Natural Resources: Sam Costigan

In the beginning of Chapter Seven there is a quote by an Ojibwe spiritual leader, Jimmy Jackson. He said, "Plants, animals, grasses and flowers don't need us, but we need them. This quote really sets the stage for chapter seven. It talks about tribes in Minnesota and their connection with the land and also their battle to keep what little resources they still have. The Ojibwe Tribe has natural resource departments. The 1837 Treaty addressed the issue of Indian hunting and fishing rights. It reserves the tribes right to hunting and fishing and gathering in the designated areas, which cover land in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. The chapter went on to talk about tribal rights near and on Mille Lacs Lake. A case was brought to the Supreme Court which ruled in the Indians favor. Also, timber resources have played a large part in the loss of Indian reservation land in northern Minnesota. The land that was given to the Indians later was suitable for farming and without any timber. By 1920 almost all of the timber in northern Minnesota had been harvested. This subject relly got me thinking, because when I travel to this area of the state I see so much forest and pine trees that I cannot imagine who would have possibly been able to cut down so many trees. All that has since grown back would take years to remove again. It shocked me to think about the clearing of entire forests of that size. Overall, I am glad that Rights to hunt and fish and gather have been put into the hands of the Indians. If anyone knows how to take care of resources it is them. Also I am happy that I can travel to northern Minnesota to places like the Boundry Waters and see what things would have been like hundreds of years ago.