LOOK! F
THE INDIANS
ARE_RAPING

PARR e

Lac du Flambeau. Although, without jurisdiction of the lands and waters of the reservations, they
had nothing to sett-govern with.

“Lasting nearly 50 years. the alotment period has efinitely reshaped Lac du Fiambeau. What
might have been a remnant enciave of the Northwoods 6co-system. became anather parcel of
worked-over cut over ground. its old-growth forest mowed. ts marshes and rica beds flooded. its
Iake levels raised and maintained by man-made dama. What might have been an isdiated isiand of
Indian e became a checkerboard community whose residents - both white and Indian -perched on
the economic edge and whose ivelihood depended on tourist dollars -ust fike the rest of Northem
Wisconsin."

At the Indian boarding school, chikiren aged 5 through the teens, were “forbidden to speak Ojibwe,
wear traditional clothes o maintain native cusioma® Many parents were reluctant to send their
children thers. The Superintendent, who was aiso a miltary officer, occasionally enforced
attendance at gunpoint.

At et i Sl an Sk o8 S0 caliad Rt S ande® St St cad e At e tas
sacred "Law" the Indians did In fact possess these unassaiiable rights. In fact, it was the government
who had acted iliegally by denying them the exercise of thess rights.

In ail, there were 47 treaties signed between Ojibwe tribes and the U.S. Govemment. Never were these
tights rlinquished, even though, ke hundreds upon huncreds of reaties signed by Indian Nations and
European invaders, they were always under the direct threat of extermination and its constant possibility
- an eternal death squad.

Aftr yeara of legal staling by the state, the Voigt Decision of 1963 was read. Lo and behold, they were
forced to admit that the Indians were not all dead. Not ong treaty was ever yiolated by any Indian
signatory and not one treaty was ever honored by any European signatoryl Its called the “U.S. system
of jurisprudence.®

Treaties basically meart land seizures by whitss in exchange for the “promise” of a temporary
suspension of the massive murdering of indians which usually preceded andior colncided with the
sigring of a tresty. This was Hitlers blueprint. He drooled over the white man's abilty to conquer
notions, exterminate whole continents of indigencus peoples and claim the land for themseives, and
then draw up the legal mumbo-Jumbo o insure this massive plundering and colossal crime was codified.
The third aspect to herding together these racist bands was the pervasive scapegoating of the Indians a8
the source of Northem Wisconsin's economic uncertainties and fears.

The same forces destroying rural economies across the county (corporats greed) were also laying siege 0
Northem Wisconsin. The Indians, racisty, got the blame.

“Urban sprawi, real estate specuation, agribusiness and rural gentrification - have displaced small family
farms. Gentrification is occuring in nural America ss resl estate specuistors, corporate marketers,
‘agribusiness and timber interests bear down on communities.”

Spearing was given as the reason for lower bag imita on walleye, the lack of dacent paying jobs, tight
money on loans and why the timber market was tough for the small guy. Violence and vileness, escalated.
“Large mobs, ofien fueled by the llquid courage of nearby resort bars, traveled nightly 10 the boat landings.
Rock-tvowing, sexual and racial taunts, gunshots, assassination threats sgainst tribal judges and boat
ramming and boat swamping, ail became annual scanes that Chippews spearers faced as they exarcised
their legal, constitutionally protacted, rights. By 1987, Northem Wisconsin became a lteral battieground.”

e et s ol Thaiiatt Rassba | udll anaeus salainn fhis siene b anbemises the saelst saalhe that &
11 4292 MILLION in PER-
AMBEAU CHIPPEWAS et ming

s we con't accont: fer.. uh, you brew, bt
s inde. vk QT e

The Spearfishers Walleye \X/m iors

Courtesy of GLIWE?

TREATY RIGHTS .
Treaty making was s European concept and i is mat surpetsling that
ANNUAL MIGRATIONS

du Flambeau, WI (part Il)

Harfo, exscustive director of the National Congress of
shers, by the racist whites.

g of the panic-peddiing resort papers and general
in Allance for Rights and Resources), ERFE (Equal
urces), and STA-W (Stop Treaty Abuse- Wisconsin),
pesl 10 sports pecple, fanners, resort owners, off-
rt towns which suround the Lac du Flambeau Indian
yers, bumper stickers and the raw hatred spewed out

Red nigger... We sieep with your squaws (white
d made us white. You don't belong here (white boy)...
your ass...Abortionistad To Indian women: You e the
s woll 38 a cal for Indian scalps on & Minocqua radio
to be killed.

uspend hunting unti “the time of the firefles.” which
nsible hetoric from the DNR, called the tribe together
soonsibly involved, called o other tribes and decided
‘conservation code used on reservation iakes for the
and empowered the entire Indian community. Other
and others.

988, the confrontation got very ugly, with spearfishers
rdens were menaced.

flames of racial hatred... It was raciam at its rawest,
o Samanhe Shale chidiran tn e Sncne 20 BB wmre 8
grandson of a Trout Lake Village War Chief said, “Our chief reserved that right for us. These are all descandants.
‘Spearing itselis traditional. Its over 1,000 of years ol Just ke the whites, when they harvest their wheat"

In August of 1987, Judge Barbara Crabb had rules that the state's reguiatory power over the exarcise of off-eservation
ights extended 1o the conservation of pariuiar species of resources n 8 “particular area and public health and safety
and o cther purpose,” This uing underacoring the Indlans’ reaty rights, motivated the state o seek some kind of
settioment with the Indians. They tried 10 negotisie a deal wih each individual reservation, but the Indians joined together
10 negotiate as one with the stats, to maximize thelr effectvensss. So, we bid adieu 1o the year 19881

Ancther pro-ndian group wee formed caled HONOR (Honor Our Neighbors Orighne and Rights) by feelng. thinking non-
reservation whtss who were disgusied by the racet speciade Lnokding all around them. Govemiment agents weighed n -
on the side of the racista. Gearge Meyer, head of the WONR dvisin of enforoamen, who was the main man at the boat
landinga in charge of secusty, sakd publcy that I the Cippowa were akowed 10 harveat ther imi, he only thing left would
be weter-sking” The DNR mplamented a pan (n iace snce 1979) o rec.os the dal bag kit for welleye by anglers, fom
ive 10 three per day, making klook ke tis was necessiated because of indian spearfehing.

‘Govemor Tommy Thompson, although acknowledging that the police had received several reports of bombs being
prepared for use against spearfishers, none-the-iees advocated a scaling down of the use of bomb sniffing dogs
and other high profile security measures at the boat landings, in hopes of “easing tensions.” State Senator Walter
Where They Spear Fish by Torchlight)
and moved from area to area as the seasons changed,
s found In northern Wisconsin. Enter via a bough~
Soat landings mounted. Indians began camying gune to protect themseives. AIM (American Indian Movemen)
‘civista anved vith druma and flags. Govemor Tommy Thompson asked the tibe to quit spearing befors spors

Other groups of antracits fined the ray, incuding the Natonal Congress of American Indians, the Natnal
Coundl of Churches, National Organization of Women (NOW), Women Againat Racism and the Coaltion Against
Raciem. Bil Means caled 1, "the greatest efort behind an American Indian cause since Wounded Knee.” - Wausau
Daily Herald, 1969.

On May 3, 1989 at Trout Lake, STA-W got serious. Thelr srategy wes 1o close down the spearing by crossing
aolce nes and occupying the boat landing. Guns were fired from across the ake. The Indian arved -amedl
Flundrods of poice wers present. Fourteen spearers speared 175 walleys and 27 muskies in unusualy foul
weather.

On May S, at Buttemut Lak, the showdown occurred. Stx hundred norvindian witnesses foined maybe 1.000
Indians 1o scuare off against hundreds of whiles, thirty protest bosts, 29 DNR boats and 250 sheriffs and police.
mw.mmfiwwhwnmm@mflmmflnmmm
mm.mwdmmwmmmuhwmhmmummpww

most tenping 1o the geoeally destuto community. This proposal was offered o the Lac du Flambeau Indans,
cnly. This was desigoed t it reservation gainst reservation and knock out the most milat roup (Flambest)

The clction took place October 3, 1990. Thero wero tease debates leading up to this crucial vots, both for
accepting it and reasons why it should be ejected. The vote was taken and counted with much anticipation. Four
hundred and thirty-nine people voted 0 reject the proposal. Three hundred and sxty-six people voted in favor.

The people of Lac du Flambeau sent a clear message -20 matter bow aeedy wo ar, we wil not abrogats the raty
rights our ancestors struggled and died to provide us with!

Edward Chosa said, "That was the greatest day in the history of this reservation. We tumed down... s lot of money.
I doa't know why. Ifs hard to explain. [ wish [ could... We couldnt be able to call ourselves Indisns... At Grand
Entry time during a Pow Wow, tha’s what | thought of. When all th trbes come in, would we bave o sit down?™

The two ressons Scott Smith cited were, "Pride. What would it be like to go to Minocqua and have people say, My

SROCQUR @& WY FEAEE S T
¢ du Flambeau Band
> Superior Chippewa

he Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Supetior Chippewa
Indians wnakes its e on the Lac du Flambeau Indian
reservation ocate in the heart of North Ceniral Wisconsin,
¢ reate porion of the resevation i locaed n southveesinn
2 County, but substantial acreage als exiss in the soulheastern
tion of adjacent Iron County. The reservation i

The Lac du Flambeau Band
of Lake Superior Chippewa

“REsPONSIBILITY TO
PROTECT, CONSERVE
AND ENHANCE THE

he L du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Indians wnakes its howne on the Lac du Flambeau Indian
reservation locate in the heart of North Central Wisconsin,
The greater portion of the reservation is lcated in southwestem
ViasCounty, bt sl aveage s st he soulhesten
pocion f ajacent ron County.The reservaionis

ood and wild rice (including timber) would be forfeited.
anned except for wild rice and furs. This proposal was
proposal was offered to the Lac du Flambeau Indians,
on and knock out the most miitant group (Flambeau.)

ense debates leading up 1o this crucial vote, both for
ote was takea and counted with much anticipation. Four
L Thres hundred and sixty-six people voted in favor.

matter how needy wo are, we will not abrogate the treaty
!

oy of this reservation. We tumed down... s lot of moey.
Ve couldn't be able to call ourselves Indians... At Grand
/hen all th tribes come in, would we bave to sit dowa?”

ald it be ke t0 go to Minocqua and have people ssy, My

HROCAUR @AE WIS PERE T 0
fuced their quota from 100% 1o 54%. The tension at the
protect themseives. AIM (American Indian Movement)
Mompson asked the ribe 1o quit spearing before sports

s National Congress of American Indians, the Natonal
OW), Women Against Racism and the Coaltion Against
American Indian cause since Wounded Knee.” - Wausay

ok sirategy was to close down the spearing by crossing
fired from across the lake. The Indians arrived -armed!
peared 175 walleye and 27 muskies in unusually foul

. Six hundred non-Indian witnesses Joined maybe 1,000
roteet bosts, 29 DNR boats and 250 sherifis and polics.
'WA-SWA-GONING (The Place Where They Spear Fish by Torchlight)

Walk back In time to when the Ojfbwe bult wigwams and moved from area to area as the seasons changed,
making articles for survival out of thé natural elements found In northern Wisconsin. Enter via a bough-
hief reserved that right for us. These are al descandants.
Just ke the whites, when they harvest their wheat."

) state's reguiatory power over the exsrcise of offreservation
resources in a “partcuier area and publc heath and safety
e’ treaty rights, motvated the state 1 seek some kind of
th sach individual reservaton, but the Indians joined together
aness. So, we bid adieu 10 the year 19831

r Our Neighbors Origine and Rights) by feeing, thirking non-
o unioiding all around them. Govemment agents weighed in -
R dvision of enforcement, who was the main man at the boat
va were alowed 10 harveat their ki, he only thing left woud
1979) 1 recuos the dally bag ki for walleys by anglers, fom
because of indian spearfishing.

at the police had recsived several reports of bombs being
vocated a scaling down of the use of bomb sniffing dogs
dngs, in hopes of “easing tensions. State Senator Walter
“Anttindian rheforkc included inflammatory stories i the papers s well s a call for Indian scaips on a Minocqua radio
station and signs appearing in Bouider Junction calling for Indlans to be killed.

Wait 1 it gots dark. We e going to kil you fuckera.”

Michael Chosa set up the Indian response. The Ojitwe would suspend hunting unt “the time of the fireflies,” which
signaled the traditional Incian ime to hunt. He attacked the iresponsible hetoric from the ONR, called the tribe together
for an Informational meeting, called on the govemar to become resoonsibly involved, called to cther tribes and decided
10 use the Reatty/Natural Resource Commitise to impiement the conservation code used on reservation lakes for the
off- reservation spearing missions. These responses gaivanized and empowered the eire Indian community. Other
strong Indians emerged, such as Gilbert Chapman, Tom Mauison and others.

At the boat landing on Butisrut Lake, Sunday night, Aprl 26th, 1988, the confrontation got very ugly, with spearfishers
attacked by rocks and otherwise threatened. Even the GLIFWC wardens were menaced.

The Tribal Council eacied angrly. The events wers “fanning the flames of racial haired... It was raciem at fts rawest,
e L s e
Racism and Treaty Rights in Lac du Flambeau, WI (part Il)

“It looked ke the Litte Rock of the North.* So said Suzan Slown Harjo, exacutive direcior of the National Congress of
American Indians, referring 10 the recsption given the inital spearfishers, by the racist whites.

Anthindian groups were formed, whipped Up by the flame-fanning of the panic-peddiing resort papers and geners
rumor-mongering among non-reservation whites. WARR (Wiaconsin Alliance for Rights and Resources), ERFE (Equal
Rights for Everyone), PARR (Protect Americars Rights and Resources), and STA-W (Stop Treaty Abuse- Wisconsin).
wers among the more prominent. These groups hoped 1 sppoel 1o sports people, fanners, resort owners, off-
reservation businesses and the chambers of commerce of the rescrt towns which surround the Lac du Flambeau Indian
Resarvation. The racist core of their bellefs were shown by thelr fiyers, bumper stickers and the raw hatred spewed out
atthe boat landings.

“Save two walleyes, spear a prognant squaw... Timber nigger... Red nigger... Wel sieep with your squaws (white
‘man)... d rather fuck @ nigger than an indian (white woman)... God made us white. You don't belong here (white boy)...
Taunts to Indian drummers: You can shove those drum sticks up your asa...Abortionistaf To Indian women: You e the

TREATIES

ety i 2 importantcontract between e o more
sovereign entces. The US. Consitution recopnizes
and protens teares betweeen the United States and
Indian naions 25 the “supreme Law of the Land."

Idian s iew therm a5 solem promises and schnonedg-

et o hei sovereigry.

£ i sty was lerents0d documenid he wiwe T REATY’ RIGHTS:
relationship between 30 Indian nation and the United States, T7€3ty making was s European concept and i is not surpelsiing that

Walleye Warriors

HERE' foul TRUST FUND HONEY!! $529.2 MILLION in PER-
CaPITA PATHENTS foc e FLAMBEAO CHIPEWASY bt i

Masua.‘txmr,\”,,mu

s was the pervasive scapegoating of the Indians as
fos and foars.

) country (corporate greed) were aiso laying siege to
s

s on waleys, the lack of dscant paying jobs, tight
for the small guy. Violence and vileness, escalated.
by resort bars, traveled nighty 1o the boat landings.
ssassination threats ageinat tribal judges and boat
es that Chippews spearers faced as they exarcised
xther Wisconsin became a ierai battieground.”

M e b L L s
o unassailable rights. In fact, it was the government
s of thesa rights.

v tribes and the U.S. Government. Never wers these
on hundreds of treaties signed by indian Nations and
rect threat of extermination and its constant possibility

Decision of 1983 was read. Lo and behold, they were
ad. Not gn treaty was ever yicited by any Indian
'any European signatory! It's called the “U.S. system

o4 in exchange for the “promise” of a temporary
which usually preceded andior coincided with the
fe drooled over the white man's abilty to conquer
us peopies and claim the land for themselves, and
massive plundering and colossal crime was codified.
f the lands and waters of the reservations, they

a8 definitely reshaped Lac du Flambeau. What
hwoods eco-system. became another parcel of
t mowed. its marshes and rice beds flooded. its
ams. What might have been an isolated isiand of
se residents - both whits and Indian -perched on
d on tourist dollars st lie the rest of Northem

ugh the teens, were “forbidden to speak Ojibwe,
8" Many parents wers reluctant to send their
also a miltary officer, occasionally enforced

e bt bt ot e foh it
of the treaties, supposedly "the Supreme Law of the Land" - according to the

was ninety years o at this time, and three others trekked to We

8
3

£
& Luka Sperior

LOOK!
THE INDIANS
ARE RAPING

Lae du Plambean Treaty Righte
7 By Anthony Rayson