Tribal Coordination

Federal treaties exist between the United States government and tribes residing in Michigan. Although the entire state of Michigan is covered by treaties, only two treaty areas are currently subject to fishing by tribal entities. The Treaty of Washington, signed in 1836, covers the eastern Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The Treaty of La Pointe, signed in 1842, covers the western Upper Peninsula and areas of northern Wisconsin.

The Tribal Coordination Unit (TCU) coordinates activities between the State of Michigan and Tribal entities with regards to fishery resources. They work with DNR researchers to assess commercially important fish species including lake trout, lake whitefish, and bloater chubs. Research also includes assessment of inland fisheries within the 1836 and 1842 Treaty-ceded areas of Michigan. This work includes population modeling efforts, tagging studies, and evaluations of fish growth, mortality and recruitment.

CONTACT

Tribal Coordination Unit
Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station
96 Grant Street
Charlevoix, MI 49720

Phone: 231-350-8654

Dave Caroffino - Unit Manager
Steve Lenart - Research Biologist
Emily Martin - Fisheries Biologist
Eric Crissman - Fisheries Technician

A legal document that defines the extent of tribal rights and describes how the state and the tribes will cooperatively allocate and manage the fisheries resources in the 1836 Treaty-ceded waters of the Great Lakes.

Aa legal document that defines the extent of tribal rights and describes how the state and the tribes will cooperatively manage natural resources and inland treaty rights to hunt, fish, and gather on land ceded to the United States in 1836.