OGEMA, Minn. (KDLM/KFGO) – The Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge is entering a new era of management through a co-stewardship agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the White Earth Nation. The agreement, finalized yesterday, allows for collaborative management of the 43,000-acre refuge, which lies partly within the boundaries of the White Earth Reservation.
This partnership will focus on areas like natural resource management, water level control to protect wild rice beds, and cultural activities such as ricing, trapping, and plant gathering. These efforts ensure that both the ecological and cultural significance of the area is respected. While the agreement doesn’t transfer ownership, it strengthens ties between federal and tribal entities to manage the land more effectively.
Michael Fairbanks, the Tribal Chairman of White Earth Nation, mentioned that his long-term goal is to eventually return the land to the tribe, though this process will take time and careful negotiation. The agreement also introduces potential annual federal funding to support natural resource management by the tribe.
This partnership is seen as a major step forward in incorporating Indigenous knowledge into the management of the refuge while maintaining public access to non-tribal activities like hunting and fishing.
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