Gathering the Pieces:
The Jondreau Decision
Gathering the Pieces: The Jondreau Decision summarizes the story of Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) tribal member William “Boyzie” Jondreau. In this story, William's struggle to help reaffirm the Ojibwe (or Anishinaabe) treaty-reserved harvesting rights in the waters of Lake Superior is explored by William's grandson, Jerry Jondreau.
STUDY QUESTIONS
• What was the People of Michigan v. Jondreau ruling in April 1971, and how was it a turning point in the history of the Ojibwe nations in Michigan and the United States, and also the individuals involved in the court case?
• How did traditional values of sharing land and water influence the decision of the Ojibwe people to take the state of Michigan to court?
• Why are the treaty rights, as they were written, important to the Ojibwe people?
• What is the significance of reaffirming Ojibwe treaty rights in regard to Lake Superior versus inland waters?
Additional education resources:
CREDITS
Narrators:
Director and Producer: Finn Ryan
Associate Producer: Dylan Jennings, Charlie Rasmussen
Cinematographer: Mike Palzkill
Aerial Photographer: Dusan Harminc
Editor: Travis Whitty
Special Thanks:
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
Jerry Jondreau and Jondreau Family
JP DeCota Sr.
Robert E. Loonsfoot
Michigan Technological University of Forest Resources and Environmental Science