Tribal leaders planning action over wolf hunt
Ojibwe tribal leaders in Wisconsin feel like they’re being ignored in their concerns about wolf hunting in the state.
“It seems like our voices are never heard,” said John Johnson, chairman of the Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe Nation and Voigt Intertribal Task Force.
When the gray wolf was delisted from the Endangered Species Act earlier this year, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Board voted to allow a quota of 200 wolves to be hunted, which was reduced to 119 when Ojibwe tribes declared their portion not to be hunted.
“We’re supposed to have 50% say over the resources, and that’s never happened, especially in the Ceded Territory,” Johnson said.
Hunters blew past their quota last winter and killed nearly 100 more than their allowable limit, but the DNR Board again this fall set a quota of 300 wolves to be killed, even though its own scientists recommended a quota of 130 wolves.
Tribal leaders said hunting was efficient last winter because fresh snowfall made it easy for dog packs to run down wolves across much of the state.
“The DNR Board made clear that its decision to set the wolf quota at 300 has nothing to do with science or stewardship,” said Michael J. Isham, executive director for the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission.
He said the Ojibwe tribes have filed a brief in support of lawsuits seeking restoration of federal protection for wolves.
Tribal leaders are also reviewing their options and are planning to respond to the new quota, according to a statement from the commission.
The gray wolf, or ma’iingan in Ojibwe, plays an important role in Ojibwe culture. The Ojibwe believe man arrived in the world after the rest of creation but soon became depressed and lowly in spirit because he felt alone. Creator then introduced
“We’re supposed to have 50% say over the resources, and that’s never happened, especially in the Ceded Territory.” John Johnson chairman of the Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe Nation and Voigt Intertribal Task Force
man to the wolf and the two became brothers.
The Ojibwe bands also have rights to natural resources in much of northern Wisconsin, where wolves are prevalent, through U.S. and tribal law. Treaty law guarantees Ojibwe citizens to these resources in exchange for the U.S. taking Ojibwe land.
At the center of the controversy in the DNR Board votes is its chairman, Frederick Prehn, whose term expired on May 1, but has not stepped down.
Prehn was appointed by former Republican Gov. Scott Walker. Current Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has appointed Sandra Dee Naas to replace him, but the Republican-controlled state Senate has yet to confirm her.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul last week filed a lawsuit to remove Prehn.
“What (Prehn) is doing is a slap in the face to all women who are educated in the state,” Johnson said.
He said he doesn’t know if Naas would reduce the wolf hunt quota but said she’s very qualified and experienced for the position.
Johnson said the gray wolf can’t be to blame for the entire 1% of livestock killed by predators in the state and questions if the killing will stop at wolves or extend to coyotes and mountain lions, as well.
He said wolves have a purpose in balancing the ecosystem, such as by targeting deer with chronic wasting disease and preventing the disease from spreading.
“They have a right to survive,” Johnson said of wolves. “We’re intruding on their territory, not the other way around.”
Frank Vaisvilas is a Report For America corps member based at the Green Bay Press-Gazette covering Native American issues in Wisconsin. He can be reached at 920-228-0437 or fvaisvilas@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank.