DO I NEED TO HAVE A STATE LICENSE ON MY WATERCRAFT, ATV, OR SNOWMOBILE WHILE OUT EXERCISING TREATY RIGHTS IN THE CEDED TERRITORY.
YES! The exercise of treaty rights does not exempt you from having to license your watercraft, ATV, or snowmobile while out in the Ceded Territory.
DO I NEED A PERMIT TO ACCESS THE BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA WILDERNESS?
NO! Band members are not required to obtain a permit to access the BWCAW. Band members are required to have an 1854 ID Card in their possession (and display upon request) to assist Forest Service officials in doing routine permit checks. Treaty access to the BWCAW without a permit can include immediate family when accompanying an enrolled band member. Immediate family is defined as a spouse and those of lineal decent or ascent, including, but not limited to, a parent or grandparent, children and grandchildren. Any other members of the party who are not band members nor immediate family are required to have a BWCAW permit. All rules prescribed for the wilderness area are to be followed while accessing the BWCAW.
DO I NEED A STATE PARK PERMIT TO ACCESS STATE PARKS?
YES! Band members are required to have a vehicle permit to access state parks within the 1854 Treaty Area, and any of the 75 state parks and recreation areas state-wide. However, state park vehicle permits are provided to Tribal members FREE OF CHARGE. Obtain permits from respective Tribal governments (Bois Forte, Grand Portage), or at the front offices upon entering a state park. One of the following forms of identification is required to obtain a permit: a Tribal ID, a certificate of Indian blood, a Tribal government issued vehicle license plate, an 1854 Treaty Authority window cling, or an 1854 Treaty Authority ID card. Band members are required to pay for any "services" that park and/or vendors may provide (i.e. camping, firewood) and must abide by all rules prescribed by the park.
DO I NEED TO ABIDE BY "SPECIAL FISHING REGULATIONS" (i.e. slot limits, minimum lengths, closures, etc) WHILE EXERCISING TREATY RIGHTS ON WATERS WITHIN THE 1854 TREATY AREA?
DEPENDS! Any special regulations that must be adhered to are found in the 1854 Treaty Authority Fishing Seasons/Bag Limits flyer which is approved on an annual basis by the 1854 Board of Directors. Practically, that means that if there is a state regulation on a particular body of water, we may or may not have to abide by the same regulation. Again, consult the fishing season flyer to see if the particular body of water you are interested in has a special regulation applicable to it. Since our activities are subsistence based (as opposed to trophy pursuit), we tend to only adopt those special regulations that are required by the state agreement. If there are ever issues that are of a biologically based concern, we would take that into consideration.
DO I NEED TO PAY A FEE TO CAMP AT SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST (SNF) CAMPGROUNDS?
NO! Grand Portage and Bois Forte Band members may use USFS Superior National Forest campgrounds within the 1854 Ceded Territory exempt of fees. When arriving at a campground to get a site, Band members must have an 1854 or Tribal ID card in possession, provide ID number and Band affiliation on the campsite registration form, and agree to abide by both the USFS Regulations and the 1854 Superior National Forest Camping Regulations. Advance reservations can be made by telephone: 1-877-444-6777, *indicate that you are a Band member to avoid reservation fees. SNF campsite reservations can also be made by using the online registration system: https://www.recreation.gov, *use the “Apply Discount” button when checking out to avoid reservation fees.
CAN I OBTAIN EAGLE PARTS AND FEATHERS FOR RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL PURPOSES?
YES! But this is a federally permitted process (US Fish & Wildlife Service) that is not within the scope of our authority. We can assist in obtaining the required forms that must be filled out and submitted to the US Fish & Wildlife Service, but that is the only assistance we can currently provide. (Select the "Eagle Repository Documents and Forms" link the the Library Collection on the National Eagle Repository homepage.)
Members may also legally possess feathers and parts without a permit if they are acquired in the wild and are naturally molted or fallen feathers obtained without harm to the birds or their nests. You may also receive feathers or parts from other tribal members so long as it is done without compensation of any kind (except as an exchange of other feathers or parts).
The policy of the federal government is to prosecute those who engage in commercial activities involving federally protected birds and their parts or kill protected birds. We advise the careful reading of the Department of Justice memo regarding this issue.