Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) has authored a bill to re-designate the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, part of which is shown here, to a National Park. The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa say they cannot support the measure until they have answers to their questions. Travel Wisconsin photo.

Tribal Council says it needs questions answered

By Star Journal staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) on July 23 introduced the Apostle Islands National Park and Preserve Act. This legislation would re-designate the Apostle Islands from a National Lakeshore to a National Park. The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands, chaired by Rep. Tiffany, on July 24 held a hearing on this legislation.

“Know as the crown jewel of Wisconsin, the Apostle Island National Lakeshore is truly an unrivaled destination that is more than worthy of being elevated to a crown jewel of the National Park system,” Congressman Tiffany testified, during the July 24 hearing. “The Apostle Islands are rich in natural, cultural and historic resources. Comprised of 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland shore on Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin, the Apostle Islands contain numerous scenic cliff formations and arches, sea caves and sandy beaches. From abundant forests and fisheries to dramatic cliffs and caves, there’s truly no place in America like the Apostle Islands. This area also contains a collection of underwater shipwrecks, and what the National Park Service calls the largest and finest collection of lighthouses in the country.”

Saying his legislation is “very straightforward,” Tiffany said the majority of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore would be re-designated into the Apostle Islands National Park. Tiffany also testified he worked for over a year with local stakeholders to ensure that active hunting locations were not harmed by the bill.

State Sen. Romaine Quinn (R-Cameron) testified at the July 24 hearing, stating the designation change would have a positive impact on the local economy by bringing more visitors to the area. Rep. Tiffany submitted 21 letters from various communities, locally-elected leaders and local business organizations in support of his proposed bill. 

But one local community said it doesn’t have enough information to support the bill.    

Last week the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa released a statement saying the Tribe is opposing the bill in order to protect Gaa-Miskwaabikaang (Red Cliff) and its tribal membership.

“Tribal officials have repeatedly presented questions and concerns about the bill to lawmakers and Tiffany’s staff at the Capitol. However, the Tribe has not received sufficient communication or information,” the statement reads.

Another concern cited by the Tribe is the apparent lack of environmental impact, economic, infrastructure and cultural and treat rights impact studies undertaken, nor mention of “what specific federal fiscal resources this change would bring to the area.”

In the statement the Tribe says it is open to working with lawmakers on issues such as these that impact Red Cliff and its membership and natural resources, but cannot justify this bill without knowing the potential impact to members’ treaty rights.

According to tribal officials, Rep. Tiffany “floated the idea of upgrading the National Lakeshore to a National Park” in 2018. The Tribal Council requested a written proposal, which it said it did not receive. It also states several other times over the past months when it requested information and has not received “comprehensive responses to date.”

The tribe also disputes this would be the state’s first national park, stating. “Frog Bay Tribal National Park here in Gaa-Miskwaabikaang was created in 2012, making it the first of its kind in Wisconsin and across the United States.”

Tiffany said his legislation also seeks to enhance interpretive opportunities to include information about the areas fur trade, logging and fishing history and include information about the Ojibwe tribes who first inhabited the Apostle Islands.

This would not be the first time a National Lakeshore became a National Park. In 2019, Indiana Dunes, once a National Lakeshore, was designated as a National Park. While neighboring states of Minnesota, Michigan, and Indiana all enjoy national parks, Wisconsin does not yet have one.

MMC editors Mike Warren and Eileen Persike contributed to this story.