1854 Treaty Authority News

1854 Treaty Authority's 2022 Ziigwan (spring) newsletter is now available!

It introduces the interactive 1854 Ceded Territory Fish Consumption Map. Check out opportunities in stewarding our relatives - like contributing your sugar bush data as we draw inferences as to how ininaatigoog is handling a changing climate, and helping reduce storm water erosion with a FREE rain barrel. Get involved in #Noojitoon, 1854’s outdoor scavenger hunt on Instagram. Included is a taste of Resource Management’s 2021 annual reports, reminders on changes to the Eagle parts request application process and changes to State Park entry for Tribal members. Join us in welcoming the return of Brown Thrasher and the rest of the birds as they prepare to nest.


READ IT HERE

Looking for adventure this summer? ZOOM in with us - learn about the outdoor, summer jobs available to Native Youth in NE Minnesota.

Tuesday April 5th, 2022

11:00AM - 12:00PM

Watch the RECORDED EVENT HERE

Please let us know you are coming: REGISTER HERE

ZOOM Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83791744540

Have an OUTDOOR job you would like to promote? Contact Marne: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This past week at the Authority…

  Most Resource Management staff attended the St. Louis River Estuary Summit, which was hosted by the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve (the “NERR”) at UW-Superior. Talks and events took place both virtually and in person. Education/Outreach staff led bawa’iganaakoog making (manoomin harvesting sticks) at a River Talk during the St. Louis River Summit Tuesday evening.  

Invasive Species staff are keeping tabs on a few radio tagged Chinese Mystery snails, to understand their overwintering habits, get a better idea on their movement and lake areas utilized, and hopefully shed some light on potential control efforts. On the terrestrial invasives front, staff hit the road for Emerald Ash Borer surveillance. 

The 1854 Division heads joined both Bois Forte and Grand Portage councils on Wednesday in a meeting with the Minnesota DNR commissioner and staff as part of annual consultation.

And to highlight the more glamorous side of science, wildlife staff hit the field to collect deer pellets! This is part of an ongoing study to assess potential parasite transmission in overlapping deer and moose range: brainworm and liver fluke. Read more on the project here: https://www.1854treatyauthority.org/management/biological-resources/fisheries/reports.html?id=255&task=document.viewdoc

The Nature Conservancy in MN seeks two Manoomin/Psiŋ (Wild Rice) Interns to participate in a collaborative climate adaptation project designed to provide meaningful experience relating to native/indigenous cultural ecology, environmental communication, wild rice lake ecology and monitoring, and climate adaptation in MN and WI. Manoomin and Psin are the Ojibwe and Dakota names for wild rice, respectively. The internships will support an interdisciplinary team of traditional ecological knowledge-keepers, natural resource managers, and social and environmental scientists seeking to understand: “What can Manoomin teach us about restoring ecological and social relationships and adapting to climate change?” The interns will learn about wild rice through research, relationships and direct field experience. Interns will also help raise awareness about wild rice ecological & cultural significance and foster respect, responsibility, & adaptation. 

This is designed as a 10–12 week full-time summer position (35 hours per week). The position timing is somewhat flexible, with a preferred start date of in early July in order to enable overlap with wild rice harvesting and processing season in August and early September. However, we will work with the selected applicants to determine a workable schedule, not to exceed 12 weeks/420 hours, including some flexibility on start /end dates. This position will require both office work and field work. There are two possible base office locations for this position, located in downtown Minneapolis, MN or in Cushing, MN. Due to COVID-19, office work may need to be conducted remotely; however, basic computing and other equipment needed to conduct job activities will be provided. This may allow greater flexibility for home base locations for interns. TNC-sponsored housing may be an option for interns near the Cushing, MN office. Field work will be conducted at a variety of locations throughout north central Minnesota and northern Wisconsin, therefore willingness and ability to travel will be necessary at certain times. This position requires a valid driver’s license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program. Interns will be provided with travel accommodations for field visits. Typical work schedule is Monday–Friday 9:00 am–5:00 pm with very occasional weekend events.    

The compensation for this position is $15 per hour, in addition to benefits.  Applicants will need to use the Conservancy’s online system to apply.  For more information about the position or to apply, please go to careers.nature.org and search system job ID # 51043 (or search on job title).  Applications will close March 25, 2022.

1854's Resource Management Division is hiring three (3) seasonal positions; a Fish and Wildlife Aide, and two (2) Invasive Species Aides. Application materials (including application for employment) are due March 18^th, 2022.

• Follow @1854TA on Instagram
• Starting February 7th, 2022, 1854 will post a seasonal, photo-cropped "clue". You have one week to get outside, capture a snapshot and message us an image of the object along with #noojitoon
• If you figure out the clue and message us before the week is up and the answer is revealed, you get 2 entries into the prize drawing. If you message us after we provide the answer, you get1 entry into the prize drawing.
• 1854 will post a new clue about every 2 weeks.
• At the end of the year, we will draw a WINNER to take home a survival backpack equipped 'With all the goods to keep you going strong on all your outdoor adventures’!
• By submitting Instagram photos to the 1854 Outdoor Scavenger Hunt, you agree that your submission may be posted on the 1854 Treaty Authority Instagram page, newsletter and/or website, and that your submission is original content created by you that does not violate any third party rights.

As of January 1^st, 2022, American Indians who are members of federally recognized Tribes within Minnesota’s borders can access each of Minnesota’s 75 state parks and recreation areas free or charge. This ensures Tribal members’ access to ancestral lands, and acknowledges the importance for continued community visitation to culturally significant places. The Minnesota DNR successfully worked with the Governor’s office and the State Legislature to change the law so Tribal members can obtain a state park vehicle permit at no cost. 

When the law changed, the Minnesota DNR coordinated with Tribal government representatives to ensure a welcoming and effective approach. Each of the eleven federally recognized Tribes participated in coordination meetings with DNR staff to determine how Tribal membership is defined, and the kind of identification needed for members to receive a permit. 

To receive a state park vehicle permit, Tribal members must present one of the following at the park office: 

• Tribal identification card
• a certificate of Indian blood
• an 1854 Treaty Authority Window Cling
• 1854 Treaty Authority ID card
• Tribal license plates displayed on a vehicle

If the office is closed, self-payment envelopes can be used at the park entrance with “Tribal Permit” written over the payment section (shown below). Check with your Tribal government if systems are in place to obtain permits through them.  Additional information on Minnesota state park vehicle permits can be found HERE. 

Congratulations to our 2021 Youth Deer Hunt raffle drawing winner! Miigwech Angeline for participating in this past season’s 1854 deer hunt and continuing the practice of treaty harvest. Not only did Angeline put her time in in the woods but was also successful in bringing home waawaashkeshi wiiyaas! Angeline scored a Browning Spec Ops EDGE 20-Megapixel Trail Camera. You go girl! We need more tribal youth like you to carry on these traditions. #beagoodancestor

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE  

NEWS RELEASE

For Release: Through February 28^th, 2022

Contact: Alejandro Morales, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 612-713-5175 

Future Native Conservation Leaders Are Encouraged to Apply for the Native Youth Climate Adaptation Leadership Congress 

The National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia will be hosting the 8^th annual Native Youth Climate Adaptation Leadership Congress, starting June 26 – June 30, 2022. The mission of the Native Youth Congress is to develop future conservation leaders with skills, knowledge, and tools and address environmental change and conservation to better serve their schools and home communities.   

While exploring culture, tradition and science to answer a big question posed at the beginning of the week, students will lead the congress and focus on major challenges in their communities. The students create themes based on their initial answers to the big question. These themes will emphasize the importance of language, elders, political involvement, traditional values, cultural preservation, and social-economic and environmental awareness.  

“The Native Youth Congress has grown over the years into a multi-faceted program that provides an open safe space for students to learn about other cultures and environmental issues while gaining confidence in their own cultural values,” says Native Youth Congress co-coordinator Jenn Hill. “We developed the native youth adaptation congress to reflect their identity, empower their future and the next generation of conservation leaders.”  

 See the PROGRAM FLYER

Tribal youth groups interested in joining the Native Youth Congress should have between 3-5 students, consist of rising high school seniors, be a part of a federally recognized Native American tribe, and sophomores and juniors will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applications for this program can be found at NYCALC.org and will be accepted December 1^st - February 28^th, 2022.   

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information on our work, visit  http://www.fws.gov/. Connect with our Facebook page, follow our tweets, watch our YouTube Channel and download photos from our Flickr page. 

-FWS-

Join the Finldand Wild Rice Project in learning important aspects of manoomin biology, current conservation efforts and how it is monitored. Wednesday, January 26th, at 5:30pm, they host 1854 Treaty Authority Resource Management Division Director, Darren Vogt. In a webinar open to the public, they look at ways in which harvesters can help in the wild rice monitoring and protection efforts happening around the state. This event continues to the Finland Wild Rice Project's goal of distributing a series of educational modules related to the historical, health, cultural, environmental and economic benefits of wild rice in local food systems and the ecology, harvesting and processing of wild rice.

REGISTER HERE: https://finlandwildrice.com/?p=558

1854 Treaty Authority’s 2021/2022 Biboon (winter) newsletter is now available!

It features NEW treaty boundary signage, changes to the eagle parts request process through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and announces the first of our 2022 virtual program series. Within is an update on a variety of Resource Management projects, and a reminder on clan systems – or traditional community roles. Join us in welcoming our new Conservation Enforcement Officer, Marty Stage.

Agindan!: (read it HERE)

November 1, 2021 - The University of Minnesota today announced a significant expansion of Native American student tuition support, a new initiative that will be among the nation’s most comprehensive free and reduced tuition programs for Native American students. 

Starting in Fall 2022, the University will provide free or reduced tuition on any of its five campuses statewide to first-year undergraduate students and Tribal college transfer students who are also enrolled citizens in one of the state’s 11 federally recognized Tribal Nations. The University of Minnesota Native American Promise Tuition Program expands upon a full tuition waiver program on the University’s Morris campus, which has long been in place through Minnesota statute given the campus property’s history with Native American boarding schools previous to its time as a U of M campus.

“For 170 years, our University has focused attentively on the needs of all Minnesotans. Today we are taking a positive step forward in addressing the needs of indigenous peoples with a history that predates this state and institution—a step I sincerely hope will have a lasting impact on Tribal communities,” said University President Joan Gabel. “We have been very honest from my first days as president that we need to better serve citizens of our Tribal Nations and their communities. This program is a meaningful step to increasing access and continuing to improve retention and graduation rates while closing opportunity gaps, all of which aligns with our mission and our systemwide strategic plan, MPact 2025.” 

Specifically, the program will provide a scholarship covering full U of M tuition at the Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester or Twin Cities campus for first-year or Tribal college transfer undergraduate students with an annual family income under $75,000. Students from higher-earning families (up to $125,000 annually) will be eligible to receive highly discounted tuition through the program, as much as 80 to 90 percent in many cases. 

In addition to being citizens of one of the 11 Tribal Nations, qualifying students must come to the University straight from high school or transfer from a Minnesota-based Tribal college. The program will support undergraduate, degree-seeking students who must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and maintain full-time enrollment, as well as a 2.0 or better cumulative grade-point average. Those interested in more information about the program can visit the Native American Promise Tuition program webpage.

“Tuition benefits for Native American students will provide more access to the University of Minnesota than ever before. This level of financial assistance—along with the necessary support systems to help Native American students find a welcoming place within our University so they can complete their degree and graduate—can dramatically alter the course of an individual’s life,” said Karen Diver, the University’s senior advisor to the President for Native American affairs. “Educational attainment is critical to sustaining healthy and prosperous communities, as well as self-determined citizens. This is a significant step toward more equitably offering the access and opportunities that our students and communities need.”

As part of the program, the University will also reinforce with students existing student support programs on its campuses, including the Circle of Indigenous Nations, the American Indian Cultural House on the Twin Cities campus, the American Indian Learning Resource Center on the Duluth campus, and American Indian support services on the Morris campus.

See the press release here

Starting on October 1st, 2021 , the National Eagle Repository started processing all eagle feather permit requests, not the regions.  During the 2018 tribal consultation on potential changes to 50 CFR 22.22 regulations, Tribes identified eagle feather permit process as confusing and slow. As a result of the consultation, the Service decided to streamline the permitting process by designating the National Eagle Repository to process eagle feather requests and permits as a policy change now.

Join 1854 and the St. Louis Co. Historical Society at the Duluth Depot, Saturday November 13th, 2021, from 11am-3pm!