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.
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.
This policy change includes all new applications, amendments (e.g. name change, contact information), and re-orders. Moving forward, tribal members should submit paper permit applications (Form 3-200-15a) directly to the National Eagle Repository, rather than to the regional Migratory Bird Permit Offices.
Here is contact information for the National Eagle Repository including address, phone number, general email, and link to their website:
National Eagle Repository
6550 Gateway Road, RMA, Bldg. 128
Commerce City, CO 80022
(303) 287-2110
Join 1854 and the St. Louis Co. Historical Society at the Duluth Depot, Saturday November 13th, 2021, from 11am-3pm!
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
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
**Don't forget - youth (under 18 y/o) participating in ANY 1854 deer hunt in 2021 will automatically be entered into a drawing for a Browning trail cam!
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:
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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