C O R A - Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority

Questions or Comments ?

Jennifer M. Dale
Public Information Officer
CORA Public Information & Education
Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority
179 W Three Mile Rd.
Sault Ste. Marie MI 49783

Phone: 906-632-0043
Fax: 906-632-1141
jmdale@chippewaottawa.org

Fishery Management - CORA provides biological services that ensure proper regulation of tribal fisheries and cooperative management with federal and state agencies. The InterTribal Fisheries Assessment Program (ITFAP) serves as the center for fishery catch statistics, recommends harvest levels, carries out population research and studies, and represents CORA on numerous interagency committees and organizations.

Fishery Enhancement - Operating since 1989, Nunns Creek Fish Hatchery raises walleye and other species in order to stock the Great Lakes, and serves as the center for monitoring and management of salmon harvested by the tribal commercial fishery. CORA tribes have helped to reestablish lake trout in the upper Great Lakes, and have been especially successful in Lake Superior.

Law Enforcement - Tribal conservation officers are trained at federal or state police academies. They perform all conservation enforcement investigations and services in treaty waters, enforce fishing regulations, and work cooperatively with the Michigan DNR and U.S. Coast Guard. Judicial systems are maintained by each of the tribes. The courts hear alleged fishing violation cases and impose sentences on offending tribal members.

Environmental Issues - ITFAP conducts annual fish contaminant monitoring by sampling important commercial species. Results are shared with other state and federal agencies and released to the public. ITFAP's environmental staff represents CORA on a wide variety of interagency and international committees working on water quality, water sales, invasive species and other Great Lakes environmental issues.

The Treaties - 1836 Treaty tribes' right to conduct fishing activities is derived from the terms of the 1836 Treaty between the United States government and Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. The treaty gave up land but retained the right to fish in waters bordered by the treaty areas. These rights were reaffirmed in court cases during the 1970s.

The Tribal Fishery - Today, CORA regulates most Indian fishing in 1836 Treaty waters. The 2000 Consent Decree allocates the fishery resource among user groups, such as the tribes, sports fishers, the state and the federal government. The fishery is managed by biology, rather than geography. Disputes are settled by an Executive Council comprised of the CORA chairmen and state and federal representatives.