1854 Treaty Authority News

1854 is offering firearm safety training for Bois Forte in July. Get registered today!

Ann Arbor, Michigan – Hundreds of organizations across the Great Lakes region will be coming together to educate boaters and the public about the risks of spreading aquatic invasive species (AIS) during the third annual Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz, to be held June 26 to July 4. The event is coordinated annually among state and provincial agencies with the support of the Great Lakes Commission and partner organizations.

As part of the Landing Blitz, volunteers will join paid inspectors at boat launches to educate boaters on how to prevent the spread of AIS, ways to identify AIS, and how to report an AIS discovery. Properly inspecting and cleaning boats, trailers and other equipment helps prevent the spread of AIS, which are recognized as one of the most significant threats to the ecological and economic health of the Great Lakes.

“More than 185 nonnative species are already established in the Great Lakes, many of which are invasive and cause harm,” said Sharon M. Jackson, chair of the Great Lakes Commission and deputy general counsel for Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb. “Progress is being made, but we must continue to work together through successful partnerships like the AIS Landing Blitz to prevent new invasions and reduce the damage from species already here.” 

1854 Treaty Authority Invasive Species staff will be staffed at Rice's Point, on the St. Louis River Estuary on Saturday June 26th. Stop by and get your boat cleaned, see some aquatic invasive species 'up close and personal', and pick up some FREE give-aways!!

Last year’s Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz reached 128,000 people at over 1,000 public and private boat landings across the region, and an additional 830,000 people engaged with online virtual content and social media about the event. This year, agencies leading the effort will host a hybrid event, continuing to reinstate in-person inspections and outreach in accordance with relevant COVID-19 public health procedures while maintaining an online presence. 

For more information on the Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz, including educational materials, location, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.glc.org/blitz

Tuesday June 15th, 2021, 12:00pm-1:00pm

Laurel Wilson, wetlands specialist for the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, will give an overview of current waterfowl and herptile monitoring in the 1854 Ceded Territory. In 2020 the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and partners began an effort to establish baseline data on waterfowl and herptile populations in wetlands of the 1854 Ceded Territory. The data collected in this project will inform resource managers and improve understanding of population fluctuations happening within changing environmental conditions. Laurel will present preliminary results of one year of data collection and analysis of the survey methods used.

Kyle Magyera, local government outreach specialist for the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, will share information about a unique partnership effort to adapt to the changing climate in northwest Wisconsin. This presentation will highlight reestablishment of the landscape's natural capacity to store and manage water in the Marengo River Watershed of Ashland County, Wisconsin. Kyle will discuss an interdisciplinary, community-driven partnership project developing integrated assessment protocols and strategies to facilitate restoration, reduce flood risks, protect infrastructure and build resilience.

This event is a product of Minnesota Sea Grant's Twin Ports Climate Conversations project and supports our Community Resilience Program.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: REGISTER HERE

Image credit: Dave Hoefler. Unsplash.com

BBQ and Boating Safety, 5-7pm 

1854 Treaty Authority's 2021 Niibin (summer) newsletter is NOW AVAILABLE.

It features an update on 1854-Duluth office COVID-19 policy. Check out seasonal reminders, such as how to access treaty camping opportunities in the Superior National Forest, what ‘treaty access’ to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness entails, and tips on boating safely. Meet our seasonal Resource Management staff, and learn how 1854 is doing our part to educate the 117^th congress and the new administration of their trust responsibilities.

Need a refresher on the 1854 Treaty and what it means for you? Join the Iron Range 'We Are Water' speaker series Zoom Webinar this Thursday May 27th at 6pm! 1854 Treaty Authority Education/Outreach staff break down some of the misconceptions and interpret the case law that gave rise to our organization and snapshots of how we work to protect the culturally significant resources on ceded lands.

The science behind protecting these gentle giants

Experience the StoryMap HERE

The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians in hiring a Wetland Specialist and a Water Resources Program Manager (full annoucement through the links - first page ONLY of vacancies below).

Bad River Application for Employment

The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa recently launched a website! Stay up to date on community, government, employment, tribal programs and land/resources. Click the image below to check it out:

Eight-week long, stipend-supported, research experience opportunity for undergraduates...

This spring, 1854 will be doing a 'tour' to each of our Researvations to provide 1854 ID's to enrollees who need them:

• VERMILION: Thursday April 15th, 9am-4pm (Vermilion Social Center)
• GRAND PORTAGE: Friday April 30th, noon-6pm; Saturday May 1st, 10am-2pm (Grand Portage Lodge)
• NETT LAKE: Thursday May 6th, 11am-6pm (Tribal Government Center)

*Don't forget to wear a mask, maintain social distencing, and bring another form of ID

To review 1854's ID policy, visit: https://www.1854treatyauthority.org/images/1854IDCardPolicyRevision2017.pdf

**Read 1854's ID card amendment in response to COVID-19 safety protocols

If you have questions, contact: Marne Kaeske, Cultural Preservation Specialist, 1854 Treaty Authority, 218-722-8907, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

1854 Treaty Authority's Ziigwan (spring) newsletter is NOW AVAILABLE

It features the wolf status in the 1854 Treaty area, and an alert of potential invasive species carrying moss sold in the aquarium industry. Chief Conservation Officer, Clay Rumph, expects that everyone has had enough time to review the 1854 Ceded Territory Conservation Code over the last year under COVID restrictions, so test your knowledge with the quiz on page 2. Included are the approved 2021-2022 Fishing Seasons, and spring turkey season. Spin through the latest from our Resource Management Division – a summary of all 2020 field work and reports are within!

Read the CLEO internship announcement

Read Education internship announcement

*Applications due April 9th, 2021

Without getting out and about to powwows over the last year, 1854 has not been as easily accessible as we usually are for creating and distributing 1854 Identification Cards for our enrollees. Although we are currently operating under a Code Amendment where Tribal ID's suffice in place of 1854 ID's for off-reservation harvest, we are planning to make rounds to the reservations. First up, Vermilion on April 15th:

1854's Resource Management Division is hiring three (3) seasonal positions; a Fish and Wildlife Aide position, and two (2) Invasive Species Aide positions. Application materials (including application for employment) are due March 31^st, 2021.

Lake Sturgeon are unique, ancient fish inhabiting the Great Lakes and tributaries. A culturally significant being to the Ojibwe, Lake Sturgeon are a harbinger of spring. Historically abundant populations were nearly eliminated by the early 1900's due to over harvest, water pollution, and habitat loss. Improved water quality by the 1980's allowed state, tribal and federal authorities to reintroduce Lake Sturgeon by stocking hatchery raised fish. Today some watersheds, such as the St. Louis River Estuary, show signs of naturally reproducing populations. Watch the program recording here: https://youtu.be/0VzoAoEawnQ 

Seeking more resources about Lake Sturgeon? Check these out:

· Lake Sturgeon StoryMap

· Lake Sturgeon Kahoot!

· Great Lakes Aquarium Run for Your Lifecycle lesson plan

· Great Lakes Aquarium Becoming Scientists: Synthesizing and Communication (Fish CSI) lesson plan

· St. Louis River Alliance flyer: Lake Sturgeon in the St. Louis River 

· Menominee Sturgeon Release Feast and Powwow (Menominee are linguistically related to Ojibwe-Algonquin): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr-ajGIpSzY

· Gun Lake Release-Michigan Pottawatomi (another Algonquin tribe): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRP4li1q88s

· Children’s book: Nanaboozhoo and the Sturgeon

· Ojibwe Clans Project (youth):  https://intersectingart.umn.edu/?lesson/44