1854 Treaty Authority News

We want to clear up any misconceptions about our upcoming summer youth camp and see YOU get your application in! Read through our "Summer Camp Q+A", put an end to those looming questions, and submit your application by Monday June 18th.

2018 Summer Youth Camp Q+A:

Q: Does camp cost anything to attend?

A: No! Camp is FREE! All expenses for housing, food and activities are included for the any youth that participates.

Q: Do I have to be enrolled in a tribe to apply and participate in the 1854’s summer youth camp?

A: No! Any youth that is affiliated with a tribe in Michigan, Wisconsin or Minnesota is encouraged to apply, including descendants.

Q: Is Nenda – Gikendan Noopiming gaye Nibiing a day camp?

A: No – 1854’s summer youth camp is an overnight camp. Parents/guardians are only responsible for dropping off and picking up youth participants at 1854’s Duluth office on travel days, Monday July 30^thand Friday August 3^rd. All other transportation to activities and field sites will be provided.

Q: Where do the participants stay when they attend summer youth camp?

A: Summer youth camp participants will stay at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland, MN. 

Q: When are applications due?

A: Applications to participate in camp Nenda – Gikendan Noopiming gaye Nibiing are due Monday June 18^th.

Q: “I really want to come to this summer camp but I need help on completing my application!”

A: Need help?? Coordinator Marne Kaeske is available and willing to help any interested individuals complete and submit the application – just give her a call: 218-722-8907

Q: “My kid is entering 10^thgrade – are they old enough to attend?”

A: Yes! Youth entering 10^th through 12^th grade are welcome and encouraged to apply to attend summer camp. 

Q: “I can’t drop my youth off for camp, are there any other options for transportation to camp?”

A: Yes! Contact Camp Coordinator Marne Kaeske to discussion options for how to enable your youth to attend: 218-722-8907

The strawberry picking moon means that the ticks are out in the woods in full force! Here at 1854 we want everyone to be safe out there – wear long sleeve shirts, long pants tucked into your socks, and use that bug repellant. Most importantly, take time to inspect your skin for ticks after a day outside.

Check out the interesting research that Associate Professor of UMD’s Medical College, Benjamin Clarke is doing, following the tick population and the spread of lyme’s disease in the 1854 Ceded Territory in this article from the Duluth News Tribune. 

And pick up your tick kit from an 1854 booth at any outreach event this month.

We have extended the deadline for summer youth camp applications! Please help us get the word out: forward on, tell your friends, and connect hard-working youth with this amazing opportunity!

The 1854 Treaty Authority will host Nenda – Gikendan Noopiming gaye Nibiing (“seeking knowledge in the woods and place of water”) July 30^th through August 3^rd, 2018. This week-long, FREE camp is designed to provide Native American high school students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field of natural resource management, and purse related college majors and careers. Participants will spend time in classroom sessions, field trips, and work alongside professionals in fish and game monitoring and survey activities. Incoming 10-12th grade, college-bound students affiliated with a tribe in Minnesota, Michigan and/or Wisconsin, are welcome to apply.

See the program flyer for more information. 

Download the application materials.

Applications are due June 18th. 

Want to join our team? The 1854 Treaty Authority's Resource Management Division is hiring a Wildlife Biologist. This position is responsible for overseeing all wildlife projects including the management of treaty hunting and trapping seasons, assisting in moose population surveys, cooperating in moose habitat projects, coordinating wolf collaring and tracking, conducting annual population surveys (grouse, waterfowl, furbearers, small mammals, loons, owls, etc.), working on wetland/waterfowl restoration projects, consulting and commenting on wildlife projects and policies, among other duties. See the full position description.  

Applications are due Friday May 30th. 

The 1854 Treaty Authority’s Ziigwan (spring) newsletter is HOT OFF THE PRESS (…or fresh in your e-mail IN box). It features the announcement of the revised 1854 Ceded Territory Conservation Code – take a spin through the summary of noteworthy changes before hitting the water for fishing opener, Saturday May 12^th. Check out new multi-generational opportunities with expansion of those who can travel into the BWCAW without a permit, and although not an 1854 program, review the permitting process to receive eagle parts and feathers. If you know a high school aged youth that is interested in pursuing a career in natural resource management, share the announcement of our summer tribal youth camp with them!

As always, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to give us a call.

READ IT HERE

2018 revisions of the 1854 Ceded Territory Conservation Code have been completed. This process takes place about every five years and allows us to clarify confusing language, incorporate new provisions, remove unnecessary hindrances to the exercise of treaty rights, and incorporate any new prohibitions needed to protect the resources. We began in March 2017 with open solicitation of band member input, followed by public meetings at all the reservations (and in Duluth). Approved April 24^th, 2018, we now have a newly revised code that we believe is a better code.  

The final document is currently at the printers, and will be available for distribution soon - we’ll post locations where you can pick one up on the 1854 website and Facebook page, but suspect the usual places (1854 Duluth-office, Bois Forte DNR, Vermilion Community Center, Grand Portage Trust Lands office, 1854 booths at outreach events and powwows…). Newly updated Code booklets have a BLUE cover, not to be confused with the 2012 canary yellow Code. Find a pdf of the revised code posted here on our website. 

There are not many substantive changes, although the former standalone Gathering Code has been incorporated into the general Conservation Code. To review the revisions to the 2018 Code, please see the Summary of Changes document, also immediately available online.

If you have any questions or need clarification, please contact an 1854 Conservation Officer:

Clay Rumph, Chief (Grand Marais)               (218) 340-7559

Leo Vidal, Officer (Vermilion area)                (218) 591-3256

Chris Johnson, Officer (North Shore)            (218) 464-8906

Want to join our team? The 1854 Treaty Authority's Resource Management Division is hiring three Biological Aides: an Invasive Species position and two Wild Rice positions. Lead surveillance activities for newly established aquatic invasive species on one of the 1854 Ceded Territory’s 2,540 lakes, or contribute to monitoring the abundance of manoomin on lakes, rivers and restoration sites. Beef up your resume with an enormous amount of experience with our biology management and research programs! Applications are due Friday May 18th. 

It is hard for an individual to tackle the concept of climate change, and even more so, what one can do about such a large-scale issue. One result of global climate change is regional drought. Here's your chance to make a small impact in restoring the balance: capture rain water and prevent erosion in urban environments by reducing storm water runoff...with your new rain barrel.

We again have rain barrels, for any Bois Forte and Grand Portage band members: FREE! Like previous years, one rain barrel per person, and it is first come-first served. We have 20 rain barrels available for pick-up at the 1854 Treaty Authority Duluth-office. To reserve yours, contact:

1854 will be hosting a 4-part archery clinic with the Vermilion Youth Center, starting Wednesday April 18th. Participants must be at least 10 years old, and have a signed authorization/release (permission) form - you can download it here, or pick one up at the Center. Read the informational letter, and check out the program flyer below for more information.

Want to join our team? The 1854 Treaty Authority's Resource Management Division is hiring a Fish and Wildlife Aide. Have the time of your life on an electrofishing boat, enjoy every day outdoors conducting surveys, and beef up your resume with an enormous amount of experience with our biology management and research programs! Applications are due Wednesday April 11th. 

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Office of Trust Services (OTS), is continually seeking scientists and technicians in STEM (science, technical, engineering, mathematics)-related disciplines to protect, conserve, utilize, and manage Indian forest and agricultural lands and resources. They are recruiting for several Internship positions working across various Agriculture and Rangeland Management or Forestry and Wildland Fire Management Programs. Students will receive unique opportunities to raise their awareness of traditional ecological knowledge education and land-management practices in use today by Tribes nation-wide.

*Student Trainee Forestry Position

*Student Trainee Fire Position

All Intern job vacancies announcements are posted to USAJOBS and can be found at https://www.usajobs.gov/…/wor…/unique-hiring-paths/students/

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Students must be accepted or enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university and seeking a bachelor’s degree directly related to the position (specified in the announcement) to qualify for the following grade levels:

· GS-2 grade level: Completion of high school or GED diploma

· GS-3 grade level: Completion of 1 academic year of post-high school study

· GS-4 grade level: Completion of 2 academic years of post-high school study or associates degree

KEY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

· Be at least 18 years of age

· Show they are enrolled in a Federally Recognized Tribe using Form BIA 4432.

· Must be enrolled full-time or accepted for enrollment full-time in an accredited institution

· Seeking a Bachelor's degree specifically related to the position

· Good academic standing (cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher)

· Complete the 640-hour service requirement

· Must maintain a security clearance

· Sign and maintain a Participant Agreement

· Some positions may also require a medical exam, drug testing, and a valid driver license and specific education certification or degree requirements

The 1854 Treaty Authority Duluth-offices will be closed Monday February 19th in honor of the President's Day holiday. We will return to regular business hours, from 8am-4:30pm, on Tuesday, February 20th.

Want to join our team? 1854's Education/Outreach Division is hiring a seasonal employee to assist in programming during the summer of 2018.

The Cultural Preservation Aide will be responsible for assisting in a week-long natural resource management recruitment camp for high school aged youth, developing curriculum and teaching of harvest education programs (ie, fishing, wild ricing), and designing a printed material or video media to enhance the understanding of Ojibwe treaty rights and culturally significant resources. See the Vacancy announcement.

Applications are due Friday, March 16th.

1854 will be hosting a 4-part archery clinic with the Nett Lake Youth Center, starting Thursday March 1st. Participants must be at least 10 years old, and have a signed authorization/release (permission) form - you can download it here, or pick one up at the Center. Read the informational letter, and check out the program flyer below for more information.

Is your school class or civic group looking for a speaker for an upcoming public event? 1854 Treaty Authority is now booking outreach presentations!

It's that time of year...when the thermometers drop below zero, and our biologists are busily crunching numbers from all the data they've collected last year. 1854's resource management staff have been pumping out reports of all kinds, from the monitoring efforts of fish habitat in the St. Louis River Estuary, to surveys for larval sturgeon, water quality on various lakes, small mammals, big game and furbearer harvest, moose foraging, and wolves in and around Duluth. 

If it's too cold for you to put a line out, how about curling up by the fire with a good... report??

St. Louis River Estuary Bottom Trawling Survey Summary Report 2017

Larval Lake Sturgeon Survey 2017

2017 St. Louis River Wild Rice Monitoring Report

Moose Browse Project 2017

2017 Wolf Project Report

2017 Small Mammal Survey Report

2017 Big Game and Furbearer Harvest Report

Sandy Lake and Little Sandy Lake Monitoring Report 2017

The 1854 Treaty Authority Duluth-office will be closed mid-day, Wednesday January 31st for the 2018 Annual Meeting. Staff will return to open the office from 2pm through the end of the day, and we will return to normal business hours on Thursday February 1st, from 8am-4:30pm. As always, if you need something give us a call before stopping in!

The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (“the Band”) formally submitted water quality standards (“WQS”) for final action to the US Environmental Protection Agency (“US EPA”) in April, 2017.  The US EPA approved the majority of the WQS in September; however the bacteria criteria were not approved due to inconsistencies in the time period for determining the geometric mean and statistical threshold value. 

The Band has corrected the inconsistency in the criteria and intends to resubmit them to US EPA for final action.  Under the Band’s Water Resources Ordinance and applicable federal regulations, the Band is required to give public notice of these changes and provide an opportunity for interested parties to comment on them.

See the public notice for Grand Portage Reservation’s corrected bacteria criteria.