Republican candidates for the Minnesota Legislature are making the Red Lake Nation's control of Red Lake a campaign issue.

Doug Lindgren says the first thing he will do if elected is to seek an opinion on the tribe's sovereignty over the lake. He claims the U.S. Supreme Court gave Minnesota authority over all the waters within state borders.

Michael Barrett, another Republican, wants the tribe to give up control over the 275,000-acre Red Lake is owned by the tribe. Only about 48,000 acres is open to non-Indians for fishing.

"This is not meant to be racist in any manner," Barrett told Minnesota Public Radio.

An anti-treaty group called Proper Economic Resource Management is considering a legal challenge. The issue made the news after the tribe seized a man's boat and fishing gear this summer after he wandered onto the tribe's part of the lake.

Get the Story:
Red Lake tribe faces water rights challenge (Minnesota Public Radio 8/23)

Relevant Links:
Red Lake Net News - http://www.rlnn.com
Red Lake Nation - http://www.redlakenation.org

Related Stories:
Red Lake citizens challenge GOP on sovereignty (8/16)
Red Lake Nation seizes man's boat, fishing gear (7/13)