In 1983 when he first became involved in the Treaty Rights issue Larry Peterson was a long-time employee of the Flambeau Paper Company in Park Falls, Wisconsin, a leader in his local union, and the father of two sons. In that year, he became concerned by a federal court decision which reinterpreted the nineteenth century Indian treaties giving the Chippewa tribes greatly expanded rights with regard to hunting and fishing on off-reservation lands in northern Wisconsin. As a result, during subsequent years Peterson gradually moved to a position of leadership in local, state, and national anti-Treaty Rights organizations, devoting virtually all of his free time to the matter.
Early in 1984 Peterson became active as vice-president of Equal Rights for Everyone, a national organization founded by Paul Mullaly of Hayward, Wisconsin. Although this organization expanded rapidly during its eighteen-month existence (eventually claiming over 3000 members in ERFE chapters and an additional 7000 members in affiliated organizations around the country), it succumbed to financial problems and internal dissatisfaction with its leadership. In September 1985, Peterson was one of a number ERFE officers who bolted to form a new organization, Protect Americans' Rights and Resources, to oppose the liberal interpretation of Indian treaty rights. In 1986 Peterson became board chairman of PARR and editor and publisher of its newsletter PARR Issue.
Former ERFE chapters were asked to become PARR chapters and nine of thirteen did so immediately. While PARR chapters were concentrated in Wisconsin, it also claimed members in Michigan and Illinois, as well as affiliates in several others states where similar reinterpretations of Indian rights were an issue. By 1987 it claimed 4,000 members and 25,000 affiliated supporters. Between 1987 and 1991 PARR sponsored several national conventions where delegates of chapters and affiliated organizations gathered to plan a coordinated federal strategy. At the 1988 convention in Racine PARR became a member of Citizens Equal Rights Alliance to work for change in federal treaty policy. By 1987 PARR activities and membership had expanded sufficiently and it hired an executive director.
During the period of Peterson's leadership, activities in Wisconsin escalated from meetings and petition circulation to protest rallies during fish spearing season in northern Wisconsin that sometimes resulted in violence and arrests on the boat landings.
