Spearfishing – The Ways – PBS Wisconsin Education

How is spearfishing part of a living history?

Jason Bisonette, an Ojibwe of Odaawaazaga’igan and Marine Corps veteran is a member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe. Learn how he takes part in safe spearfishing harvest limits through Ojibwe sovereign nation rights in order to preserve Ojibwe education and tradition and to protect the practice for future generations.

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Questions to consider

Why is it important for the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe to continue spearfishing?

If you fish or members of your community fish, how are your traditions similar or different from Jason Bisonette’s?

A sense of place

Map with outlines of tribal lands of the Great Lakes region circa 1800. The star indicates the present-day seat of government for the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, in Hayward, Wisconsin. A dotted white line indicates the present day state lines of Wisconsin.

Seal for Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

This map outlines tribal lands of the Great Lakes region circa 1800.

The star indicates the present-day seat of government for the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, in Hayward, Wisconsin.

In their words

“Being able to go out and harvest fish means that I can be a contributing member of the community.”

Jason Bisonette

Production credits

Producer
Finn Ryan

Videography
Lukas Korver

Editing
Lukas Korver

Photography
Finn Ryan

Music
Asche & Spencer

Advisors
David O’ Connor
Aaron Bird Bear
Ryan Comfort
Tyler Blue Tarpalechee
Ben Grignon