Authorities Charge 4 Ojibwe Treaty Rights Protesters

BRAINERD, Minn. (AP) - Authorities have charged four Ojibwe Indians with fishing and wild rice violations stemming from a protest last summer to assert treaty rights they claim they still hold.

The four were named in complaints filed Dec. 30 in Crow Wing County District Court.

Jim Northrop, of Cloquet, and Todd Thompson, of Naytahwaush, are charged with gross misdemeanors for setting gill nets in Gull Lake during two days of protests in August. Harvey Goodsky Jr and Morningstar Shabaiash, both of McGregor, are charged with misdemeanors for harvesting wild rice without a state license on Hole in the Day Lake.

They're represented by Frank Bibeau, executive director of the 1855 Treaty Authority. He says they're trying to force Minnesota to recognize their rights to fish and gather under treaties with the federal government.