Here & Now

The Red Cliff Band and the Future of the Apostle Islands

Frederica Freyberg:
Finally tonight, what’s in a name? A federal bill authored by Congressman Tom Tiffany to redesignate the Apostle Islands from a national lakeshore to a national park is, for some, a practical opportunity to attract more tourists to what would be the first and only national park in Wisconsin. But there’s opposition from local governments, including the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, who stressed their obligation to preserve their homelands. Reporter Erica Ayisi traveled to Bayfield County to hear how the community feels about the name change. This report was made in collaboration with “Here & Now” and ICT, formerly Indian Country Today.

Nicole Boyd:
Raspberry Beach is another spot that a lot of boats moor right there overnight.

Erica Ayisi:
The beach is just one of the majestic spots on a cluster of islands off Bayfield, in the northernmost tip of Wisconsin. They are sacred to the Red Cliff tribal community.

Nicole Boyd:
The Apostle Islands are not a playland for us.

Erica Ayisi:
Nicole Boyd is chairwoman of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

Nicole Boyd:
We came here as part of a prophecy of traveling to where the food is on the water.

Erica Ayisi:
There are 22 islands on the Wisconsin side of Lake Superior. It’s 32,000 square miles of the largest freshwater lake in the world. Known for its pristine waters, historic lighthouses, sea caves, and red sandstone cliffs, the Apostle Islands attract millions of visitors each year.

Nicole Boyd:
We have an incredible responsibility, and tourism is a part of that.

Erica Ayisi:
Most of the islands here are a part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Tom Tiffany, current congressman for the 7th district, is proposing a bill to redesignate what he calls the crown jewel of Wisconsin.

Tom Tiffany:
By elevating the Apostle Islands from a national lakeshore to a national park, we can ensure that thousands more are able to visit this area.

Erica Ayisi:
Boyd says news of Tiffany’s proposal was shocking.

Nicole Boyd:
First of all, says who?

Erica Ayisi:
The Red Cliff Band maintains hunting rights for tribal members, including the Apostle Islands. Tiffany says the proposal affirms those treaty rights. For all others, he says even though hunting is not permitted in national parks, it would be on one island.

Tom Tiffany:
My bill also maintains the heritage of hunting within the Apostle Islands by designating Sand Island, a popular hunting destination, as the Sand Island National Preserve.

Erica Ayisi:
Tiffany says his bill incorporated tribal input on treaty rights.

Tom Tiffany:
I would also like to note that tribal members were the first to receive any drafts of this bill, and it is from consulting with them and receiving their input that we have included that language.

Erica Ayisi:
Boyd says the Tribal Council responded to the draft with concerns about the environment, economy and resources.

Nicole Boyd:
We’ve never had a meeting. We’ve never met as a governing body with Representative Tiffany. He’s never sent his staff here to meet with our team.

Erica Ayisi:
With the draft resolution, did it mention any financial support to make changes that he propose?

Nicole Boyd:
Not that we’re aware of.

Erica Ayisi:
Boyd says the Red Cliff Tribal Council was told an increase in tourism would generate revenue after the name change.

Nicole Boyd:
That’s what the increase in tourism is going to do and the vice chair asking, so the check’s in the mail, right?

Erica Ayisi:
If passed, the Apostle Islands would be Wisconsin’s first national park. Boyd says the Red Cliff owns Frog Bay Tribal National Park, and it’s already a first for the state and the nation.

Nicole Boyd:
And again, has just felt a little spited that our own representative of our state has not acknowledged, right?

Erica Ayisi:
Behind me is just one of 22 Apostle islands near the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Over 4 million people visited these islands and Bayfield County in 2025. But Bayfield County officials say they also oppose a new national park designation, and they’re worried about managing emergency services in this rural community.

Jan Lee:
We’re missing calls. We don’t mean to be, but we don’t — we’re having trouble manning our EMS. We’re already in a pretty dire situation.

Erica Ayisi:
Jan Lee, Bayfield County board of supervisors, says about 16,000 people live in Bayfield County, and their tax dollars are responsible for providing emergency services for all visitors.

Jan Lee:
In order to cover that, we have to, you know, raise our levy. We have to raise the taxes.

Erica Ayisi:
The National Park Service manages the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Boyd says they are short staffed.

Nicole Boyd:
It makes it incredibly dangerous if you are a visitor coming here and we don’t have enough law enforcement staff that can respond to an emergency on the lake.

Erica Ayisi:
Back in Bayfield, Dan Cardinal visits Lake Superior from Minocqua every year and says he supports the bill.

Dan Cardinal:
Cautiously I do. I mean, if it guarantees the future of Apostle Islands to continue in the path they’ve been on for the last 100 years, absolutely.

Erica Ayisi:
He offers support with caution after reportedly hearing the Trump administration’s suggestion to sell some of the nation’s parks.

Dan Cardinal:
The Apostle Islands are not subject to that kind of action right now, and that would make me think like, maybe we shouldn’t rush into this.

Christie Branagan:
Leave the beauty alone.

Erica Ayisi:
Christie Branagan is an enrolled member of the Red Cliff Band and lives on the reservation, and she says more tourists might interrupt their ceremonies.

Christie Branagan:
A lot of people hold ceremonies down by the water – gichigami – Lake Superior and with a lot of people coming in tourism, we don’t want to be disturbed.

Erica Ayisi:
Boyd says she doesn’t expect people to understand the Red Cliff’s frustrations with redesignating the Apostle Islands.

Nicole Boyd:
I’ve heard people say, “Well, if the name change isn’t the big deal, what’s the big deal?”

Erica Ayisi:
She says it’s more than a change in name.

Nicole Boyd:
It is understanding the obligation to protect and preserve this land and all the beings here and our water for everyone.

Erica Ayisi:
In Bayfield, I’m Erica Ayisi for “Here & Now” and ICT.