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The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has announced it is suspending walleye netting in Lake Mille Lacs for at least a year. The move is in response to the ongoing concerns over low numbers of walleye in the lake. In her announcement to tribal members, Band Chairwoman Melanie Benjamin said the suspension was recommended by the Band’s Drumkeepers. Reporter Melissa Townsend sat down with one of those Drumkeepers, Joe Naquanabe [nay qua NAY bee].
The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has announced it is suspending walleye netting in Lake Mille Lacs for at least a year. The move is in response to the ongoing concerns over low numbers of walleye in the lake. In her announcement to tribal members, Band Chairwoman Melanie Benjamin said the suspension was recommended by the Band’s Drumkeepers. Reporter Melissa Townsend sat down with one of those Drumkeepers, Joe Naquanabe [nay qua NAY bee].
The Drumkeepers are chosen by Mille Lacs tribal members to be an advisory group for Band leaders. They meet a few times a year and they are also called on when the Chief Executive wants to hear their traditional knowledge to make decisions.
Joe Naquanabe is 71; he’s has been a drum keeper since 1980. He was raised by his grandparents on the Mille Lacs reservation. His first language was Ojibwe.
JOE: I know we’re talking a lot about me, but we’re talking about fishing. (:05)
Yes, the fish. The first time he learned about the importance of walleye on Lake Mille Lacs happened well before the Band regained the right to fish there.
JOE: Before the fishing controversy, years before we were starting to exercise that …
MEL he was at a funeral for a band member…
JOE: … I can’t even remember what time of year that was.
MEL: He was a young boy and he was sitting next to an elder gentlemen.
JOE …and he told me that — we should be eating fish right now. For this funeral. … for the guy passed away - in his honor. … he said it in ojibwe — [MEL: Can you say that in Ojibwe.]
MEL: Joe says, in English, the elder was basically saying
JOE: We should be having fish here today but we can’t bc the white man won’t let us fish.
Now that the band has reestablished its right to net fish in Lake Mille Lacs, Joe says he thinks about his memory…
JOE: … we have the right to go out there and get fish for this funeral. …not go out there and net 10K walleyes [laughs]. (1:14)
Joe Naquanabe feels that Band members should net walleye mainly for traditional ceremonial purposes.
JOE: I don’t want to say it’s a lifeline anymore, cause we can go to McDonalds and get a Big Mac [laughter]. I don’t need to go out and get fish or game now to survive. Yea, if you’re hungry, go for it.
When Chairwoman Melanie Benjamin asked the Drumkeepers what the Band should do about the decline of the walleye in Lake Mille Lacs, Joe Naquanabe told the group another story he heard when he was a boy…
JOE: At one time the animals, the fish and the birds being able to communicate with Ojibwe and they got along well. And something happened. And I never did ask, what happened? They just told me something happened.
MEL: He laughs and says “maybe they ate the forbidden fruit. But that’s a whole different story isn’t it?
JOE: But um, it came down to the animals, the fish and the birds, man needed them to survive. So some of them stepped forward and said I will give my life for them to survive. The ultimate sacrifice you know.
MEL: Joe says the Ojibwe asked the animals, the birds and the fish, what do you want in exchange for giving your lives?
JOE: When you kill us, respect us and only take what you need.
MEL: Talking animals sacrificing themselves — how do non-Natives hear this story?
JOE: I look at them and for them it’s a business and a sport where as for us it’s more ceremonial. You know we don’t take a fish and hang it up on the wall… [laughs].
MEL: So what does tradition say about how to negotiate with non-Natives who have a very different perspective on the walleye in Lake Mille Lacs? Joe says, that’s about respect.
JOE: You know the old pearlism - one is better than the other? I think we are always looked at as the other. We are not as good as you. WE are not as smart as you. God loves us more than you [laughter] just kidding. You have to look at us as an equal. As an equal partner in this. We need you, you need us, because the lake is important to us too. (3:00)
Joe Naquanebe is quick to point out the Drum Keepers don’t make Mill Lacs Band policy…
JOE: we’re heard, that’s it.
And he knows not everyone in the Band feels the way he does…
JOE: And I’m sure the fisherman and whoever else would probably disagree with me…
But he says he’s up for the debate.
JOE: … Let me hear your side, but I’ll give you my side. (:10)
For Minnesota Native News, I’m Melissa Townsend.