Ojibwe bands signed treaties with the federal government in 1837, 1842, and 1854; these treaties reserved for the Ojibwe the rights to hunt, fish, and gather on their traditional lands, which now comprise northern Wisconsin. For over 100 years, these rights were ignored by the state of Wisconsin, culminating in the 1980s and 1990s in what is known as the Walleye War. Conflict erupted at that time between non-Native community members and the Ojibwe who wished to claim their rights that had been laid out and protected in the treaties. As detailed by Larry Nesper in The Walleye War, ultimately "Ojibwe spearfisher-men were threatened, stoned, and shot at" by whites who felt disadvantaged by the treaty rights. The issue remains contentious in parts of Wisconsin to this day.
Tip: The Ojibwe are culturally part of the Anishinaabeg (or Anishinaabe) peoples. They have also historically been called the Ojibwa or Chippewa. These can be useful search terms for locating additional materials on this topic.
Milwaukee Sentinel. 1989. "'Bitter' Anti-Spearing Protests Spread, Are Deplored as Racist." April 27:9.
Loew, Patty. “Hidden Transcripts in the Chippewa Treaty Rights Struggle: A Twice Told Story. Race, Resistance, and the Politics of Power.” American Indian quarterly 21.4 (1997): 713–728.
Keeping our word : Indian treaty rights and public responsibilities by 
Disputed Waters by 
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