Column: Bois Forte Band welcomes visitors to fishing opener

At the Governor’s Fishing Opener this weekend, walleyes will be the main attraction. But the showpiece of the event, which this year is expected to attract some 400 participants, will be the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, their Fortune Bay Resort Casino and the good vibes that will be on display between the band and the greater Lake Vermilion community.

In many respects — perhaps most respects — the Bois Forte band in the greater Cook and Tower area exemplifies ways that communities of different cultural backgrounds can get along, even when the issue is sharing natural resources.

Ray Toutloff is one example.

A Bois Forte (“strong wood”) member, he lives on the east end of Lake Vermilion and is in his third term as a member of the tribal council. Like other tribal leaders, he’s proud of the work completed by a wide variety of Lake Vermilion-area residents — band and non-band alike — in advance of this weekend’s visit by Gov. Mark Dayton and other dignitaries.