WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:05.000 Right? You can talk to me if your phone calls us come through, if you take it, it's not the end of the world. 00:05.000 --> 00:07.000 Okay, we'll just turn that off. 00:07.000 --> 00:11.000 We can pause and stop. Especially if it's about your pumps, then I get it. 00:11.000 --> 00:16.000 So I guess let's go back to the beginning. 00:16.000 --> 00:20.000 You were born and raised around here? Are you from Redcliffe originally? 00:20.000 --> 00:26.000 Yes, I'm born and raised here in Redcliffe. Both my parents are tribal members. 00:26.000 --> 00:29.000 I've been here ever since. 00:29.000 --> 00:37.000 So growing up, as if you met your uncle, you were set loose in the woods, is that kind of the story? 00:37.000 --> 00:43.000 Oh yeah, for sure. You know, taught how to run a chainsaw from my uncle. 00:43.000 --> 00:50.000 We did a lot of hunting, and we also did a lot of spearing with my cousin. 00:50.000 --> 00:54.000 He taught me a lot to it in the spearing. 00:54.000 --> 01:01.000 So was there just a natural connection, or was it like being with other kids that made it more enjoyable? 01:01.000 --> 01:04.000 How does that all come together? 01:04.000 --> 01:10.000 I guess it was just the way we did stuff around here. 01:10.000 --> 01:17.000 I didn't really, I thought it was normal to be able to go spearing or go hunting. 01:17.000 --> 01:22.000 We also were in the woods running our sugar bush in the spring. 01:22.000 --> 01:32.000 We did a lot of our treaty rights. We were exercising. 01:32.000 --> 01:41.000 It was a conscious choice. What was it very intentional when asserting the rights is an important step to maintaining those rights? 01:41.000 --> 01:44.000 Yeah, for sure. I didn't know it at the time. 01:44.000 --> 01:48.000 You know, I thought, like I said, I thought it was normal. I thought everyone was doing it. 01:48.000 --> 01:59.000 And then, you know, as I got older, I realized that, you know, those rights are very important for our tribe and, you know, tribal members in general. 01:59.000 --> 02:02.000 Right here in footsteps. 02:02.000 --> 02:05.000 I did too. 02:05.000 --> 02:07.000 Oh yes. 02:07.000 --> 02:08.000 You're okay. 02:08.000 --> 02:10.000 We didn't make you make the whole test. 02:11.000 --> 02:13.000 Wow, look at this. 02:13.000 --> 02:16.000 Yeah, fancy setup. 02:24.000 --> 02:26.000 All right, carry on. 02:26.000 --> 02:29.000 Does Andrea have all this stuff? 02:29.000 --> 02:30.000 Oh, yeah. 02:30.000 --> 02:31.000 Okay. 02:31.000 --> 02:33.000 That's a good enough answer. 02:33.000 --> 02:34.000 Yeah. 02:35.000 --> 02:42.000 So, when did you first start working in the natural resources department then? 02:42.000 --> 02:48.000 So, I've been with the tribe in natural resources for 11 years now. 02:48.000 --> 02:55.000 But before that, I worked for the University of Wisconsin, Stephen's Point Aquaculture Facility for five years. 02:55.000 --> 02:58.000 And that's really what got me into raising fish. 02:58.000 --> 02:59.000 Okay. 02:59.000 --> 03:00.000 So you were at NADF? 03:00.000 --> 03:03.000 Yeah, I was at NADF for five years. 03:03.000 --> 03:04.000 Okay. 03:04.000 --> 03:05.000 Yeah. 03:05.000 --> 03:08.000 So, was it a natural progression to cross the street? 03:08.000 --> 03:09.000 Yeah, for sure. 03:09.000 --> 03:13.000 It was, I mean, I pretty much got taught everything. 03:13.000 --> 03:18.000 I needed to know to come here and be able to raise fish indoors and outdoors. 03:18.000 --> 03:22.000 Was that something that the tribe had been doing here? 03:22.000 --> 03:27.000 Or was it important for you to come with that knowledge and bring that with you? 03:27.000 --> 03:30.000 Yeah, it wasn't really something the tribe was doing. 03:30.000 --> 03:33.000 It was just, it just kind of happened that way. 03:33.000 --> 03:38.000 Like, I actually just had come home from college and was looking for a job. 03:38.000 --> 03:46.000 And I knew that I was into fish and I just, it worked out good. 03:46.000 --> 03:51.000 So, when you came here, what was the program, what did it look like? 03:51.000 --> 03:56.000 I guess, and how much has it changed since you came with that knowledge about it? 03:57.000 --> 04:01.000 Yeah, so, I mean, the program is running pretty good. 04:01.000 --> 04:09.000 I did bring more knowledge and we were able to improve on raising the fish, like having 04:09.000 --> 04:12.000 better quality fish. 04:12.000 --> 04:19.000 We have a, we improved our ponds and we're still improving every year by getting better, 04:19.000 --> 04:25.000 you know, more knowledge with how to raise fish and it's getting a lot better. 04:25.000 --> 04:32.000 Explain to me the philosophy that comes behind the whole hatchery process that you have here. 04:32.000 --> 04:38.000 What goes into the judgments that you make about where to get eggs from, where to go back, 04:38.000 --> 04:40.000 how much to stock, you know, all that? 04:40.000 --> 04:49.000 Yeah, so, with walleye, we get eggs from the lakes that are tribe spears. 04:49.000 --> 04:54.000 So, we're not only, you know, taking fish from, taking walleye from the lake, 04:54.000 --> 04:57.000 but we're also putting the walleye back in the lake, you know. 04:57.000 --> 05:02.000 Most people don't know that we, you know, stock walleye back in the lake. 05:02.000 --> 05:05.000 We're not just taking walleye. 05:05.000 --> 05:09.000 Is that, I mean, how do you choose which lakes? 05:09.000 --> 05:12.000 Like, these last year, the Upper St. Croix this year, you get Claire. 05:12.000 --> 05:14.000 Middle Claire, little Claire. 05:14.000 --> 05:15.000 Yeah. 05:15.000 --> 05:17.000 That's a different relationship. 05:17.000 --> 05:18.000 Yeah. 05:18.000 --> 05:20.000 It's just kind of like you have a running pattern. 05:20.000 --> 05:22.000 Yeah, pretty much. 05:22.000 --> 05:29.000 So, really, it's all about the density of the lake. 05:29.000 --> 05:33.000 You know, right now, middle, when I, when I used to spear middle, Claire, 05:33.000 --> 05:39.000 there was four adult walleye per acre in each, in the lake. 05:39.000 --> 05:43.000 And right now, there's only one adult per acre. 05:43.000 --> 05:47.000 So, we're trying to, you know, increase the production. 05:47.000 --> 05:52.000 I mean, trying to have more, put more fish in. 05:52.000 --> 05:53.000 So. 05:53.000 --> 05:54.000 Hey. 05:54.000 --> 05:59.000 How do we do most of the, the tribal members know about that process that you guys do? 05:59.000 --> 06:01.000 Is that obviously a lot of the publics. 06:01.000 --> 06:02.000 Yeah. 06:02.000 --> 06:06.000 But does your own community even aware of, of that part of that? 06:06.000 --> 06:07.000 Yeah. 06:07.000 --> 06:10.000 The community is aware for sure. 06:10.000 --> 06:14.000 I mean, now with social media, it's the past few years, 06:14.000 --> 06:16.000 it's really been getting out there. 06:16.000 --> 06:18.000 Like, it's, yeah. 06:18.000 --> 06:22.000 I mean, social media is making it well known that we're, you know, 06:22.000 --> 06:23.000 stock and fish. 06:23.000 --> 06:27.000 And we're getting some really good feedback. 06:27.000 --> 06:32.000 So, we were obviously with you last year when we went to, to St. Croix. 06:32.000 --> 06:35.000 What were, I don't know if you remember off hand, but roughly, 06:35.000 --> 06:37.000 what were some of the numbers you got out of those ponds? 06:37.000 --> 06:40.000 We were there for the first day in the ponds, I believe. 06:40.000 --> 06:41.000 Yeah. 06:41.000 --> 06:46.000 So, last year, we stocked, um, nine thousand, over not, 06:46.000 --> 06:48.000 just a little over nine thousand extended growth walleyes. 06:48.000 --> 06:50.000 So, they were seven to nine inches. 06:50.000 --> 06:58.000 And that's, uh, I mean, in that lake, that's, that's a really good number. 06:58.000 --> 06:59.000 Yeah. 06:59.000 --> 07:01.000 And those are healthy looking fish. 07:01.000 --> 07:02.000 Yeah. 07:02.000 --> 07:03.000 Yeah. 07:03.000 --> 07:05.000 And those are healthy looking fish. 07:05.000 --> 07:09.000 I mean, so just growing them from spring to fall, and that's, that's it. 07:09.000 --> 07:13.000 And what does that, what does that mean for you to be, to be a part of that process? 07:13.000 --> 07:14.000 Yeah. 07:14.000 --> 07:15.000 It makes me feel really good. 07:15.000 --> 07:21.000 You know, and with the, you know, with talking with the Lake Association, 07:21.000 --> 07:22.000 they're super happy with it. 07:22.000 --> 07:26.000 And it makes me feel, you know, pretty proud and happy to do it. 07:26.000 --> 07:32.000 And it's kind of, I mean, I don't know how far back your history is, 07:32.000 --> 07:36.000 I mean, your uncle was talking about, you know, the early days of a serving treaty 07:36.000 --> 07:38.000 rights and some of the conflict that existed there. 07:38.000 --> 07:42.000 And some of the, you know, the stereotypes that still came out of that, 07:42.000 --> 07:44.000 that some people still hold. 07:44.000 --> 07:48.000 How much of, how important is it to try and break through to people? 07:48.000 --> 07:49.000 Yeah. 07:49.000 --> 07:50.000 That's where it's a different era. 07:50.000 --> 07:53.000 Like you guys are putting more fish in that are actually coming out. 07:53.000 --> 07:54.000 Yeah. 07:54.000 --> 07:55.000 It's very important. 07:55.000 --> 07:59.000 I mean, like I said, most people don't know that we put fish back in. 08:00.000 --> 08:07.000 And, you know, the, just, I mean, it is getting better. 08:07.000 --> 08:13.000 But it still, you know, still needs more, more to get out there. 08:13.000 --> 08:15.000 Some people know. 08:15.000 --> 08:19.000 One of the other factors is there, I mean, the, the safe, 08:19.000 --> 08:21.000 the mercury safety level maps. 08:21.000 --> 08:24.000 I mean, are there, I guess I was overhearing at the youth night, 08:24.000 --> 08:27.000 there was talking about like some people were still putting in claims 08:27.000 --> 08:30.000 on lakes that, you know, other people were saying, 08:30.000 --> 08:32.000 I would never need a fish out of that lake. 08:32.000 --> 08:33.000 Yeah. 08:33.000 --> 08:37.000 So, I mean, mercury is always a thing to worry about. 08:37.000 --> 08:42.000 I mean, that's why they have the parameters out there for people to, 08:42.000 --> 08:47.000 you know, not eat too much or try to catch a certain size, 08:47.000 --> 08:50.000 a certain limit and leave the big ones alone. 08:50.000 --> 08:54.000 So hopefully they can spawn and keep things going. 08:54.000 --> 08:59.000 Do you guys actively avoid stalking or interacting with a lake that has mercury? 08:59.000 --> 09:02.000 I mean, would it make ever make sense to put fish into that lake? 09:02.000 --> 09:03.000 Yeah. 09:03.000 --> 09:10.000 So we don't actually stalk any lake that has a high mercury in it. 09:10.000 --> 09:14.000 So all the ones we do usually, that's not a factor. 09:14.000 --> 09:16.000 We're not worried about it. 09:16.000 --> 09:17.000 Okay. 09:17.000 --> 09:20.000 Does that reduce the number of lakes that you're interacting with? 09:21.000 --> 09:22.000 Yeah. 09:22.000 --> 09:27.000 It definitely does. 09:27.000 --> 09:30.000 It's, yeah, it's tough. 09:30.000 --> 09:33.000 I mean, it makes it a little tougher to be able to, you know, 09:33.000 --> 09:35.000 try to keep everyone happy. 09:35.000 --> 09:38.000 But, I mean, there's also not that many lakes. 09:38.000 --> 09:47.000 So it's, we try to, whatever lake our tribe is appearing is what we're trying to restock. 09:47.000 --> 09:49.000 And how does that overlap work? 09:49.000 --> 09:51.000 Because we saw that Bad River was there on Friday night, 09:51.000 --> 09:54.000 and obviously we put a raise very close by. 09:54.000 --> 09:58.000 We do guys kind of work with each other to talk about who's going to go where, 09:58.000 --> 10:00.000 who stalks where, how that works. 10:00.000 --> 10:01.000 Yeah. 10:01.000 --> 10:04.000 We definitely talk with the other tribes, and then we also talk with the state, 10:04.000 --> 10:08.000 because the state does stalk certain lakes and whatever the lake, 10:08.000 --> 10:12.000 whatever lake the state's not stalking is what usually wants wool stock. 10:12.000 --> 10:15.000 So they'll do different years. 10:15.000 --> 10:20.000 And so tell me a little bit about how, how the Namacogan project came to be about, 10:20.000 --> 10:23.000 because that's a unique relationship, right? 10:23.000 --> 10:24.000 Yeah. 10:24.000 --> 10:25.000 Yeah. 10:25.000 --> 10:33.000 So I guess it came about when Mike came to me and said that they want more walleye in their lake. 10:33.000 --> 10:38.000 And we were the ones that were, since we're a tribe, we can actually, you know, 10:38.000 --> 10:42.000 collect our eggs without having a bunch of permits. 10:42.000 --> 10:46.000 And we can also stalk the fish back in the lake without having, you know, 10:46.000 --> 10:48.000 a bunch of permits. 10:48.000 --> 10:51.000 So is that an unusual relationship? 10:51.000 --> 10:56.000 I mean, it's not just a lake association of the tribe, like you have any DFT, you have a TNR. 10:56.000 --> 10:57.000 Yeah. 10:57.000 --> 11:01.000 I guess I don't know if it's an unusual relationship. 11:01.000 --> 11:10.000 I guess it, they really were the only ones that reached out saying that, you know, 11:10.000 --> 11:15.000 can you help, you know, with our population of walleye? 11:15.000 --> 11:21.000 I mean, is that, are you more inclined to want to work with them if they're actually reaching out? 11:21.000 --> 11:22.000 Yeah. 11:22.000 --> 11:28.000 I mean, so we always factor in, you know, what, what lake we're spearing. 11:28.000 --> 11:32.000 And in the Namacogan, we do spear a lot. 11:32.000 --> 11:34.000 So that's, that was a big factor. 11:34.000 --> 11:39.000 And, I mean, if, and it also always comes down to funding, you know, 11:39.000 --> 11:45.000 if we don't have funding to feed our walleye minnows, then we can't raise them. 11:45.000 --> 11:48.000 So we need funding to be able to raise walleye. 11:48.000 --> 11:52.000 And does the lake association help with that or is it? 11:52.000 --> 11:54.000 Yeah, they definitely do. 11:54.000 --> 12:01.000 So this year we do a middle of Claire and they, they donated some money to help with feeding our walleye. 12:01.000 --> 12:02.000 Yeah. 12:02.000 --> 12:04.000 As you mentioned, it's, it's not cheap. 12:04.000 --> 12:05.000 No. 12:05.000 --> 12:06.000 Yeah. 12:06.000 --> 12:09.000 Those, those, those, those minerals are getting trucked in from out of state. 12:09.000 --> 12:10.000 Yeah. 12:10.000 --> 12:11.000 Yeah. 12:11.000 --> 12:12.000 The out of state for sure. 12:12.000 --> 12:21.000 And what, I guess when, when you look at the, the bill like that is, is there federal money and then tribal money and then donated money? 12:21.000 --> 12:25.000 Does the DNR kick in or where, where does all that, all the different pots and money? 12:25.000 --> 12:26.000 Yeah. 12:26.000 --> 12:31.000 Usually we get funded from the BIA, which is the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 12:31.000 --> 12:35.000 And then the, we don't get any money from the state to do it. 12:35.000 --> 12:38.000 And then yeah, it's just the lake associations and BIA. 12:38.000 --> 12:39.000 Okay. 12:39.000 --> 12:43.000 And so all of those factoring what, what you're able to do. 12:43.000 --> 12:44.000 Yep. 12:44.000 --> 12:53.000 And then Glyphwick is also a big partner and hopefully they can get some funding for us too. 12:54.000 --> 12:56.000 And they, they've been doing surveys there, right? 12:56.000 --> 12:57.000 Yep. 12:57.000 --> 12:58.000 Glyphwick. 12:58.000 --> 12:59.000 What have you learned from, from any of the surveys? 12:59.000 --> 13:02.000 They did a young of year and I think they did a spring survey this year. 13:02.000 --> 13:04.000 Do you know anything from what they've gotten? 13:04.000 --> 13:06.000 We, we don't know yet. 13:06.000 --> 13:14.000 So they, we, the only thing we know is by mother word, they've told us that they've seen them, but they haven't analyzed the data yet. 13:14.000 --> 13:15.000 Okay. 13:15.000 --> 13:16.000 So. 13:16.000 --> 13:19.000 And what, I mean anecdotally, what would you expect to see? 13:19.000 --> 13:23.000 And then do you think that this has been a positive relationship? 13:23.000 --> 13:24.000 Yeah. 13:24.000 --> 13:28.000 I mean, I'm not only hoping that it's a, you know, working. 13:28.000 --> 13:31.000 I mean, we're putting in a lot of work for it. 13:31.000 --> 13:36.000 So I'm hoping and I think that it's working. 13:36.000 --> 13:46.000 Like this, this last study that Glyphwick did is, we made sure that they looked for fin clips on our walleye. 13:46.000 --> 13:50.000 So we'll know more within a year. 13:50.000 --> 13:51.000 Okay. 13:51.000 --> 13:53.000 And then the left and right fin clip too. 13:53.000 --> 13:54.000 Yep. 13:54.000 --> 13:55.000 That's, that's interesting. 13:55.000 --> 13:56.000 Yep. 13:56.000 --> 13:57.000 Yep. 13:57.000 --> 14:01.000 So different fin clips for the indoor raised fish. 14:01.000 --> 14:05.000 Is that, I mean, how, how important is that distinction long term? 14:05.000 --> 14:08.000 Could that really change how batteries work? 14:08.000 --> 14:09.000 Yes, for sure. 14:09.000 --> 14:15.000 It's a lot easier to raise fish indoors with, you know, you can control the, everything. 14:15.000 --> 14:16.000 Pretty much. 14:16.000 --> 14:19.000 And then outdoors, it's, you know, some other nature. 14:19.000 --> 14:20.000 She's in charge. 14:20.000 --> 14:24.000 And we just have to do what she says. 14:24.000 --> 14:29.000 I mean, how many times have you just walked by the ponds and just like, well, we don't know? 14:29.000 --> 14:30.000 Yeah. 14:30.000 --> 14:31.000 Yeah. 14:31.000 --> 14:32.000 For sure. 14:32.000 --> 14:36.000 And then, you know, it's the ducks for major factor. 14:36.000 --> 14:42.000 And then you get also get the, um, musk rats can mess up your ponds. 14:42.000 --> 14:47.000 And then you have otters that, if otter gets in there, they can eat a lot of fish. 14:47.000 --> 14:53.000 So when you get the, like, we were there when you guys were taking the first pond out and 14:53.000 --> 14:55.000 you had all the volunteers come up. 14:55.000 --> 14:57.000 I mean, how, how important is that? 14:57.000 --> 15:01.000 Not only for the labor, but just to have those people come and see. 15:01.000 --> 15:03.000 This is what we're working towards. 15:03.000 --> 15:05.000 Or this is what some of our money is going towards. 15:05.000 --> 15:07.000 Or this is what's going into our lake. 15:07.000 --> 15:08.000 Yeah. 15:08.000 --> 15:13.000 It's very important to, you know, get the lake associations to help. 15:13.000 --> 15:19.000 And then they actually get to see what we are doing and know that it's not just easy just 15:19.000 --> 15:21.000 to raise fish. 15:21.000 --> 15:24.000 And then everyone thinks it's just easy. 15:24.000 --> 15:27.000 You put fish in water and they grow and you don't have to feed them. 15:27.000 --> 15:32.000 And then you can just take the fish out and put them in the lake. 15:32.000 --> 15:35.000 But yeah, it's a long process. 15:35.000 --> 15:38.000 So for you, you've been doing this a long time. 15:38.000 --> 15:43.000 Like, how much of your, of your mental energy is devoted to thinking about fishing a pond 15:43.000 --> 15:45.000 at any given time? 15:45.000 --> 15:46.000 Yeah. 15:46.000 --> 15:50.000 I mean, it's, I think about it all the time when the, well, the fish are in there. 15:50.000 --> 15:55.000 It's, like I said, it's outdoors, so it's, anything can go wrong. 15:55.000 --> 15:59.000 I mean, are you, like, you look out in the weather and you go, oh, some of you can hear me. 15:59.000 --> 16:00.000 Yeah. 16:00.000 --> 16:01.000 Oh yeah. 16:01.000 --> 16:04.000 So that's one thing we do with our ponds is we, once there's fish in there, we'll check 16:04.000 --> 16:06.000 them every single day. 16:06.000 --> 16:09.000 You know, we're checking to make sure the oxygen is good. 16:09.000 --> 16:14.000 We're checking for making sure that the water is turbid. 16:14.000 --> 16:15.000 It's darker. 16:15.000 --> 16:18.000 I mean, you don't want it too turbid either. 16:18.000 --> 16:27.000 You want it to, so the fish, so while I are very cannibalistic, they'll eat each other 16:27.000 --> 16:28.000 a lot. 16:28.000 --> 16:33.000 So if you keep the water darker, that definitely keeps down the cannibalism. 16:33.000 --> 16:36.000 So we're there checking every day. 16:36.000 --> 16:44.000 So walleye themselves should be on the list of things that can ruin the walleye population. 16:44.000 --> 16:45.000 Yes, for sure. 16:45.000 --> 16:47.000 And that happens in regular lake as well. 16:47.000 --> 16:48.000 Yep, for sure. 16:48.000 --> 16:52.000 I mean, walleye are very aggressive fish and they'll eat their brothers and sisters. 16:52.000 --> 16:54.000 They don't, they don't care. 16:54.000 --> 16:56.000 They're hungry. 16:56.000 --> 17:01.000 So I guess take me back to when you were younger. 17:01.000 --> 17:06.000 How aware were you of what the walleye populations were at that time? 17:06.000 --> 17:11.000 And some of the shifts that were occurring is, I guess a lot of lakes went from the late 17:11.000 --> 17:12.000 90s and the early 2000s. 17:12.000 --> 17:17.000 There were some severe declines just due to a lot of different factors out there. 17:17.000 --> 17:18.000 Yeah. 17:18.000 --> 17:23.000 So I guess when I was younger, when I was spearing a lot, it was, so every time you go spearing 17:23.000 --> 17:27.000 you get a permit and it has a certain amount of fish on it. 17:27.000 --> 17:31.000 Like, you know, you get a permit and it says you get to spear 25 fish. 17:31.000 --> 17:36.000 And then as the years kept going on, it was, you know, go down and say 20 fish this time. 17:36.000 --> 17:38.000 Then all of a sudden it was 15 fish. 17:38.000 --> 17:43.000 And that was when I realized that, you know, something was going wrong. 17:43.000 --> 17:45.000 Like, where are these fish going? 17:45.000 --> 17:47.000 Why, why is there less? 17:47.000 --> 17:52.000 And as I got older, I realized that, you know, there's a lot of factors. 17:52.000 --> 17:59.000 You know, it's not only the tribes taking fish, it's also the sports fishermen. 17:59.000 --> 18:02.000 They'll take a lot of fish. 18:02.000 --> 18:05.000 The tribes, you know, they're regulated. 18:05.000 --> 18:11.000 Like I said, you get a permit and there's wardens at the landing to make sure that you're 18:11.000 --> 18:15.000 taking your limit and not over doing it. 18:15.000 --> 18:20.000 I mean, can you imagine how much the hook and line fishermen would howl if every time their 18:20.000 --> 18:23.000 hook came in, they had to like open up the thing? 18:23.000 --> 18:30.000 Yeah, they for sure would be, I think it should be the law to report how much fish you're 18:30.000 --> 18:31.000 catching. 18:31.000 --> 18:34.000 And, you know, there's a limit for a reason. 18:34.000 --> 18:36.000 An honor system. 18:36.000 --> 18:39.000 Yeah, honor system is very hard. 18:39.000 --> 18:46.000 I mean, that's kind of, it's a sad irony of the whole stereotypes of the tribes taking 18:46.000 --> 18:51.000 all the fish when, like, you guys are under the strict limits that are actually watched, 18:51.000 --> 18:52.000 and they're not. 18:52.000 --> 18:58.000 And there's tons of documented evidence of fishermen just going back to the same, like, 18:58.000 --> 19:00.000 day after day after day, and filling the freezer. 19:00.000 --> 19:01.000 Yeah. 19:01.000 --> 19:02.000 Yeah. 19:02.000 --> 19:04.000 So we're working with the lake associations. 19:04.000 --> 19:06.000 A lot of the people actually live right on the lake. 19:06.000 --> 19:10.000 You know, they have, you know, they can see right out their front windows. 19:11.000 --> 19:14.000 There's a lot of commercial, or not commercial. 19:14.000 --> 19:17.000 Sports fishermen out there catching a lot of fish. 19:17.000 --> 19:23.000 And you do see them, you know, bringing them back to shore and then going back out and 19:23.000 --> 19:24.000 catching more fish. 19:24.000 --> 19:33.000 So it's definitely not regulated as hard and as strict as what tribal fishermen spear. 19:33.000 --> 19:38.000 And that's certainly not what the public might think if you asked the average person, like, 19:38.000 --> 19:40.000 who has high tougher regulations on it. 19:40.000 --> 19:42.000 Yes, for sure. 19:42.000 --> 19:49.000 So when you go through, when you work with lake associations and you're changing minds one 19:49.000 --> 19:53.000 at a time, hopefully, I mean, do you feel like that's changed? 19:53.000 --> 19:56.000 Do you think that the perceptions have shifted over time? 19:56.000 --> 19:58.000 Yes, for sure. 19:58.000 --> 20:05.000 So in my almost 11 years here, it's, like I said, this social media has gotten a lot better. 20:05.000 --> 20:10.000 I mean, there's always your haters on the social media saying that we're taking all 20:10.000 --> 20:11.000 the fish. 20:11.000 --> 20:17.000 But I think we are getting the word out a lot better that, you know, we are putting fish 20:17.000 --> 20:18.000 back in the lake. 20:18.000 --> 20:21.000 So talk to me a little bit about the youth spear fishing. 20:21.000 --> 20:23.000 I know you weren't able to be there. 20:23.000 --> 20:25.000 But have you done it before with your boys? 20:25.000 --> 20:26.000 Yeah, yep. 20:26.000 --> 20:27.000 We've done it before. 20:27.000 --> 20:34.000 So every year the red cliff and bad river band put on a youth spearing night. 20:34.000 --> 20:42.000 And it's really nice because a lot of kids don't get the opportunity to go spearing. 20:42.000 --> 20:49.000 So it's really nice that the boys and girls club of red cliff will take, you know, probably 20:49.000 --> 20:56.000 25 kids to just that one night and that would be their, probably their only chance to be 20:56.000 --> 20:57.000 able to do it. 20:57.000 --> 21:03.000 And it's been great that we've been getting kids involved and they are, they are taking 21:03.000 --> 21:05.000 a liking to it. 21:05.000 --> 21:09.000 So it's nice to keep it going really. 21:09.000 --> 21:15.000 I mean, you know as well as anyone what it's like to be a parent and have kids attention 21:15.000 --> 21:16.000 everywhere. 21:16.000 --> 21:17.000 Yeah. 21:17.000 --> 21:22.000 So what is that battle like to have kids like recognize, hey, this is not just a past time. 21:22.000 --> 21:23.000 This is culture. 21:23.000 --> 21:24.000 This is your history. 21:24.000 --> 21:25.000 Yeah. 21:25.000 --> 21:28.000 It's different than just something to do on a Sunday or a weekend. 21:28.000 --> 21:29.000 Yeah. 21:29.000 --> 21:34.000 So I mean, it's great because most kids don't know that they can actually get a tribal ID, 21:34.000 --> 21:40.000 you know, because without a tribal ID you can't, you know, get your permit and having kids 21:40.000 --> 21:45.000 having that tribal ID gives them, feels like gives them some power, you know, and they 21:45.000 --> 21:51.000 get to get their permit and they get to go spear some fish. 21:51.000 --> 21:56.000 And just, I mean, at the end of the night we saw a lot of kids and they'd play them and 21:56.000 --> 22:01.000 hang blocking around and, you know, there's gotta be, that's a big part of it too. 22:01.000 --> 22:05.000 It's like having the fillets either to get to someone else or to use yourself. 22:05.000 --> 22:06.000 Yeah. 22:06.000 --> 22:12.000 I mean, being able to feed your family with what you harvest is really big. 22:12.000 --> 22:17.000 And that's something that, you know, can carry over into a connection that's here. 22:17.000 --> 22:18.000 Yep. 22:18.000 --> 22:19.000 Yep. 22:19.000 --> 22:20.000 We're hoping so. 22:20.000 --> 22:24.000 We always say it's for the next seven generations is what we're trying to work for. 22:25.000 --> 22:28.000 And is that an old, an older saying? 22:28.000 --> 22:29.000 Yeah. 22:29.000 --> 22:33.000 As far as I know it, I just heard it a lot. 22:33.000 --> 22:35.000 Is that, I mean, that's a long time. 22:35.000 --> 22:36.000 Yeah. 22:36.000 --> 22:37.000 Yep. 22:37.000 --> 22:39.000 But that's the length of history that you guys are working with. 22:39.000 --> 22:40.000 Yep. 22:40.000 --> 22:45.000 Which is different from, you know, a lot of the rest of the state, you know, seven generations, 22:45.000 --> 22:46.000 they're not on this continent. 22:46.000 --> 22:47.000 Yeah. 22:47.000 --> 22:48.000 Right. 22:48.000 --> 22:50.000 They can't go back that far. 22:50.000 --> 22:53.000 But that's a reality for people up here. 22:53.000 --> 22:54.000 Yep. 22:54.000 --> 23:01.000 We're definitely, you know, fighting for our treaty rights to make sure that we get to 23:01.000 --> 23:04.000 exercise them and use them. 23:04.000 --> 23:10.000 What is the competition like in terms of kids' interests of like leaving, just going to 23:10.000 --> 23:14.000 other parts of the states for opportunities versus having something that might be able 23:14.000 --> 23:16.000 to draw them back one day. 23:16.000 --> 23:19.000 To understand that they've got a connection here no matter what. 23:19.000 --> 23:20.000 Yeah. 23:20.000 --> 23:22.000 I mean, that is the connection you have. 23:22.000 --> 23:28.000 I mean, your home, you have, I mean, you have your rights on your reservation. 23:28.000 --> 23:37.000 You have your treaty rights to be able to harvest and, you know, harvest fish, animals, anything 23:37.000 --> 23:38.000 really. 23:38.000 --> 23:43.000 So talk to me a little bit about like walleye itself. 23:43.000 --> 23:45.000 What sense that species apart? 23:45.000 --> 23:49.000 I mean, why is it so culturally important? 23:49.000 --> 23:50.000 Yeah. 23:50.000 --> 23:56.000 So, I mean, culturally important, it's just, it's just what I've known. 23:56.000 --> 23:59.000 You know, it's just always been the walleye. 23:59.000 --> 24:03.000 It's always been, you know, in my family and in my house. 24:03.000 --> 24:15.000 You know, it's just food, fish for food and it's, I guess it's just what I've known. 24:15.000 --> 24:22.000 I guess it's just walleye has always been like our go-to fish. 24:22.000 --> 24:26.000 I mean, they taste the best, I think. 24:26.000 --> 24:32.000 And it's, I think they look the coolest and they've always been, it's always been part 24:32.000 --> 24:34.000 of my life. 24:34.000 --> 24:38.000 It's probably more difficult to explain something that's that innate. 24:38.000 --> 24:41.000 It's almost like, tell me why air is important. 24:41.000 --> 24:42.000 Yeah. 24:42.000 --> 24:43.000 Yeah, exactly. 24:43.000 --> 24:46.000 I mean, it's also, it's my job. 24:46.000 --> 24:54.000 It's been, you know, it helps pay the bills, you know, feed my kids. 24:54.000 --> 25:00.000 And it's just what have, what have we done for years? 25:00.000 --> 25:03.000 I mean, is there ever a day when you're looking at the fish? 25:03.000 --> 25:06.000 You're like, oh, I'm so sick of looking at walleye. 25:06.000 --> 25:10.000 I guess I want to say I get sick of them. 25:10.000 --> 25:15.000 I mean, some days you have your problems with that. 25:15.000 --> 25:20.000 It gets, you know, hard to keep going. 25:20.000 --> 25:27.000 But it's, you know, I like to look at them as we are their parents, you know, raising 25:27.000 --> 25:32.000 these fish and hopefully giving them the best path to survive. 25:32.000 --> 25:37.000 Yeah, because I mean, that is a big part of, I mean, some of the reason why they're 25:37.000 --> 25:39.000 hard to find is natural recruitment is down. 25:39.000 --> 25:44.000 So like you are contributing to part of making sure that they're still fish in the water. 25:44.000 --> 25:45.000 Yeah. 25:45.000 --> 25:46.000 Yes. 25:46.000 --> 25:51.000 I mean, that's got to be an interesting relationship to build. 25:51.000 --> 25:52.000 Yeah. 25:52.000 --> 25:53.000 Yeah. 25:53.000 --> 25:58.000 Yeah, you do, I do feel like I grow connected to the fish and, you know, feel like a proud 25:58.000 --> 26:02.000 parent sending them off once they get them in the lake and they swim away. 26:02.000 --> 26:03.000 Yeah. 26:03.000 --> 26:06.000 Well, it's because you get to the end of the season and they come out and they look gorgeous. 26:06.000 --> 26:08.000 I mean, these are beautiful looking fish. 26:08.000 --> 26:09.000 Yeah. 26:09.000 --> 26:14.000 I'm sure, you know, if they came out runty or something, you'd be like, okay, what would 26:14.000 --> 26:15.000 run? 26:15.000 --> 26:17.000 They look that good and it's got to be that way. 26:17.000 --> 26:18.000 We did a good job. 26:18.000 --> 26:19.000 Yes, for sure. 26:19.000 --> 26:22.000 It's very proud moments put them in the lake. 26:22.000 --> 26:29.000 So for you and for your boys, I mean, if you're out spearing and you get one that's 26:29.000 --> 26:32.000 got the fin clip, I mean, is that a different connection? 26:33.000 --> 26:34.000 Not really. 26:34.000 --> 26:41.000 I mean, it's nice to see, I mean, without, you know, without spearing that fish, we wouldn't 26:41.000 --> 26:45.000 know that it was a hatchery raised fish. 26:45.000 --> 26:52.000 I mean, if we don't have assessments on the lakes, there's no other way of knowing. 26:52.000 --> 26:58.000 And if people don't report back to us and there was a fin clip fish, we wouldn't know. 26:58.000 --> 27:01.000 So it's nice to see. 27:02.000 --> 27:05.000 And in the spring, you know, it gets a busy season when you're out. 27:05.000 --> 27:09.000 I mean, we've ended with you setting fight nets, collecting from fight nets and night 27:09.000 --> 27:10.000 shocking. 27:10.000 --> 27:18.000 I mean, are those long, draggy days or is that like, that's the beginning of this whole 27:18.000 --> 27:19.000 process? 27:19.000 --> 27:20.000 Yeah. 27:20.000 --> 27:22.000 So every year is different. 27:22.000 --> 27:28.000 We, I mean, we always call it ice out, wait for the ice to get off the lake. 27:28.000 --> 27:35.000 And every year, it's, uh, the walleye aren't always spawning right away when the ice is 27:35.000 --> 27:36.000 gone. 27:36.000 --> 27:39.000 And we've had years where the walleye have actually spawned under the ice. 27:39.000 --> 27:42.000 So we weren't able to collect eggs. 27:42.000 --> 27:48.000 But I mean, it's, when you're in the moment, it's, uh, it feels like you're doing a lot, 27:48.000 --> 27:53.000 but then you look back and it's only been, it's only a month at the most. 27:53.000 --> 27:56.000 You're like, I guess it wasn't too bad. 27:57.000 --> 28:03.000 You know, you definitely do get draggy from working, you know, mornings, lifting your 28:03.000 --> 28:08.000 fight nets and then working that same night, shocking and trying to collect eggs. 28:08.000 --> 28:12.000 It's, it's tough work, but it's rewarding. 28:12.000 --> 28:16.000 And then, I mean, what's that like for you when you've got a jar full of them and then 28:16.000 --> 28:18.000 all of a sudden they start to hatch? 28:18.000 --> 28:19.000 Oh, it's nice. 28:19.000 --> 28:21.000 It's, uh, it's real nice. 28:21.000 --> 28:24.000 It's, I mean, walleye eggs are so small. 28:24.000 --> 28:30.000 But it's crazy that you can get something the size of your eyelash to grow it at nine 28:30.000 --> 28:33.000 inches from just spring to fall. 28:33.000 --> 28:37.000 And that's, you know, and it goes back and it starts to cycle over. 28:37.000 --> 28:38.000 Yep. 28:38.000 --> 28:39.000 Yep. 28:39.000 --> 28:41.000 That's the whole point of it. 28:41.000 --> 28:46.000 So when we were at the, the spearing event, um, it was two fish per permit for the kids. 28:46.000 --> 28:49.000 Is that just enough to kind of wet their appetite? 28:49.000 --> 28:50.000 Yeah, for sure. 28:50.000 --> 28:52.000 We definitely try to set a limit. 28:52.000 --> 28:57.000 I mean, we try to, I mean, we want everyone to at least get one fish. 28:57.000 --> 29:02.000 Every kid to get at least one fish, but you know, it's, some kids are better at it and 29:02.000 --> 29:07.000 you just want to make sure to give each one an opportunity to spear fish. 29:07.000 --> 29:12.000 So when we were there, we also, we saw, uh, is it the fish dance that we, 29:12.000 --> 29:13.000 Yeah. 29:13.000 --> 29:18.000 I mean, like there's a, there's a whole celebration, like a whole festival surrounding event. 29:18.000 --> 29:19.000 Yep. 29:20.000 --> 29:24.000 It just, it was, it's not just we go here, we get the boat, we go see if we can spear some fish. 29:24.000 --> 29:25.000 Right. 29:25.000 --> 29:26.000 Yep. 29:26.000 --> 29:28.000 So we definitely do the, the, uh, the fish dance. 29:28.000 --> 29:29.000 It's all the males. 29:29.000 --> 29:38.000 Try to, you know, it's showing appreciation and, uh, you know, trying to give thanks that, 29:38.000 --> 29:44.000 you know, that this water and this lake is giving us fish and we want to make sure that it's 29:44.000 --> 29:48.000 showing that we're just not there to take fish. 29:48.000 --> 29:54.000 We're, you know, following our tradition and trying to keep it right. 29:54.000 --> 29:55.000 Mm hmm. 29:55.000 --> 30:00.000 But making, making everything feel, I mean, there's a holistic process to all of that. 30:00.000 --> 30:03.000 It's got to, I mean, that is part of the inspiration for the kids. 30:03.000 --> 30:05.000 It's not just me going to boat. 30:05.000 --> 30:07.000 It's like the whole thing is a celebration. 30:07.000 --> 30:08.000 Yes. 30:08.000 --> 30:09.000 Definitely is. 30:09.000 --> 30:13.000 I mean, we always, you know, we always want to offer something. 30:13.000 --> 30:21.000 If we're taking something, you know, and, uh, we did see the one kid who spear a car. 30:21.000 --> 30:22.000 Yeah. 30:22.000 --> 30:26.000 There's, so there is, um, suckers out there. 30:26.000 --> 30:32.000 I mean, you also have your, um, pike fish and then you'll have perch and then, uh, northern, 30:32.000 --> 30:35.000 so the northern pike and then you have muskies out there too. 30:35.000 --> 30:38.000 Those are always fun to spear, but. 30:38.000 --> 30:40.000 So are there separate seasons on those? 30:40.000 --> 30:42.000 Or you can spear spear. 30:42.000 --> 30:43.000 You can spear. 30:43.000 --> 30:51.000 Um, so muskies usually only has, they usually only get like one on your permit because they're 30:51.000 --> 30:59.000 so big and so sought after, like they're, they're fun. 30:59.000 --> 31:02.000 It had to be a little harder to pull the boat. 31:02.000 --> 31:03.000 Oh yeah, for sure. 31:03.000 --> 31:09.000 Um, and you talked about how, you know, while there's an important food in your house 31:09.000 --> 31:10.000 and we're living. 31:10.000 --> 31:13.000 So then, I mean, how regular do you eat it? 31:13.000 --> 31:19.000 I mean, do you, following the guidelines or guidelines for pregnant women and kids? 31:19.000 --> 31:20.000 Yeah, definitely. 31:20.000 --> 31:25.000 So growing up, it was, uh, I mean, you would have a fish fry every other week. 31:25.000 --> 31:32.000 You know, it's always good for a family to get together to have a big walleye fish fry. 31:32.000 --> 31:35.000 I definitely didn't follow the guidelines myself as a young man. 31:35.000 --> 31:40.000 A young man knows definitely indulging on a lot of walleye, fried walleye. 31:40.000 --> 31:44.000 It was just, it was just like candy. 31:44.000 --> 31:46.000 And, uh, new boys take after you and that? 31:46.000 --> 31:47.000 Oh yeah. 31:47.000 --> 31:49.000 Yeah, they definitely, uh, like fish. 31:49.000 --> 31:55.000 That's, that's gotta be fun to, to, I mean, to see that come through in them. 31:55.000 --> 31:56.000 Like that, that's multiple. 31:56.000 --> 32:00.000 I mean, that's three of the seven generations right, right there, right between your, your 32:00.000 --> 32:04.000 uncle and you and your boys and, you know, now you've got another boy coming back. 32:04.000 --> 32:05.000 Closer to home. 32:05.000 --> 32:06.000 Yep. 32:06.000 --> 32:09.000 And hopefully he takes it on too. 32:09.000 --> 32:14.000 Is that, I mean, is that, is that difficult for you when, like, because I'm sure there's 32:14.000 --> 32:18.000 other dads that are setting up for spirit and around the same time when you're working 32:18.000 --> 32:20.000 your 20 hour days? 32:20.000 --> 32:21.000 Yeah. 32:21.000 --> 32:26.000 It's definitely become a lot more difficult now that I have this job because, um, it's 32:26.000 --> 32:30.000 our, one of our busiest times is collecting walleye eggs. 32:30.000 --> 32:32.000 And that's right when spirit happens. 32:32.000 --> 32:38.000 So it's, makes it a little tough and they only spawn for so long. 32:38.000 --> 32:43.000 And it's hard to get out there when you're trying to collect eggs. 32:43.000 --> 32:51.000 So part of what our documentary is looking at is, um, like the, the historical and cultural 32:51.000 --> 32:54.000 connections that the, the state has to, to walleye. 32:54.000 --> 32:58.000 And, you know, obviously in different areas of the state, you know, it's, it's, there's 32:58.000 --> 33:04.000 an economic connection or there's, you know, the resorts or guides. 33:04.000 --> 33:11.000 Do you think there's a similarity between the connection between the bands up here and walleye 33:11.000 --> 33:12.000 that's different? 33:12.000 --> 33:19.000 Or is it just everyone can kind of universally, you know, have a connection to that fish? 33:19.000 --> 33:20.000 Yeah. 33:20.000 --> 33:23.000 I mean, so we don't, you know, diversify anybody. 33:23.000 --> 33:26.000 You know, we, we want it to be for everyone. 33:26.000 --> 33:29.000 You know, we, we know that it's not just for us. 33:29.000 --> 33:32.000 You know, we want everyone to be able to get a part of it. 33:32.000 --> 33:37.000 As you can, I mean, you can understand like that, that connection runs for everyone. 33:37.000 --> 33:39.000 I mean, it's an easy fish to love. 33:39.000 --> 33:40.000 Yeah. 33:40.000 --> 33:41.000 Yeah. 33:41.000 --> 33:45.000 I know a lot of people have their, you know, their summer or spring summer homes on the 33:45.000 --> 33:52.000 lakes and they've, you know, they've spent money to have land there, have a dock there and be 33:52.000 --> 33:56.000 able to catch these fish to it, you know, it's for them too. 33:56.000 --> 34:02.000 And, you know, obviously there's a lot of money that goes into keeping this species alive 34:02.000 --> 34:07.000 and thriving in some areas and barely hanging on in others, not only in terms of, you know, 34:07.000 --> 34:12.000 brazing the fish and the stocking, but also the research that, that is being done to find 34:12.000 --> 34:16.000 out about habitats and when's the best time for this or that or the indoor outdoor 34:16.000 --> 34:17.000 grazing. 34:17.000 --> 34:21.000 I mean, I'm assuming that you think that all that money is worth it, that all that time 34:21.000 --> 34:23.000 is justified for it? 34:23.000 --> 34:25.000 Yeah, I definitely think it is. 34:25.000 --> 34:32.000 Like, I mean, you don't just get funding to have fun and go out there and make sure there's 34:32.000 --> 34:33.000 fish. 34:33.000 --> 34:37.000 I mean, you're out there actually, you know, making sure there is fish and making sure there's 34:37.000 --> 34:43.000 fish habitat and, you know, trying to regulate and everything. 34:44.000 --> 34:47.000 Keep the population up. 34:47.000 --> 34:54.000 So what would be the outcome if that wasn't possible, either the lack of funding or more 34:54.000 --> 34:59.000 environmental changes and these, there are some places where, you know, walleyes going 34:59.000 --> 35:03.000 away out of those lakes or those areas and, you know, it's harder to justify trying to 35:03.000 --> 35:04.000 keep them alive. 35:04.000 --> 35:08.000 And, you know, for some fish, you know, I'll then move on to a crop here to a bass or something 35:08.000 --> 35:09.000 different. 35:10.000 --> 35:15.000 What would be the loss if walleye were that much more difficult or harder to find? 35:15.000 --> 35:20.000 Yeah, I mean, I think the biggest loss would be food for feeding your family. 35:20.000 --> 35:29.000 I mean, if it wasn't, you know, regulated and like there would be, you would, it would 35:29.000 --> 35:35.000 be overfished, over speared and you would just run out of fish, really. 35:35.000 --> 35:40.000 There's nothing you can do if it's not regulated. 35:40.000 --> 35:43.000 All right. 35:43.000 --> 35:47.000 Anything else that you want to add along the lines that we've been talking about? 35:47.000 --> 35:48.000 Anything I might have missed? 35:48.000 --> 35:50.000 No, I think I got it pretty well covered. 35:50.000 --> 35:57.000 I think I said the same thing a lot of making sure that we know that people know that we 35:57.000 --> 35:59.000 aren't just taking fish. 35:59.000 --> 36:04.000 We're putting fish back in, you know, and that's one of my biggest things. 36:04.000 --> 36:09.000 Things I want people to know is, you know, we're putting fish back. 36:09.000 --> 36:10.000 Yeah. 36:10.000 --> 36:11.000 Well, we've got video of that. 36:11.000 --> 36:12.000 Yeah. 36:12.000 --> 36:13.000 Plenty of evidence. 36:13.000 --> 36:14.000 Yeah. 36:14.000 --> 36:18.000 Can I get you to say and spell your name and your title just so I have it correct? 36:18.000 --> 36:19.000 Yeah. 36:19.000 --> 36:20.000 Okay. 36:20.000 --> 36:23.000 My name is Lance, L-A-N-C-E. 36:23.000 --> 36:28.000 Brisette, B-R-E-S-E-T-T-E. 36:28.000 --> 36:32.000 And I'm the hatchery specialist at Redcliffe Tribal Fish Hatchery. 36:32.000 --> 36:33.000 Perfect. 36:34.000 --> 36:36.000 Does he get like 20 seconds of room time? 36:36.000 --> 36:37.000 Yep. 36:37.000 --> 36:41.000 So we're just going to, we'll be quiet and he's going to record the signs of the room. 37:03.000 --> 37:05.000 Awesome, thanks.