NAFWS News

Spring 2019 – Native American Fish & Wildlife Society

2019 NATIONAL CONFERENCE

The 2019 NAFWS National Conference is just about here. If you haven’t registered yet, there is still time. The event begins May 20-23, 2019 in Phoenix, AZ, at the Wildhorse Pass Hotel and Casino. This year’s national conference is being sponsored by the NAFWS Southwest Region and hosted by the Gila River Indian Community. Sponsors of the conference have planned an exciting event and a conference theme centering on Native Women and natural resources. The NAFWS invite you to join us and be sure to register. To view the agenda, visit: https://nafws.org/events/national-conference

NATURAL RESOURCES YOUTH PRACTICUM ACCEPTS APPLICANTS

 The NAFWS-Southwest Region is accepting applications for the upcoming Native American Fish and Wildlife Society-Southwest Region Natural Resources Youth Practicum. The practicum will be held June 17-21, 2019 at Waltrous, NM, Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge. High school students who want to know more about natural resources are welcome to apply. The practicum is open to incoming students in grades 10th – 12th. It is no cost to the students. For more information: [email protected].

2019 NAFWS NATIONAL SUMMER YOUTH PRACTICUM

 The 2019 NAFWS National Summer Youth Practicum is planned for (July 29-August 2) or (August 5 – 9) to be held in Yakama, WA. The practicum is open to Native American high school students from throughout the U.S.. Students that are interested in natural resources are welcome to apply. For more information: https://nafws.org/projects/summer-youth-practicum

SOUTHWEST REGION OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS

 Scholarship applications are being accepted by the NAFWS Southwest Region for students interested in pursuing a career in natural resources. Students that are in undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate programs are welcome to apply. Areas of interest are in the field of natural resources which include: fisheries biology, wildlife management, biology, forestry, soil and range management, environmental and related earth sciences, and conservation law enforcement. Students should be a full-time student and be a legal resident from within the NAFWS Southwest Region which include the states of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada.  DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: June 28, 2019. For more information: https://nafws.org/scholarships/scholarships-offered-by-nafws

WILDLIFE BILL WOULD HELP TRIBES PROTECT WILDLIFE

By Elveda Martinez, SW Regional Director

The Native American Fish and Wildlife Society and a coalition of Tribal organizations have been working on language to be included in the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA). This is the result of a Resolution that was passed during last year’s 2018 NAFWS national conference. The language has been finalized and is identified as a section called “Indian Tribes” and is requesting $97,500,000.00 for conservation and management of all fish, wildlife and flora on lands within a tribe’s jurisdiction. The state fish and wildlife agencies would still receive $1.3 billion, as in last year’s bill. READ MORE…

 CONSERVATION OFFICER LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING

 The next 40-hour conservation law enforcement training takes place in September 9-13, 2019 in Billings, MT. This training is being coordinated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement with assistance from the NAFWS-Great Plains Region and is a yearly training for tribal conservation law enforcement officers. For more information: [email protected].

GREAT LAKES TRAINING STANDARDS BOARD 2019

 The Great Lakes Training Standards Board (GLTSB) consists of Tribal Fish and Game Enforcement Officers throughout Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The purpose of this board is to aide in the development of realistic and viable Conservation Officer Training. The board facilitates in‐service trainings for Conservation Law Enforcement Officers of Great Lakes Tribal Conservation Agencies. Annually the board meets to discuss training needs and schedule advanced in‐service trainings for their Law Enforcement Officers. The GLTSB has facilitated snowmobile safety and patrol tactical training, waterfowl identification training, and most recently interview and interrogation techniques. The board has scheduled a Wildlife Forensic training to be conducted this coming June, 2019. READ MORE…

  NAFWS NEW BOARD REPRESENTATIVES

 Two new NAFWS Board of Directors were welcomed in December 2018 at the annual Board meeting held in Denver, CO.  The two new Directors are Donna Nez and Darcy Peter. 

Donna Nez, will represent the Pacific Region and she is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and is also part Navajo. Donna works with the CTUIR as a Fisheries Technician II and  has worked with her tribe since 2000 as a seasonal basis and as a full-time employee since 2008. She grew up in McKay Creek and lives in Thornhollow near Pendleton, OR. 

Donna says she learned about the NAFWS when she attended the NAFWS national conference in 2012. It was through her predecessor, David Wolf who introduced her to former NAFWS members, Pacific board directors as well as members from other regions.

Donna said one of the things she would like to bring to the NAFWS is a new sense of unity. “I’d like to build interest and growth in the NAFWS for the Pacific Region. I would like to help bring awareness to local and national tribes about Fish and Wildlife issues in Indian country. 

She added, “I would also like to expand my mind and learn from others. I would like to thank Dave Wolf for his nomination so that I could serve as one of the NAFWS Pacific region board representatives.”

The other new board representative is Darcy Peter who will represent the Alaska Region. Darcy serves as an Environmental Scientist at Tanana Chiefs Conference in Fairbanks, Alaska. She is a Gwich’in Athabascan from Beaver, Alaska. She received a B.S. degree in Environmental Biology with a minor in Psychology in April 2017 in Colorado. She said that she heard about NAFWS from fellow board member, Orville Huntington who is also serving as a board representative with the NAFWS Board of Directors  in October, 2018. She said, “I am interested in serving as a board representative because it is important to build relationships nationally in order to strengthen our voice and truly make a difference.”

NAFWS board representatives are elected by their regions. There are seven regions that make-up the NAFWS and two representatives are elected for each region.

 

GREAT LAKES REGION SPONSORS WILDLIFE FIELD FORENSICS SEMINAR

 A seminar in Wildlife Field Forensics will be held June 4-6, 2019 in Duluth, MN for state, federal, and tribal wildlife officers and investigators. Presenters from the Wildlife Field Forensics team will cover time of death estimates based on  decomposition stage analysis, forensic entomology basics and collection protocols, wildlife human attack investigation techniques, field firearms and ammunition examination techniques, necropsy presentation, the basics of forensic DNA analysis and tissue collection protocols, electronic/digital forensics, tribal cultural sensitivity, relevant case histories, and location and availability of resources for forensic analysis. For more information:  https://nafws.org/events/conservation-law-officer-training/ or contact: Terry Metoxen, [email protected].

 

TRIBES ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE TRAINING IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE

 If the area you live ever experiences a hazardous spill or chemical emergency, will your first-responders be prepared? Tribes are eligible at no cost to schedule Emergency Response Training for tribal members, employees, emergency response personnel or others who might be the first on scene of an emergency chemical release. In a partnership with the NAFWS, the Alabama Fire College in Birmingham, Alabama’s Workplace Safety Training is prepared to train tribal first responders, firefighters, conservation law enforcement officers, police, and environmental workers. To schedule a training at your Tribe, there must be at least 15 or more people to be trained. For more information: Roy Stover, [email protected], (205)655-6572, ext. 4, or visit: https://nafws.org/projects/haz-mat-training

Native American Fish & Wildlife Society
8515 Pearl St., Ste. 203
Thornton, CO 80229
303-466-1725
https://nafws.org

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The Native American Fish and Wildlife Society would like to thank those organizations that provided us with support over the years. With them we grew an effective national communications network for the exchange of information and management techniques related to self-determined tribal fish and wildlife management.

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