Summary
In January 2020, the legislature of the Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin adopted a resolution recognizing the rights of the Menominee River. Through this Tribal Resolution, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin declares:
“1. The Menominee River possesses inherent and legal rights including the right to naturally exist, flourish , regenerate, and evolve; the right to restoration, recovery, and preservation; the right to abundant, pure, clean, unpolluted water; the right to natural groundwater recharge and surface water recharge; the right to a healthy natural environment and natural biodiversity; the right to natural water flow; the right to carry out its natural ecosystem functions; and the right to be free of activities or practices, as well as obstructions, that interfere with or infringe upon these rights; and
2. The Tribe is dedicated to recognizing and protecting the inherent and legal rights of the Menominee River and assisting our neighboring Tribes, as well as other governments, to recognize and protect the legal rights of the Menominee River.”
The resolution also labels the “Back Forty Project,” a proposed open-pit mine, a significant threat poised to cause harmful impacts to water, humans, wildlife, animals, and cultural properties as demonstrated with other mines of similar nature.