1854 Treaty Authority News

For some, the sub-zero weather means one exciting thing: thickening ice on the lakes! EVEN IN WINTER we need your help to stop new aquatic invasive species (AIS) from coming into new lakes.

1854 Treaty Authority has just updated our new Infested Waters list, showing all waters in the 1854 Ceded Territory that have an AIS infestation. Although there are a few new editions to the list, efforts to stop the spread of new aquatic infestations are proving to be quite successful, with less than 5% of MN waters being infested.

Here are a few things you can do to stop the spread of AIS:

• Make sure to empty all bait buckets and/or drain the bait buckets you are using. Some infectious diseases and smaller AIS have been known to hitchhike from one lake to another by travelling in contaminated bait water. Not only is this good practice, it is also the law to not transport any water from one lake to another.
• Check your ice auger and fishing gear to make sure it is clear of any vegetation. Some aquatic vegetation can stay viable during winter months and frozen temps, and survive frozen temps.
• Look at the origin of your bait. Even if it is dead or frozen, it could still be infected with exotic viruses. Verify your bait came from a “VHS free zone”  and has either been harvested from MN waters or has been preserved under a “bait preservation permit”. All legal bait will have this explicitly stated on the label. 

A public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday December 7th, at 6:30pm at the Sandy Town Hall (County Rd 303 and Hill Rd). Wildlife managers and agency partners will give a presentation on cooperative wild rice and water level management efforts on Big Rice Lake over the past 30 years. Avid ricers, waterfowl hunters, trappers and other stakeholders are invited to discuss Big Rice Lake history, management and current conditions. *Participants are encouraged to bring any photos of Big Rice Lake as historical evidence of water levels.

Anyone who is interested buy cannot attend is welcome to send comments to Tower Area DNR Wildlife staff: 218-300-7860

1854's October 2016 newsletter features reminders for hunting this fall, an amendment to our Conservation Code, and how a partnership successfully tackled an invasive species at the Bois Forte Heritage Museum. Meet our new employee, learn more about navigating our updated website and get the skinny on what our staff has been up to. 

Welcome to our updated website!! In an effort to keep up with technology we needed an upgrade, but also got a face lift. Don’t let the reorganization scare you- all the same resources are available on the new site. For instance, you can find pertinent info, like seasons and bag limits under Quick Links. Treaty Harvest has all the necessary information for exercising rights, including codes, forms, postings, regulations, and links to resources. Find old newsletters and organization publications under Education and Outreach. And fear not, Wild Rice Condition Updates will still be available in 3 locations: under Management, Quick Links and on the slideshow during ricing season.

Please bear with us as we work through the kinks, and feel free to drop This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. a line if you are having trouble locating or accessing something. 

Although you still have the option of registering at an 1854 Treaty Authority Hunting Registration Stations, ceded territory harvested deer can now be registered here. Be prepared to provide the same information required when registering at a station (ie, date, sex, adult/fawn, management unit of harvest, method, 1854 ID card number and license tag number). The same deadline applies to internet registration: deer must be registered no later than 4:30pm of the 3rd working day after the season is closed and before being processed.

Since 2014, the 1854 Treaty Authority has worked collaboratively with the Bois Forte Band, Grand Portage Band, and Fond du Lac Band to identify culturally significant resources in the 1854 Ceded Territory that are and will be vulnerable to climate change impacts in the future, and to develop strategies for adapting to and relieving those impacts. We are happy to announce the completion of our plan of which the executive summary can be viewed HERE! Chi-Miigwech to our project partners, especially for the leadership of Adaptation International, Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessment Center at the University of Michigan for helping us be better resource managers in a changing world.

It's getting to be that time again...and our Resource Management crew has been out monitoring manoomin throughout the 1854 ceded territory. Stay up to date with how the wild rice beds are looking on the "Wild Rice Condition Updates" page of our website. Here's to a minominike giizis!!

Anyone born after July 1st, 1987 must complete an ATV safety training to operate an ATV in Minnesota. In order to keep our Band memebrs safe, 1854 hosted an ATV safety training on June 29th in Nett Lake. Congrats to the 10 participants that got certified, and great job for sticking it through the self study! Check out the photos from the field day. Happy wheelin'!

We are happy to announce that ECHO LAKE and JEANETTE LAKE have been added to the list of Superior National Forest Campgrounds that are available for Bois Forte and Grand Portage Band member use (and their families and guests), free of charge. Take a minute to check out the complete list of campgrounds in this agreement between U.S. Forest Service and 1854, and read up on the regulations before planning your trip!

View Regulations Here

Check out the latest 1854 Treaty Authority newsletter HERE. Our JULY 2016 edition features reminders for safe boating, the petition to list Moose as an endangered species, and how the Grand Portage National Monument is managing a culturally significant plant. Meet our newest employee, learn more about 1854's Conservation Court and get the skinny on what our Aquatic Invasive Species Technicians are up to. Enjoy!

Paper birch (B. papyrifera) is an ecologically and culturally significant species to the landscape in Northeast Minnesota.  Perspectives from a professional silviculturalist and an Anishinaabe artist combine the importance of management and traditional crafting to raise our level of awareness! Join us for this FREE program, Thursday June 2^nd, 6:30pm, at the 1854 Treaty Authority Duluth office. See the Program Flyer.

Space is Limited : Registration is Required : REGISTER HERE

Thanks to all who participated in this year's netting clinic, held Friday May 6th. Students from four area schools got a taste of this important spring harvest; and participated in a discussion on Treaty Rights, learned some Anishinaabemowin during the blessing, reviewed watercraft safety, pulled the catch from the nets, and got a filet demonstration. Everyone got to share a taste of the day's catch during lunch!! Check out the pictures and videofrom the day.

Anyone born after July 1st, 1987 must complete an ATV safety training to operate an ATV in Minnesota. Get the papers for the big job with 1854!! Join us on the evening of Wednesday June 22nd to kick-off to the self certification course (to be completed online) and Wednesday 29th for the field day. Check out the course flyerfor more information. Registration is REQUIRED for this course, meant for individuals 12 years old and up: contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register.

1854 hosted Snowmobile Safety Training and Certification in Grand Portage, Saturday March 5th, 2016. Check out the pictures andvideo from the class and field day. Thanks to the participants, CO's and Grand Portage staff for making the class a success!