WPR: Mining company can't keep Bad River Band off property

Friday, October 25, 2013  

District attorney for Wisconsin county says energy company can't stop members of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians from hunting, fishing, surveying or sightseeing on land being used for a controversial mine:

Ashland County D.A. Kelly McKnight says the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe has a right to survey land in the proposed mining area.

This comes two months after mining company Gogebic Taconite (GTAC) sent Bad River a “cease and desist” letter to stay off that land.

The Oct. 16 letter from McKnight says the August letter to Bad River Chairman Mike Wiggins was wrong on all counts. McKnight wrote that under the state’s Managed Forest Law program, people like Bad River researchers can hike and sightsee on private property. In exchange, property owners get a tax break from the state.

McKnight also points out that GTAC doesn’t even own the land.

Get the Story:
Ashland County DA Says Bad River Tribe Can Survey Proposed Mining Area (Wisconsin Public Radio 10/25)

WPR: Bad River Band joins hike thru controversial mining site (10/15)