A tribal fisherman denied violating the 1836 Chippewa Treaty at a hearing before a tribal commission on Wednesday.

Tom Battice, a member of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, is accused of harvesting 3,857 pounds of fish past a deadline. Battice is a commercial fisherman whose violation was allegedly seen by a Michigan Department of Natural Resources officer.

The Little River Band's Natural Resource Commission heard testimony from both sides. Battice said he did not miss the deadline to stop fishing. His attorney said the officer's account of the alleged violation was proven faulty.

In 2000, Michigan reached a settlement with several tribes under the 1836 treaty. The state and tribes share regulation of fishing.

Get the Story:
Tribal fisherman denies breaking rules; DNR disagrees (AP 1/13)

Relevant Links:
Michigan Department of Natural Resources - http://www.michigan.gov/dnr

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