1854 Treaty Authority News

Coinciding with the upcoming international climate talks in Scotland, WTIP is hosting a community conversation next week, with Climate Biologists from the 1854 Treaty Authority.

Tune in Thursday November 4th, and noon and 7pm: LISTEN HERE

Click on the WTIP logo to listen to the "teaser": 

Fond du Lac partnership hosts LaCrosse event, Saturday October 16th at noon. Bring your own sports drink.

International Wolf Center to invest in next generation of wildlife biologists

Dr. L. David Mech Fellowships to provide two $10,000 fellowships; applications now open

A new fellowship from the International Wolf Center aims to invest in the next generation of wildlife biologists. The first Dr. L. David Mech Fellowships will be awarded in 2022, funding up to $10,000 of the college experience for two lucky students.

“As an organization founded by one of the world’s pre-eminent wildlife biologists, we believe that continued investment in scientific discovery about wolves and other wildlife will help build a future where wolves and humans can coexist and thrive,” said Grant Spickelmier, the Center’s Executive Director. “We also understand that many barriers exist for students and early career researchers and hope these fellowships can be useful tools for opening up access to people pursuing a wildlife biology career.”

Since it was founded in 1985 by Mech and others, the Center has sought to provide the latest scientific information about wolves to our visitors and program participants. To ensure opportunities exist for future generations of scientists, the Center will award up to two fellowships in early 2022 for undergraduate students or recent graduates interested in pursuing careers in wildlife biology.  Fellowship recipients will receive a $6,000 stipend and up to $4,000 in support for field research expenses. This support will also cover costs to allow the fellowship recipients to attend the 2022 International Wolf Symposium, scheduled for Oct. 13-16 in Minneapolis where they will be asked to present a poster on their work.

“These fellowships are a wonderful way to help budding biologists,” Mech said. “I am proud that the International Wolf Center is offering them, and I am highly honored that they bear my name.”

Applications for this fellowship are due on December 15, 2021.  Along with a resume and cover letter, applicants must describe in detail the research project they hope to participate in if awarded this fellowship.  They may create their own project or use the fellowship to support their participation as a volunteer or intern for an established research effort.  The research project must be “wolf-related”, either directly involving wolves, another wild canid species or a broader study looking at the interactions between several species including wolves. Special consideration will be given to candidates from communities of color and indigenous communities.  For more information, or to apply for a fellowship, visit https://wolf.org/programs/mech-fellowship/?fbclid=IwAR0UC0vhJHiDktXm_D9VlwvQGfs8SpTc8sDbdennu-PYSmXpoTM5bqbOx2Y

The International Wolf Center advances the survival of wolf populations by teaching about wolves, their relationship to wildlands and the human role in their future. For more information about the International Wolf Center, visit wolf.org

Read more about it here

Watch the video here

Superior National Forest Wildfire Updates for the Week of September 13-17th, 2021:

CORRECTED DATE: Come join us for some target practice in Grand Portage, Sunday, September 26th

Register here: https://forms.gle/drARqXsrGLMJAWTR6 

FINAL update and map for the John Ek and Whelp fires:

Planning is underway for the 2021 Rice Camp! We hope you can make it.

Superior National Forest to close camping outside of developed campgrounds 

Day use and most developed campgrounds open to visitors  

Duluth, Minn., August 27, 2021 — Effective August 27, camping on Superior National Forest lands outside of developed campgrounds will be closed. Day use is allowed on the forest and most developed campgrounds (fee and non-fee) remain open to public use. Please review the Forest Closure Order for a list of open campgrounds. 

Forest officials made the decision to enact this closure in the interest of public safety as the forest continues to experience severe to extreme drought, high fire risk and multiple active fires.  

Closing camping outside of developed campgrounds reduces the possibility of the following: 

• Search and rescue resources being diverted from firefighting operations. 
• The need for emergency evacuations should additional wildfires occur.  
• The chance of illegal campfires. Despite the current fire restrictions, there have been multiple reports of illegal campfires on the forest and several of those illegal campfires have caused small fires on the forest which divert resources away from priority fires.  

This closure will be in place until it is safe to lift, forest resources are freed up from firefighting, and likely until the Arrowhead receives a season-ending rain or snow event.  

The Superior National Forest is coordinating with the State of Minnesota, who will be implementing similar closures across the Arrowhead Region due to the challenging natural resource conditions. 

In addition to this camping closure order, the Forest has several other closures in place for the Greenwood and John Ek fires. Developed campgrounds in those closure areas include McDougal Lake, Little Isabella, Iron Lake and Trails End campgrounds. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is also closed at this time and permits have been refunded through September 3. 

Please visit the forest website for more information or call your local district office.

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Superior National Forest closes National Forest lands along upper Gunflint Trail due to fires 

Trails End and Iron Lakes campgrounds in the closure area  

Duluth, Minn., August 25, 2021 — The Forest Service is closing Superior National Forest lands along the upper portion of the Gunflint Trail due to fires in the vicinity and limited availability of firefighting resources. This closure includes all forest lands along Cook County 12/Gunflint Trail beginning at the Cook County 92 Intersection to the end of the Gunflint Trail at Trails End Campground. Campground reservations have been cancelled and refunded for the next seven days, through August 31. The Forest will reevaluate this closure and determine whether or not it needs to be extended due to active fires. This closure area also includes Iron Lake Campground. 

Gunflint Trail Closure Area, August 25, 2021. Map by USDA Forest Service 

This closure is consistent with the Cook County Sheriff’s pre-evacuation area for the upper Gunflint Trail area due to the John Ek Fire. 

Although National Forest System lands will be temporarily closed, the Gunflint Trail will remain open to vehicles and visitors may recreate on private land and enjoy resorts. There are additional day-use opportunities outside of the closure area on the Forest. Please call the district or visit the forest’s website for more information. 

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YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP – APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Great Lakes NAFWS plans to award 3 scholarships, one each to a college student in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The students must be enrolled members of a tribe, and currently a student in college, whose course of studies is natural resources, environmental, or conservation enforcement related. The scholarship recipients will be selected by the membership at the Great Lakes NAFWS Business Meeting. To be considered, students must complete the one-page application form (page 5). A Society member must also sign the application as 'Nominator', and must bring it to the business meeting at the 2021 Regional Conference for consideration.

Forest Service News Release 

Media contact: Joanna Gilkeson 

(218) 349-5137 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

www.fs.usda.gov/superior 

Superior National Forest closes McDougal Lake Recreation Area due to Greenwood Fire  

Duluth, Minn., August 15, 2021 — The Superior National Forest is closing the McDougal Lake recreation area due to the Greenwood Fire. The Greenwood Fire was first detected on August 15, 2021 around 3 pm. It is located near Greenwood Lake and approximately 15 miles southwest of Isabella, Minn. It is rapidly growing and spreading due to high winds and dry vegetation and has the potential to impact structures and recreation assets. 

To ensure public safety of our visitors and employees, the forest is preemptively closing all developed recreation around McDougal Lake on the Tofte Ranger District. The area was cleared of all visitors today.  

Current sites impacted include: 

• McDougal Lake Campground 
• McDougal Lake Boat Ramp  
• McDougal Lake Picnic Area 
• McDougal Lake Trailhead and Trail (trail 71078) 

Reservations for McDougal Lake Campground have been cancelled and fully refunded through August 30. The affected areas will be shown as closed in recreation.gov. The forest will lift the closure when it is safe to do.  

This is a developing fire situation and this order may change as the fire grows or changes direction. 

A copy of the official closure order will be added to the forest’s alerts and warnings page. Please check the Superior National Forest website for closure information and Inciweb for the latest fire updates. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook at @SuperiorNF for the latest updates. 

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1854 Rice Biologist, Darren Vogt, speaks about climate change effects on wild rice in Northern Minnesota:

1854 Treaty Authority’s 2021 Dagwaagin (fall) newsletter is now available!

It features 2021 moose hunt information, the 2021 hunting/trapping seasons, 2021waterfowl seasons, and 2021 ricing season information. Check out the various opportunities for youth hunters, including 1854 Ceded Territory Apprentice Hunter Designation, youth waterfowl days, and congratulate the 14 Bois Forte youth and staff that became certified in the last firearm safety training.