Judge approves deal on Indian hunting, fishing rights in Michigan

mlive.com:

"Five American Indian tribes in northern Michigan will try to develop similar hunting and fishing regulations following a federal judge's approval of a deal acknowledging their rights under an 1836 treaty.

U.S. District Judge Richard Enslen of Kalamazoo signed a consent decree between the state of Michigan and the tribes on Monday. It was the final step in a 4-year-old lawsuit rooted in decades of debate over the meaning of tribal rights in modern times.

The document says tribal members can hunt, fish and gather plants for subsistence and medicinal purposes on public lands and waters covered by the treaty. They will need owners' permission to use private property."