Ojibwe Band members had hoped to be spearing and netting fish on dozens of central Minnesota lakes by now. For seven years a group of tribes, led by the Mille Lacs Ojibwe, worked through the courts to restore fishing and hunting rights given them by treaty in the 19th century. It appeared the tribes would finally exercise those rights this spring. But a group of local landowners won an injunction earlier this month, halting the Indians' plans, at least for now.

The ruling came as a surprise because the state, not the landowner group, has been the most visible treaty-rights challenger. Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger speaks with some of the landowners and Mille Lacs Band members.