Bands have say in forest use

The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa joined two other northeastern Minnesota tribes last week in solidifying their stewardship of the 3.3-million-acre Superior National Forest.

Fond du Lac, along with the Boise Forte and Grand Portage bands, joined officials with the Superior National Forest in signing a memorandum of understanding on May 2 in Grand Portage. The memorandum will ensure the bands’ involvement in the future management of the Superior National Forest, a joint news release said.

The memorandum recognizes the bands as original stewards of lands now encompassing the Superior National Forest, and outlines procedures to ensure that tribal input goes into decisions.

The memo outlines early tribal consultation on any decisions that may impact tribal fishing, hunting and gathering rights, as well as protection of culturally sensitive areas, and consultation on forest management objectives. Tribal stewardship and rights were first laid out in the 1854 Treaty.

“It was a long time coming, 169 years, these shared resources didn’t come in their true form until today,” Fond du Lac Tribal Chairman Kevin Dupuis said in the news release.