Ojibwe tribal members plead not guilty for exercising treaty rights

DULUTH, MN-Four tribal citizens entered not guilty pleas after being charged for exercising their treaty rights in off-reservation areas of Minnesota.

Harvey GoodSky and Morningstar GoodSky, who are from the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians, are accused of harvesting wild rice without a permit from the Department of National Resources. Todd Thompson, of the White Earth Nation and James Northrup, from the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, are accused of gillnetting without a permit.

The charges stem from a series of protests last August. Tribal members contend their off-reser...