Tribal Vote OKs Decree
New Agreement Outlines Rights

A decree to govern hunting and gathering rights among Native Americans in northern Michigan was soundly approved by members of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, 3,476 to 678, the tribe announced Thursday, October 18.

In releasing the unofficial election results, the Sault Tribe Election Committee reported 32.8% participation in the vote. The committee reported 4,182 ballots cast out of 12,734 mailed to the membership. Twenty-eight ballots were spoiled or unrecognizable. The ballot was mailed to members September 27 and needed to be returned by October 17.

The decree applies to treaty-ceded lands established by the 1836 Treaty of Washington. The treaty lands include roughly the eastern half of the Upper Peninsula, the northwest third of the Lower Peninsula, and north of the Thunder Bay River near Alpena. In those areas, American Indian tribes can hunt, fish, and gather resources on public lands without the state and federal restrictions that non-Indian hunters and anglers must comply with. If adopted as written, the consent decree will define and detail the specific treaty rights of tribal members by establishing the same fishing, hunting, and gathering regulations for all Native American people using Michigan lands and inland waters.

The decree was awaiting adoption by five area tribes before the agreement was to be heard in federal court October 22. If a federal judge rules in favor of the decree, it will legally define Native use of natural resources on the inland areas of Michigan. A particular tribe's rejection of the decree would not prevent its consideration in the federal court.

The decree is the result of a lawsuit against the state of Michigan filed by the federal government and Indian tribes. An Agreement in Principal was signed by all parties last summer that committed all those involved to formulate an agreement or settlement.