. . . from the blog
Fellegy column update; Gull Lake case still alive
In my Jan. 25 Outdoor News column, I reminded readers how, in August 2015, tribal gill-netters intentionally violated state law by setting a 200-foot gill net in Gull Lake, with encouragement from tribal attorneys and politicos. The intent: get charged, appeal based on “treaty rights,” and ascend the court ladder.
After Crow Wing County court personnel misinformed me that the appeal deadline was Jan. 9, my column wrongly reported that the appeal deadline had passed with no appeal.
Meanwhile, I learned that a formal appeal was filed by tribal attorneys Jan. 22. So that case, with potentially huge significance for a large expanse of Minnesota, is still alive. Will state courts, Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and other […]
1855 Ceded Territory UPDATE Breaking News
In his January 25 Outdoor News column, Joe Fellegy reported on what appeared to be the end of an illegal gillnetting saga by Chippewa tribal band members.
recall that tribal members purposely violated state law in August of 2015 by setting a 200-foot gill net in Gull Lake. Their intent, based on their actions and statements by tribal attorneys was to “get charged, appeal, and ascend the court ladder – claiming off-reservation harvest rights and co-management authority.”
Three years later their case finally went to trial. The lone remaining defendant was found guilty and sentenced to stayed jail time plus nominal fines. Being misinformed about an appeal deadline, Fellegy column stated that, contrary to expectations, no appeal had been filed.
But then the Crow Wing court told Joe Fellegy that tribal attorneys indeed […]
Friendly ‘Heads Up To State Leaders’ on Outdoor Issues
In the January 25 issue of Outdoor News, Joe Fellegy’s commentary asks, “How will new state leaders handle outdoor issues?” He includes Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, and DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen as well as Attorney General Keith Ellison and other state officials working in natural resources management.
Fellegy rejects “premature judgments” preferring to “wait and see” where their natural resources management will take us. Of most importance to Fellegy—and PERM members—is where DNR leadership will take us.
He describes the themes of leaders’ statements as “general” themes and outdoor-related goals as “vague.” Fellegy believes “mushy generalities are good for now.” But his main concern is how the Walz-Flanagan-Strommen team will “promote and defend state and citizen interests regarding Minnesota’s natural resources.”
Bottom line, Fellegy wonders whether DNR’s Sarah Strommen will […]
Hope for Mille Lacs?
Now that Gov. Mark Dayton, DNR Tom Landwehr and former DNR Fisheries Chief Don Pereira are out of the picture, let’s hope that Gov. Tim Walz and new DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen will fix the political co-management mess on Lake Mille Lacs. They need to figure out a new and better way to manage the lake.
After three consecutive catch-and-release-only open-water seasons, it has caused a drastic effect around the lake.
I suggest Strommen spend a couple of days up here. Have (Garrison DNR Fisheries supervisor) Tom Heinrich escort her around the lake to meet with the local business people so she can hear directly what damage this three-year shutdown has caused.
There are plenty of walleyes in Mille Lacs. On May 11, 2019, we wish to keep two walleyes, both under 20 […]
PERM Launches 2019 Program
PERM has had a good year, as a voice for citizens, staying on top of the issues. And now gearing up for 2019. Check issues and projects below. Will you donate to help launch a full-bore 2019?
‘Co-Managing’ Mille Lacs
When Gov. Dayton took office in 2012, the Mille Lacs walleye limit was four. Limits were reduced each year until the first closure to walleye fishing in history. Every year after was catch-and-release only, always with the threat of closure.
The DNR created a Mille Lacs Fishery Advisory Committee to bring stakeholders’ expertise to the “co-management” of Mille Lacs. But options to rationalize walleye regs and quotas got little traction. Any easing of restrictions “increases angler pressure,”—on the DNR’s tribal negotiations as much as on the walleye population.
Anglers hear […]
November 10 UPDATES
1855 Ceded Territory potential lawsuit UPDATE
GULL LAKE SENTENCING JUST THE BEGINNING?
By Tim Spielman Outdoor News, November 8, 2018
[Reprinted from Outdoor News]
It’s been just over three years since four people were cited for testing the bounds of Indian treaty rights in Minnesota–in this case the illegal setting of gill nets in Gull Lake near Brainerd in August 2015. On Oct. 23, a judge sentenced defendant James Warren Northrup on four counts. The 50-year-old was found guilty in September.
Fines for Northrup total $235, according to Doug Meyenburg, president of Proper Economic Resource Management, a watch group whose particular interest tends to be tribal in the realm of hunting and fishing rights.
As most tribal protest cases go, this one, too, holds much intrigue.
Northrup was one of four original […]
MLFAC – UPDATE: Good news for Mille Lacs?
MLFAC – UPDATE
Good news for Mille Lacs?
By Javier Serna Outdoor News, Vol. 51, No. 45
Assistant Editor Javier Mille Lacs committee gets some good news reported on the latest Mille Lacs Fishery Advisory Committee meeting held on October 5th. MLFAC focused on recent DNR assessments and the possibility of open water harvests next summer.
The big question from MLFAC, since walleye numbers keep increasing according to the DNR, will any be harvested this summer? So far a strong year class hasn’t been enough to get the DNR past its apprehension about its being targeted. That left anglers tossing everything back and quotas mostly made up of “hooking mortality.”
Now, another decent year class (2014), data showing a walleye population three times the size from the last assessment, after years of restrictive […]
October 31 UPDATES
1855 Ceded Territory potential lawsuit UPDATE
Defendant in Gull Lake netting case sentenced
Defendant James Warren Northrup faced charges following an August 2015 protest over 1855 Treaty harvest rights, a protest that involved illegal netting on Gull Lake. A September 12 ruling by the Court found defendant Northrup guilty on all four counts brought by Crow Wing County Attorney Donald Ryan.
A Crow Wing County District Court then filed a sentencing order on October 23, 2018, on the following counts:
On Count #1, taking fish with nets, Northrup was sentenced to one year in the Crow Wing County Jail. One year of that time was stayed for two years on the condition that the defendant remain law-abiding. He was also fined $50.
Count #2, netting fish without a license, was dropped as it […]