WENJI BIMAADIZIYAANGWhere Life Comes From

Treaty Natural Resources Division

Comprehensive Plan

2020-2030

Process and Timeline Wenji Bimaadiziyaang, the Treaty Natural Resources Division’s 2020 – 2030

Comprehensive Plan (Plan) will replace the Integrated Resources Management Plan

(IRMP) which expired in 2016. Continuity between these separate management documents was important to us throughout the drafting process.

Community engagement has been essential to the development of this draft Plan.

Online Survey – TNR created a community survey in SurveyMonkey. It was launched on July 2,

2019 and remained available online (by link through the e-newsletter and the tribal webpage,

and through the Tribe’s Facebook page) for 2 months.

Pow Wow and Tribal Council elections: TNR staff provided computer access to the survey and

also shared paper handouts with the survey website and directions to access it.

TNR Division Open House: the planning process was described and there were additional

paper versions of the survey.

Youth Listening Sessions: During the week of October 20, TNR staff reached 54 high school and

60 middle school students for guided listening sessions in their classrooms.

Elder Listening Sessions: Elder listening sessions occurred on October 29 & 30. Comments from

approximately 22 elders were received.

An early draft was released to all Red Cliff tribal departments from Jan 20 – Feb 12. This early

draft was also shared with our local agency & tribal partners (i.e. GLIFWC, Bad River, USFWS,

NPS, DNR, Bayfield County, USFS, NRCS, BIA, USGS, Northland College and WCMP).

Process and Timeline

The current community comment period for this draft Plan

is Feb 28 – May 1.

Intended to have community feast on April 1st, this presentation is happening in place of that event

Written comments can be submitted to:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VSQFZCT or

Gabrielle VanBergen(gabrielle.vanbergen@redcliff-nsn.gov)

If you would like to discuss your comments, please reach out to:

Gabrielle at 715-779-3795 x 4331 (checking voicemail daily during COVID closure)

We anticipate sharing a final draft of the Plan with Tribal Council in June

Additional comments can be provided at that time

Land Repatriation

Draft Vision Statement:

Reclaim all lands within the original reservation boundaries to fully accommodate the needs of the growing, thriv ing tribal community. The lands deemed most culturally sensitive, environmentally significant, and most plentiful for subsistence lifestyles will be priorities for acquisition and protection.

Assisted in recovering 950 acres since 2012 (745 acres zoned as preserved).

Objectives:

Continue repatriating aki with high conservation and cultural value.

Request to rezone areas best suited for preservation and/or forest.

Assist Red Cliff in pursuing formalized co-management policy with Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

Wildlife

Draft Vision Statement:

Wildlife will be protected and enhanced through sustainable stewardship that recognizes their intrinsic role as an ecosystem component, the spiritual and cultural connection to tribal members, and maintains their consumptive and non-consumptive values for current and future generations.

Objectives (specific tasks associated with objectives may be found in plan):

Preserve and protect populations of game and furbearer species at sustainable levels

Preserve and protect populations of culturally important, threatened, or endangered species.

Preserve and protect populations of non-game wildlife.

Minimize human/wildlife conflict.

Improve community understanding and appreciation of Red Cliff's wildlife resources.

Enhance program capacity.

Incorporate climate concerns and resiliency into wildlife program.

Minimize impacts of non-native and invasive species on wildlife and habitat.

Desired Input on Wildlife section

Do you agree with Vision Statement?

Thoughts on objectives? Agree/Disagree?

Most objectives are not focused on single species. Are there species you feel should be covered specifically or may be missed under these objectives?

Keep in mind that some objectives may be in opposition

with each other or not fit with other plan sections. Our

goal is to have some direction and options – we will

continue to seek input over time as potential conflicts are

anticipated.

Forest Resources

Draft Vision Statement:

Red Cliff forest resources will be sustainably managed to provide a diverse and healthy environment protective of land and water quality, that provides shelter and sustenance for wildlife, and allows for cultural, subsistence and economic uses for current and future generations.

Objectives (specific tasks associated with objectives may be found in plan): Enhance and preserve water quality through proper

forest management.

Manage entire forest trhough active and/or passive means to diversify forest composition and age structure.

Identify and preserve unique and/or culturally senstive forest types on the reservation for future generations.

Improve tribal public awareness and acceptance of forest plan goals and management activities.

Increase benefits received by tribal community from forest management.

Manage forests for non-commercial uses and benefits in addition to commercial timber harvest.

Minimize impacts on non-native plants, wildlife, and diseases on forest resources and associated fauna.

Manage forests to support diverse populations of game and non-game wildlife.

Incorporate climate resiliency in forest planning.

Increase involvement in management and oversight of non-tribal forests within reservation boundaries.

Increase involvement in management and oversight of off-reservation forest resources.

Increase self-sufficiency in forest management.

Desired Input on Forest Resources section

Do you agree with Vision Statement?

Thoughts on objectives? Agree/Disagree?

Potential timber harvest is probably largest area of contention. While

objectives include harvest as options, our impression is that in general the community is not overly supportive of timber harvest solely for commercial

purposes.

Timber harvest for sole purpose of generating revenue would NOT be a

priority.

Proposals for timber harvests and techniques would be based on needs

to improve forest conditions, maintain gathering opportunities, improve

wildlife habitat, etc.

Keep in mind that some objectives may be in opposition with

each other or not fit with other plan sections. Our goal is to have

some direction and options – we will continue to seek input over

time if potential conflicts are considered.

Water

Draft Vision Statement:

To have excellent nibi (water) quality to support healthy habitats, a large diversity of native aquatic life, and the Tribal members who use the nibiresources today, tomorrow, and for seven generations.

Primary Objectives:

Increase the amount/frequency of monitoring at the 18 established sites.

Determine if more sites should be sampled. -- Where should those be?

Establish wetland monitoringprogram.

Develop a priority list for restoration efforts. -- Suggestions?

Develop new outreach programs and events – What would you like to see?

Fisheries

Draft Vision Statement:

Protect, rehabilitate, and restore fishes within the ceded waters and the Red Cliff Reservation to facilitate the sustainable use of fisheries resources for tribal members now and for seven generations.

Paraphrased Objectives (all objectives and associated tasks may be found in the plan)

In addition to what we've always done on Lake Superior, keep pace with new technology for surveying fish, sample more fish species for contaminants, start new surveys to better understand Lake Trout, Lake Whitefish, Lake Herring, and Brook Trout, get membership on higher up committees in the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

Continue doing what we've always done on the inland ceded waters. That is, leavethe survey work and regulation to GLIFWC and the Voigt Intertribal Task Force.

Invest more time into the Reservationstreams and developstandard surveys to sample the fish in the Reservation streams on a more regular basis. Work with other TNR departments to improve fish habitat in the streams.

Desired Input on Fisheries Section

Do you agree with the Vision Statement?

General thoughts on objectives? Agree/Disagree?

What is not done by the Fisheries Department today that you would like to see done in the future?

Sea Lamprey are an invasive fish that cause significant damage to native fish, l ike Lake Trout and Whitefish. Do you support the control of Sea Lamprey? Specifically, do you support the use of pesticides in the Reservation streams to control Sea Lamprey (this is currently the most effective control method)?

Cormorants are a native fish-eating bird. Their numbers have increased in recent years causing some organizations/individuals to harvest them to reduce their numbers and their impact on hatchery and wild fish. Would you support harvesting Cormorants if their numbers increased near Red Cliff and the Fisheries Department thought they were impactinghatchery and wild fish?

Do you like having non-native fish species (Rainbow Trout, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Salmon, Splake, Rainbow Smelt) in the Reservation streams? Even if they are bad for native fish, like Brook Trout?

Hatchery Draft Vision Statement:

To provide a comprehensive fish hatchery program capable of providing eggs, fry, or fish for both on and off reservation stocking for rehabilitation, restoration, and supplementation of fish stocks in waters ceded by the Treaty of 1842 for the next seven generations.

Primary Objectives:

Stay current with rearing strategies

• Fish for consumption?

Stock fish in ceded territory

• Brook Trout, Walleye, Other?

Collaboration with other agencies

Provide educational opportunities

Air Quality

Draft Vision Statement:

Continue the air quality program to include indoor air and ambient/outdoor air monitoring from local, regional, and national sources and provide education to Tribal Members and the Tribal Community which allows for the Members of Miskwaabekong (Red Cliff) Tribe and surrounding community to breathe freely, and to protect the air quality of the Red Cliff Reservation.

Objectives:

Obtain available air monitoring data for the region in cooperation with other Tribes and agencies

Continued compilations of pollutants created within Tribal exterior boundaries (i.e. Emissions Inventories)

Establish a monitoring system for mercury

Investigate feasibility of Air Quality Codes in the Red Cliff Code of Laws, Continue pursuit of Treatment in similar manner As a State (TAS)

Educate the community on biindig (indoor) and agwajiing (outdoor) air quality, air toxics, and ways to reduce negative effects on air quality. Assess biindig air quality issues in tribal buildings.

Advocate for the implementing of alternative energy for cleaner air (i.e. wind and solar)

Waste Management and Pollution Prevention

Draft Vision Statement:

To successfully manage all waste materials in the most efficient way possible so as not to negatively affect the environment, while developing waste management systems that will allow for expansion of current waste disposal efforts for the future generations’ health and wellbeing and for the protection of the environment.

Objectives:

Transfer Station expansion (additional disposal services and equipment)

Cleanup of open dump sites

Partnership Development with surrounding waste and recycling facilities and environmental response agencies

Continued Education of Solid, Hazardous, and Recyclable Materials

Implementation of RCCL 12 and 38 and environmental permits.

Conservation Wardens

Draft Vision Statement:

To protect and enhance the fish, wildlife and wild land resources of the Tribe for continued use for the next seven generations through enforcement, education and prevention.

Objectives:

Provide regulatory information and education resources to the public on treaty-based harvest activities. Provide broad opportunity to Tribal harvesters to obtain permits and register game in support of treaty based harvest activities.

Monitor tribally licensed commercial fishing and fish marketing activities through enforcement of Tribal commercial fishing regulations on Lake Superior in Wisconsin and Michigan waters.

Protect Red Cliff’s natural resources through enforcement of the Tribes regulations related to the harvesting of wild game, plants and forest products. Record accurate harvest data and ensure compliance with established harvest quotas.

Protect public safety by addressing concerns related to animal control issues, nuisance wildlife and enforcement of off-road vehicle regulations.

Protect the environment by working closely with Red Cliff Environmental Department staff to investigateviolations of regulations related to pollution and environmental protection and citing infractions into tribal court.

Environmental Justice

Draft Vision Statement:

Protect and preserve the 1837, 1842 and 1854 ceded territories to allow for the meaningful use of treaty rights by tribal members and the protection of all sacred sites and landscapes for future generations. To ensure that abandoned industrial projects have been properly cleaned up and that any future projects meet the necessary environmental standards to protect all our relations.

Draft Main Objectives

Monitor the status of permits and environmental reviewsfor projects and make sure TNR staff are actively engaging with state and federal regulatory agencies about these projects

Participate in comment periods as necessary, engage in consultation as needed and if concerns have not been resolved, use legal mechanisms such as lawsuits and courts to guarantee that sacred landscapes, treaty rights and all our relations are protected.

Hold regular educational events to update the community on specific projects or relevant legislation

Use all available intergovernmental bodies (e.g. International Joint Commission, Lake Superior Partners Working Group, etc.) to diminish the ability of companies to harm the environment and increase funding availability to protect all our relations.

Mino Bimaadiziiwin

Farm

Draft Vision Statement:

To support and advance tribal food sovereignty efforts by serving as a pivotal component of an integrated food system, increasing access to healthy and culturally appropriate foods, and by increasing sustainability of the farm through diversified means.

Main Objectives

Strengthen food distribution channels and create new ones.

• Currently, food grown at the farm is distributed through the Weekly Produce

Shares (including to the Elderly and New Hope), the on-site Farm Stand, the ECC,

the Bayfield School District, Food Distribution, and many other ways including

program and event donations... where else? Mobile farmers market at different

community locations? Peterson's grocery store?

Strengthen relationships with other tribal programs and the community.

• Continue building relationships with tribal programs and departments (for

example the Health Center, the Nooji Center, the Fish Processing Facility) to

strengthen a community food system.

• What programs should the farm continue to work with? Are there other events or

collaborations you'd like to see?

Support home growers and gardens.

• Continue the annual Plant Give-Away and help to till backyard gardens.

• Are there classes you'd like to see at the farm? (For example seed starting workshops, composting, food preservation).

• If the farm were to work with other programs to establish community gardens in Red Cliff, where should they go?

Anything else?

Youth

Draft Vision Statement:

To empower Tribal youth to witness and participate first hand in the history, culture, and traditions that the Red Cliff Band identifies with.

Objectives:

Continuation of TNR staff involvement with youth through ongoing efforts

Continued annual hosting of three summer high school-aged interns

Starting up the Natural Resources Young Adult Initiative

Engaging in more educational events during the school year and summer

Reaching out to youth through social media

In cooperation with the Education Department help to create a stable funding source for the Indigenous Arts and Science Coordinator

Outdoor Recreation

and Cultural Activities

Draft Vision Statement:

Ensure the health and wellbeing of the environment and community members through the planning, placement, protection and education of outdoor recreational and cultural activities for all ages with little to no impacts on the natural and cultural resources of the Red Cliff Reservation.

Frog Bay benches: Please vote on dedication names!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7R5WVSR

Highlight Objectives (additional objectives can be found in plan):

Raspberry Bay floating walkway.

No trespassing and way-finding signage. Keep general public away

from tribal member only and sensitive areas.

Cultural activity workshops (ex: craft harvesting, wild rice events, wild

edible gathering).

Hiking trail from Pt Detour to Little Sand Bay?

Restore/expand harvesting habitats (ex: prescribed burns for

blueberries, wild rice seeding, maple/birch planting).

Help Legendary Waters improve and protect camping areas.

Provide education on preventing the spread of non-local beings

Collaborate with partners across the Tribe and region.

Ways to view and comment on the plan

The Plan:http://redcliff-nsn.gov/Postings_Files/TNR_ComprehensivePlan_CommunityComment.pdf

(Go to Tribal website > TNR page, or look for the link on

Red Cliff's Facebook page)

Online comment submission:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VSQFZCT

If you would like to discuss your comments:

Gabrielle at 715-779-3795 x 4331 (checking voicemail

daily)

Frog Bay benches: Please vote on dedication names!https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7R5WVSR