Letter:  It happens both ways

TO THE EDITOR:

In reading the letter by the man fishing [on or near] the boundaries of Red Lake, we had an incident [that was] the opposite [of the non-member]. My sons and nephews were commercial fishing. One of my sons and a nephew set the nets, started partying and did not go get the nets the next day.  It got real windy, and on the second day I had my youngest son and another nephew go get the nets. By that time the nets had drifted onto “white Red Lake waters”   

Of course [Minnesota] DNR was waiting for someone to claim the nets. My son and nephew were charged with fishing off the Red Lake “Indian Waters”.  We argued the fact that the nets had lost anchor and drifted and there were no markers in the lake and when you are in the water it all looks the same--you cannot estimate distance, yards, miles, etc. We could not afford an attorney; the tribal council would not get involved: our nets were cut up and the fish taken away.

The judge at the time is still in Beltrami County.  Earlier he met up with my youngest son and told [him] that his was the hardest case he ever tried because my son would not give in.  They both eventually took a plea bargain and now have gross misdemeanors on their records.  

You may print this if you’d like.  This happens both ways, not just the other way.

Alfreda Sayers

Red Lake Band Member