1854 Treaty Authority facts for kids
The 1854 Treaty Authority is a special group that helps two Ojibwe tribes manage their rights to hunt, fish, and gather. These rights are protected by old agreements called treaties. The Authority works to make sure these rights are followed in areas outside of the tribes' reservations.
The 1854 Treaty Authority is based in Duluth, Minnesota. Its main decisions are made by a Board of Commissioners. This board includes the leader (chairperson) from each member tribe, or someone they choose to represent them. The Authority has three main parts: Administration, Conservation Enforcement, and Resource Management.
History of the Authority
In 1985, the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa went to court. They wanted to confirm that the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe allowed them to hunt and fish in certain areas without state rules. Other tribes who signed the treaty, like the Fond du Lac and Bois Forte Bands, joined the lawsuit.
By 1988, everyone agreed on a solution outside of court. The Minnesota State Legislature approved this agreement.
- The main part of the agreement was that the tribes would use their treaty rights in a limited way. In return, they would get money each year.
- The agreement also explained what tribal members could and could not do when hunting or fishing off their reservations. For example, they generally couldn't do it for business (like selling fish caught with spears or nets).
In 1988, a group called the Tri-Band Authority was created to help carry out this agreement. It was guided by a Board of Directors, made up of elected leaders from the Grand Portage, Bois Forte, and Fond du Lac Bands. However, in 1989, the Fond du Lac Band left the agreement. They later joined another group called the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission.
After Fond du Lac left, the Tri-Band Authority became the 1854 Authority. In 2006, they changed their name again to the 1854 Treaty Authority. They continued to work on the agreement for the Grand Portage and Bois Forte Bands.
Areas the Authority Covers
The 1854 Treaty Authority helps manage treaty rights in several important areas:
- The Grand Portage Fishing Zone in Minnesota. This area is part of the land given up in the 1842 Treaty of La Pointe.
- The land given up in the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe. The Authority manages this area together with the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission.
- The land given up in the 1866 Treaty of Washington by the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa Indians. In this area, tribal members do not hunt, fish, or gather. However, the Authority still reviews and protects important cultural sites and resources.
Member Tribes
The 1854 Treaty Authority works with these tribes:
- Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
- Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (They were a member in the past.)
- Grand Portage Band of Chippewa
