This report is in partnership with PBS Wisconsin.

Erica Ayisi
ICT + PBS Wisconsin

“Raspberry Beach is another spot that a lot of boats moor right there overnight,” said Nicole Boyd, who is chairwoman of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

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

The Apostle Islands are not a play land for us,” Boyd shared. “We came here as part of a prophecy of traveling to where the food is on the water.”

There are 22 of the islands along the Wisconsin shores of Lake Superior. At about 32,000 square miles, it’s the largest fresh water lake in the world. Known for pristine waters, historic lighthouses, sea caves and red sandstone cliffs, the Apostle Islands attract millions of visitors each year.

“We have an incredible responsibility, and tourism is a part of that,” Boyd said.

Most of the islands here are a part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, except Madeline Island. U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, a Republican who represents the state’s 7th Congressional District and the party’s 2026 candidate for governor, is proposing a bill to redesignate what he calls the crown jewel of Wisconsin.

“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,” Tiffany said in a meeting of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources on Feb. 11, in Washington, D.C..

Boyd said news of Tiffany’s proposal was shocking.

“First of all, says who?” she asked.

The Red Cliff Band maintains hunting rights for tribal members, including in the Apostle Islands.

Tiffany said 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 of the islands.

“My bill also maintains the heritage of hunting within the Apostles Islands by designating Sand Island, a popular hunting destination, as the Sand Island National Preserve,” he said.

Tiffany said his bill incorporated tribal input on treaty rights.

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

Boyd said the Red Cliff tribal council responded to the draft with concerns about the environment, economy and resources.

“We’ve never met as a governing body with Rep. Tiffany. He’s never sent his staff here to meet with our team.”

Does the draft resolution mention any financial support to make changes Tiffany proposed?

“Not that we’re aware of,” Boyd said.

But the Red Cliff Band’s tribal council was told an increase in tourism will generate revenue after the name change.

“That’s what the increase in tourism is going to do — and the vice chair asking, ‘So the checks in the mail, right?’” Boyd recalled.

If passed, the Apostles Islands would be Wisconsin’s first national park. Boyd said the Red Cliff owns Frog Bay Tribal National Park — and it’s already a first, for the state and the nation.

“Again, It has just felt a little spited that our own representative of our state has not acknowledged, right?” Boyd added.

Over 4 million people visited Bayfield County in 2025, but some local officials say they also oppose a national park designation. They say they’re worried about managing emergency services in this rural community.

“We’re missing calls. We don’t mean to be, but we’re having trouble manning our EMS. We’re already in a pretty dire situation,” said Jan Lee, chair of the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors, in a May 22 interview with Here & Now. She noted about 16,000 live in the county, and their tax dollars are responsible for providing emergency services for all visitors.

“In order to cover that, we have to raise our levy,” Lee said. “We have to raise the taxes.”

The National Park Service manages the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Boyd said they are short staffed.

“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,” she said.

In Bayfield, Dan Cardinal visits Lake Superior from Minocqua every year and said he supports the bill.

“Cautiously, I do,” Cardinal said about the prospect of Tiffany advancing the proposal. ‘If it guarantees the future of the Apostle Islands to continue on the path they’ve been on for the last 100 years, absolutely.”

Cardinal offered this support — with caution — after hearing the Trump administration reportedly suggested to sell some national parks lands.

“The Apostle Islands are not subject to that kind of action right now and that would make me think that maybe we shouldn’t rush into this,” he said.

Christie Branagan is an enrolled member of the Red Cliff Band and lives on the reservation. She said more tourists might interrupt their ceremonies.

“A lot of people hold ceremonies done by the water — Gichi-gami, Lake Superior — and with a lot people coming in tourism, we don’t want to be disturbed,” she said.

Boyd said she doesn’t expect people to understand Red Cliff’s frustrations with redesignating the Apostle Islands.

I’ve heard people say, ‘Well, if the name change isn’t the big deal, what’s the big deal’?” she asked.

Boyd emphasized that it’s more than a change in name.

“It is understanding the obligation,” she said. “To protect and preserve this land and all the beings here and our water for everyone.”