hunting and fishing for non-tribal citizens within the dis-established Mille Lacs reservation.

Read more below.

Boundary Battle

By T.A.LeBrun, Editor, Mille Lacs Messenger

March 23, 2021, A summary judgment hearing regarding the Mille Lacs […]

March 23, 2021         Early-season walleye anglers on Mille Lacs Lake will be able to keep one walleye 21-23 inches long or one longer than 28 inches. Summer will bring catch-and-release walleye fishing, with a mid-season closure, before the potential for a one-fish limit returns in the fall.

“Lower walleye harvest this winter is allowing us to offer some open-water walleye harvest this year,” said Brad Parsons, fisheries section manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “We’re glad Mille Lacs anglers will have the chance to keep a walleye on opening weekend and Memorial Day weekend — two of the most popular times to fish during the year. We also hope to be able to allow some harvest this fall.”

The one-fish walleye limit will be in place from Saturday, May 15, […]

Recently, Joe Fellegy called out Gov. Walz, AG Ellison, MnDOT, over the latest tactic driving the Mille Lacs ‘reservation’ narrative. “Those new ‘Mille Lacs Indian Reservation’ signs,” Joe Fellegy, Mille Lacs Messenger, Feb 24, 2021.

These signs quietly appeared just in time for the Mille Lacs Band’s annual State of the Band Address. The signage followed Gov. Walz and AG Ellison’s very public siding with tribal claims that the long-dis-established Mille Lacs reservation still exists. In his commentary, Fellegy points out that regardless of any signage, “state officials, no matter what their branch of government, cannot create or resurrect an Indian reservation.” Then adds, “But they can play politics.”

Fellegy wonders whether state officials will defend state and citizen interests or bow to politics and support the agendas of modern tribal governments. […]

Governor Walz snd Attorney General Ellison’s decision to change the State’s long-held opinion on the current boundary of the Mille Lacs reservation is a critical issue for all Minnesotans.

Last week T.A. LeBrun reported on a letter from Mille Lacs County Commissioners to Gov. Walz and Attorney General Ellison “Mille Lacs County sends letter to Gov. Walz and Attorney General Ellison” Mille Lacs Messenger, Feb 10, 2021.

The Commissioners wrote about the 1855 Mille Lacs Band’s boundary signs around the original 61,000-acre reservation. They “were very disappointed these road signs were installed without any collaboration or communication.” Commissioners first learned about the signs from County residents. (Letter available here). Commissioners recognized signage touting disputed reservation boundaries was the direct result of Walz and Ellison’s decision to change the State’s long-held […]

Joe Fellegy weighs in on a Q & A interview with himself. In this excerpt, he clarifies a common misperception that gets in the way of transparency and accountability.

Fellegy takes on relevant questions from … Fellegy
Joe Fellegy Rocking the Boat Outdoor News February 12, 2021

Q: We’ve entered a new year and a new decade. Some lookbacks?

A: Hmm. Too many outdoor issues to discuss here. Talk fishing, hunting, or other outdoor topics with almost anybody these days, and the chat often turns to our broader political climate, which some call messy, distracting, etc.

In my view, giant scams, shams, and outright lies promote the various “treaty rights” causes. And too often, state and federal officials dodge truth and fail to defend state and citizen interests.

Q. Giant scams? Outright lies? Get specific, eh?

A: […]

Stan Visser, a long-time PERM member, and Board member passed away on February 8. His death came after a lengthy hospitalization.

Stay was involved with PERM from its earliest days. He later served on PERM’s Board of Directors for many years.

An avid fisherman, Stan was well-known for his advocacy for having Minnesota anglers getting an even break under the law when it came to fishing his beloved Mille Lacs.

Stan had the perfect credentials for an advocate: feisty, tenacious, and tireless. Those same qualities also made him a super volunteer.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Phyllis and all of his extended family.

PERM will share information about any upcoming services and it becomes available.

Stan will be sorely missed.

Mille Lacs Fisheries Advisory Committee (MLFAC) is seeking new members to fill several open seats. PERM regularly attends these meetings and encourages anyone concerned about the co-management of Mille Lacs to apply. The deadline is February 22.

Details were reported in the Mille Lacs Messenger on February 3rd. See the link and more info in their article below.

Mille Lacs Lake Fisheries Advisory Committee openings

Staff Report   Mille Lacs Messenger.  February 3, 2021

Minnesotans can apply to serve on committees that advise the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources about fisheries and wildlife topics.
The DNR is seeking to fill open seats on the Mille Lacs Fisheries Advisory Committee (MLFAC), and the Minnesota R3 Council.

Mille Lacs Lake Fisheries Advisory Committee is a stakeholder group that advises the DNR on the fisheries management program for Mille Lacs […]

The Mille Lacs Band called on the MN Department of Transportation to erect highway signs on the “reservation boundaries.” These are based on tribal claims that the long-since disestablished reservation still exists. The secretly-negotiated signage campaign went up without the knowledge of any Mille Lacs County Commissioners.

It’s just another tactic to support tribal boundary claims. This time while a lawsuit addressing those claims is still underway!

The tribal maneuvering is understandable, maybe. But there is no justification for MNDOT’s blatant (and clumsy) catering to special interests. They are discriminating against the rest of Minnesota’s citizens, who no longer enjoy equal protection of the law.

Read more below

County gets hundreds of calls on boundary sign issue
By T.A. LeBrun news.messenger@apgecm.com Jan 30, 2021

The Mille Lacs County Board of Commissioners, during their work session on […]