Fall 2024 – From the Eagles Nest Newsletter
From the Eagle’s Nest
Fall 2024
What an incredible season of growth we’ve experienced over the past 3 months! We have been diligently providing technical assistance on the grant front and offering valuable professional development opportunities. As we look ahead to the next 3 months of 2024, we are filled with excitement and anticipation for the opportunities, events, and achievements that lie ahead!
Featured Articles
Message from the President
Message from the Executive Director
2025 Annual National Conference
2024 Southwest Regional Conference
2024 Southeast and Northeast Regional Conference
Staff Updates
Education Team Updates
The Bio Corner
Invasive Species Team Updates
Upcoming Events
Funding Sources
Message from the President
Greeting NAFWS Members, Partners, Friends, and Family:
I hope your health has been good. I hope you have been promoting a healthy lifestyle. Well it’s that time again, we are coming to the end of summer and the beginning of fall. In the Midwest, we have had a very hot and dry summer, no rain and very hot temps. I am looking forward to changing of the seasons. Fall is a season of change. As your daylight begins to shrink and the weather changes from hot to cold, this may be the best time to get out an enjoy nature. The forest and prairie backgrounds have gone from all green to an array of beautiful fall colors. You begin to notice migrations of some raptors, sand hill crane, all of our ducks, geese, shorebirds, eagles, monarch butterflies and other wildlife species. If you are fortunate this time of year, you may hear elk bugling, experience the white-tailed deer rut, listen to the beaver hard at work, and watching wildlife migrate their way across borders and mountains. It is an exciting time of year!
We must also be thinking good thoughts for those that experience the hardships of fall. Tribes have had to deal with forest fires, tornados, stronger storms, hurricane season, and all other catastrophic events that may occur. We are still seeing the full effect of climate change. Climate change has altered many of these patterns such as shifting the timing of events. The NAFWS will continue to monitor and help where we can.
The Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS) is a national tribal organization incorporated in 1983 to develop a national communications network for the exchange of information and management techniques related to self-determined tribal fish and wildlife management. We are a membership organization and have more than 200 member tribes. For more than 40 years, the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society has strived to meet the needs of its member tribes.
What have the NAFWS working on this past quarter? The NAFWS continues to grow and has offered numerous wildlife seminars, grant writing, technical assistance, specialized trainings, assist tribes in Conservation Law Enforcement Officer funding and training, Alaskan Tribal Climate Resiliency Program, Wildlife Disease and Wildlife Health, Invasive species, Wildlife Connectivity, Fish and Wildlife Management, Recovering Americas Wildlife Act Initiative, Habitat Connectivity, Climate Resiliency, America the Beautiful Grant, Tribal Analytics Mapping Project, and provide educational support through Summer Youth Practicums, Scholarships and Trainings. I apologize if I missed any program. The NAFWS Staff has worked very hard to reach out into Native Lands and offer and provide assistance. I am very proud of their NAFWS Successes.
The NAFWS BOD held a quarterly zoom call meeting where they handled NAFWS BOD Business, worked on developing and strengthening a few policies, selected the 2025 NAFWS National Conference Location and completed a national conference sight visit.
The 2025 Native American Fish and Wildlife Society Annual National Conference, hosted by the Eastern Shoshone & Northern Arapaho Tribes of the Wind River Reservation, will be held from May 12 to 15, 2025 in Riverton, Wyoming. This year’s national will be sponsored by the Great Plains NAFWS Region.
NAFWS Financial: Overall, I am pleased to report everything is on track with the organization. Audits and financial reports were completed in the required timeframe. Manager Partners Jill Frasier and Jennie Bills have done a great job monitoring our finances this past quarter. Executive Director Dr. Julie Thorstenson continues working hard to ensure that staff is taken care of and funding and grant program requirements are met. The Board of Directors continues to hold two in-person meetings and two virtual meetings each year to complete NAFWS business.
Hope you read and enjoy. The NAFWS has been very busy and hopefully with this newsletter finds it informative and helpful to you.
Thank you NAFWS members for your continued participation and enthusiasm in our professional community, I’d like to give a special shout-out of appreciation to our NAFWS Board of Directors, Executive Director and Staff, for their tireless effort working for tribes and their lands! They are sacred.
Thank you all!
Wishing you success.
Donald J. Reiter, President
NAFWS
Message from the Executive Director
Greetings NAFWS members, partners, and friends! I hope this finds you all safe and healthy as so many are impacted by severe weather and wildfires across Indian Country.
NAFWS staff kept busy this summer with many events and site visits. I was fortunate to attend Secretary Haaland’s 4th of July watch party in Washington, DC. NAFWS partnered with the National Conservation Training Center to provide a Motorboat Operators Certification Course hosted by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Tribe in Minnesota. We partnered with BIA to provide a virtual joint NEPA webinar to over 200 participants in July. As part of our peer-to-peer learning strategy we hosted a Wolf Management Plan training in Idaho with funding support from the First Nations Development Institute. We held a 40-hour CLEO training in Billings, MT in July.
July is also our time for the annual National Summer Youth Practicum in Colorado and for the second year, an Alaska Summer Youth Practicum in Anchorage. You can learn more about both here.
We started August off with a Board of Directors retreat and national conference site visit to the Wind River Reservation. The Board of Directors met for three days with staff from the Montana Nonprofit Association to discuss structure, roles and responsibilities, orientation, vision and much more. While the Board was in class, NAFWS staff met with the Wind River Casino and Resort staff and the Wind River Game and Fish Department staff to discuss the 2025 National Conference. We are extremely excited to have such great hosts and know you will all enjoy what we are planning!
We traveled to the homelands of the Tachi Yokut Tribe in August for the Southwest Regional Conference. Many stated this is the first time the SW Regional Conference has been in California. Darren Talayumptewa was re-elected to the Board of Directors.
The Invasive Species team held a peer-to-peer training in Nice, CA. The training was hosted by the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake and Robinson Rancheria Pomo Indians of California and focused on invasive species management planning along with field days helping the Tribes with invasive species removal and management activities.
In September we traveled to the homelands of the Rappahannock Tribe in Virginia for the joint Northeast and Southeast Regional Conference. It was an amazing venue along with good food and even better presentations. Mike LaVoie and Benjamin Simpson were both re-elected for the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors held their regular quarterly meeting virtually in September. We said goodbye to Jill Frasier, Accountant with MPI who has been working with NAFWS since 2017 and to Matt Hoptowit, IT Contractor in September as they move to different jobs. We welcomed Jolene Auliye to our team as an Assistant Tribal Climate Resilience Liaison – AK and Katilyn Demoski to her new role with NAFWS as the AK – Fish and Wildlife Biologist.
Throughout the third quarter, the ATBC team has conducted several site visits for successful Tribal Grantees. It is truly amazing to see what Tribes are accomplishing in the world of conservation. Please continue to follow us on social media and check out our website as we highlight many of these projects.
As we enter election season, we remain optimistic and committed to stressing the need for dedicated, annual, sustainable base funding for Tribal fish and wildlife programs. We continue to seek funding opportunities and strive to reduce access barriers for Tribal fish and wildlife programs. Recovering America’s Wildlife Act remains alive in the Senate (S.1149) with 19 co-sponsors (10 R, 7 D and 2 I). We are hopeful that it will get a vote on the Senate floor in this Congress.
I am thankful for the opportunity to serve as the Executive Director of NAFWS and know this is a special job. I spend most of my days behind a computer but wanted to share some of my “field” moments with you. I had the opportunity to put my wildlife biologist training to use and collect a sample from a deer for Chronic Wasting Disease this summer. I also tried my hand at bird watching.
Please continue to follow us on our website and various social media platforms for updates and upcoming events. We are committed to our mission of assisting Native American and Alaska Native Tribes with the conservation, protection and enhancement of their fish and wildlife resources. As always, if you have ideas for the NAFWS, please contact me or your regional director(s).
Pilamaye ye,
Julie Thorstenson, PhD (Lakota)
Executive Director
2025 Annual National Conference
We have announced our 2025 National Conference, hosted by the Eastern Shoshone & Northern Arapaho Tribes of the Wind River Reservation, on May 12-15, 2025 in Riverton, WY. Our 2025 National Conference Call for Abstracts and Call for Award Nominations are now open! Be sure to submit before our March 7, 2025 deadline.
2024 Southwest Regional Conference
The 2024 Southwest Regional Conference was a great success with this year’s theme centered around, “Restoration, a Step Beyond Conservation.” Several workshops covered climate change and resiliency, invasive species planning, GIS mapping, the Endangered Species Act, and native plant identification. Thank you to the Tachi Yokut Tribe for hosting this year’s conference and the Tachi Palace Casino & Resort in Lemoore, California for the wonderful hospitality.
Leadership Award: David Mikesic, Navajo Nation
Biologist of the Year: Aran Johnson, Southern Ute
CLEO of the Year: Tytus Sandoval, Navajo Nation
Technician of the Year: Kenny Barrios, Tachi Yokut Tribe
Emerging Professional of the Year: Roe Tafolla, Tachi Yokut Tribe
Administrative Assistant of the Year: Denise Cuevas, Tachi Yokut Tribe
CLEO Shoot:
Top Gun: Curtis Chapoose (Ute)
2nd: Brandon Tsosie (Navajo Nation)
3rd: Garrett Manygoats (Navajo Nation)
4th: Ruben Peralta (Mescalero Apache)
5th: Jonathan Nez (Navajo Nation)
Alternate: Tytus Sandoval (Navajo Nation)
Thanks to all who made this year’s conference a success with a special appreciation to all of our sponsors; NAFWS staff, USDA APHIS, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs and First Nations Development Institute.
2024 Joint Northeast and Southeast Regional Conference

Staff and Board Updates
NAFWS is happy to welcome Jolene Auliye as our new Assistant Tribal Climate Resilience Liaison in Alaska. We are also excited to announce that Kaitlyn Demoksi has transitioned to a new role, as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist for the Alaska Region.
Education Update
National Summer Youth Practicum
Another year, Another National SYP! This year’s National Summer Youth Practicum (NSYP) had 12 Native Youth representing 11 Tribes and 4 NAFWS Regions (Alaska, Southwest, Great Lakes and Great Plains).
Students participated in lectures and hands-on activities such as Conservation Law Enforcement investigation led by Ryan Gauthier (Chief Conservation Officer of Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa / NSYP Alum) to watching data collection from a Big Brown Bat to touring Colorado State University to witnessing a dog spay.
Additionally, students used their knowledge and critical thinking skills to develop a solution and/or plan to address the invasive Zebra Mussel in this year’s Natural Resources Stewardship Challenge. Congratulations to Group Pike Minnows (Hannah, Georgina, Joseph and Tehya) for winning the challenge, we will see ’em at our 2025 National Conference in Wyoming!
The 2024 Summer Alaska Regional Summer Youth Practicum was held at the Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, Alaska on July 16-22, 2024 with 9 students representing 9 different tribes. Each student had the opportunity to learn more about natural resource professions, Tribal fish and wildlife management, professional development, and college preparedness. They went canoeing, and fishing, flew drones, toured Alaska Pacific University, and experienced hands-on watershed and salmon science classroom activities.
The students also got to visit the Chickaloon Village Traditional Council at the Moose Creek restoration site where they checked minnow traps (and found both Chinook and Coho!), learned about native perspectives of stewardship, and completed a fun nature scavenger hunt.
The students also worked through scenarios about declining salmon runs in their hypothetical communities and addressed the problem by using tools, resources, and partners that they learned about throughout the week. At the end of the program, the students presented their solutions to their families at a final banquet at a local Anchorage park.
Education Visits
Whenever Ashley Mueller, Education Coordinator, is requested to talk about the NAFWS and her personal career path to students, she takes the opportunity to do so! Ashley talked with 24 students in the 5th grade and their 8 chaperones on their Northern Colorado field trip.
Upcoming events:
Please feel free to reach out to Ashley Mueller, Education Coordinator regarding questions about NAFWS’ Education Programs.
The Bio Corner
NEW BIOLOGIST: Kaitlyn Demoski (Koyukon Athabascan, Lower Tanana Dené)
I came onboard with NAFWS in August of 2022 with a focus on climate and climate adaptation. This Monday (September 30) I came onboard as the Alaska Fish & Wildlife Biologist with a focus on Alaska and Alaska Native Tribes. I’m really excited to begin this new chapter of work with the society in supporting Alaska Native Tribes in their fish and wildlife programs. Over the last two years I have spent any spare time educating myself on our complex fish and wildlife management systems here in Alaska, as well as taking Tribal Governance courses through UAF online. I do my best to stay informed on regulatory meetings, and the latest tools, resources, funding, and programs that are available for Tribes to continue their stewardship of lands, waters and wildlife. I’m excited to see NAFWS further support Tribes in Alaska, and I’m looking forward to working with Tribal staff to preserve and protect fish and wildlife here on our traditional lands.
Thank you, Kaitlyn Demoski
Tribal Mapping Project
The Native American Fish and Wildlife Society has partnered with United States Geological Survey and United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) to support Tribes in mapping ungulate movements within Indian Country. The Tribal Mapping Analytics Project aims to engage Tribes in improving and expanding technical assistance in collecting, managing, and analyzing animal movement data. This project has secured Tribal representation in the USGS Corridor Mapping Team in response to the Department of Interior (DOI) Secretarial Order 3362. The goal of the collaborations are to provide technical assistance to Tribes in mapping corridors for elk, mule deer, and pronghorn. This mapping assistance helps identify migration routes, stopovers, potential threats to animal movement, and direct conservation actions. By partnering with UTTC, the project’s capacity has grown to store Tribal data on protected Tribal servers for processing. This partnership supports the ability of NAFWS to support Tribal data analysis and ensure Tribal data sovereignty.
Sign up for email list, meetings, and updates:
https://www.nafws.org/tribal-mapping-analytics-project/
The Tribal Mapping Analyst is available for one-on-one support, and to provide technical assistance in ungulate movement mapping.
Motorboat Operator’s Certification Course [MOCC]
Utilizing our Memorandum of Agreement with the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center, NAFWS worked with NCTC instructors to coordinate training specifically for our tribal nations. The course was held July 16-18 at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, MN and hosted by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. Registration filled up quickly, with a maximum of 15 participants in the course. We had nearly as many people on our wait-list and understand the need for this type of training in our tribal communities. We are working to secure dates for a similar training in 2025, keep your eyes on our website and in your email (for our NAFWS membership) for information on a 2025 course. This course was funded by the US Fish & Wildlife Service funding with instructors from the National Conservation Training Center.
Our 2024 course had 15 attendees, from the following tribes:
- Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
- Little Traverse Band of Odawa Indians
- 1854 Treaty Authority
- Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
- Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
- Grand Portage Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe
- Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
- Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi.
Wolf Management Plan Development Workshop
At the end of July, NAFWS held a Wolf Management Plan Development Workshop in Boise, Idaho. The workshop focused on developing management plans for tribes within tribal jurisdictions that are living with wolves or anticipating their arrival. All participants shared knowledge and expertise on wolf ecology, diverse management priorities, and coexistence techniques. This peer-to-peer training was a success, with 10 participants representing 7 different tribes.
The Wolf Management Plan Development workshop was funded by the First Nations Development Institute.
Chronic Wasting Disease: Prevention, Surveillance, and Response Webinar
Through a partnership between the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), NAFWS held a webinar on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). This webinar focused on CWD prevention, surveillance, response, and the challenges and opportunities of CWD management on Tribal lands. This webinar was provided to 38 Tribes and 44 participants.
How to Integrate Wildlife Concerns into the Transportation Process Webinar
Through a partnership between the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society and the Wildlife Connectivity Institute, we presented a webinar on wildlife-vehicle conflict. This webinar focused on how tribal transportation agencies and their wildlife agency partners can reduce the challenges and effects of wildlife-vehicle conflict. These conflicts are defined to include crashes with wildlife, road avoidance by animals that need to get across, habitat fragmentation, the extinction or extirpation of local wildlife populations, genetic isolation of wildlife populations due to roads, and other consequences of animals’ inability to move safely across roads to access necessary habitat across the landscapes, both terrestrial and aquatic. This webinar was provided to 30 Tribes and 55 participants.
Funding Opportunity Webinar: Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program
NAFWS held a webinar on the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program. The Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program (WCPP) is a competitive grant program with the goal of reducing Wildlife Vehicle Collisions (WVCs) while improving habitat connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic species. $145 million was available for the combined application years of FY2024-FY2025. Applications closed on Sept 4, 2024. FY 2026 funding will have up to $80 million available, and that application will open on May 1, 2025, with an August 1, 2025, deadline. Federally recognized Tribes are eligible entities for the WCPP, along with state and federal transportation and planning agencies.
This opportunity requires a 20% match. For more information, please contact Megan Hawkins, Grants Coordinator, or Shailyn Wiechman ([email protected]), Wildlife Connectivity Coordinator.
Working Groups
If you have not done so already, join our working groups and learn from, collaborate and communicate with your fellow tribes.
DOI Talent Account
Access to Department of the Interior training is included in membership with the NAFWS. The Department of the Interior and its bureaus deliver all training through DOI Talent, an online learning management system that is used to register for courses. The Department of the Interior has instituted new access permission rules for DOITalent and for enrollees who are outside the DOI. NAFWS staff are working with DOITalent staff to ensure access remains the same for society members and are developing a new instructional webinar and presentation to assist with setting up and maintaining member accounts. More information will be provided as we move forward. For more information contact Sean Cross at [email protected].
UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAININGS:
Corridors, Connectivity, and Crossings Conference
NAFWS cohosts the 2025 Corridors, Connectivity, Crossings Conference, which will take place Jan. 14-16, 2025, in Palm Springs, California. Following a resoundingly successful conference in Tucson, Arizona, last year, we are excited to reconvene our community of practice. Scientists, practitioners, and policymakers will share up-to-date research, recent developments, and technical know-how related to wildlife migration and landscape connectivity conservation while addressing policy innovations that meet challenges in the field. The event will feature experts and leaders from Tribes, federal agencies, states, nongovernmental organizations, academia, and the private sector throughout the U.S.
If you are a Tribal fish and wildlife professional wanting more information on this conference, please contact Shailyn Wiechman, Wildlife Connectivity Coordinator, [email protected], and Emily Hagler, Tribal Mapping Analyst, [email protected].
Fall Acoustic Bat Monitoring Series
Through a partnership between Native American Fish and Wildlife Society, U.S. Geological Survey, and Oregon State University, we are excited to present a two-day webinar on acoustic bat monitoring. No matter your geographic location, bats play an important role in many habitats around the world. Some plants depend partly or wholly on certain bat species to pollinate their flowers or spread their seeds, while many bats help control insects by feeding on them. Bats are ‘indicator species’, changes to these bat populations can indicate changes in aspects of biodiversity. In celebration of International Bat Week, NAFWS and USGS present a two-day webinar series on bat acoustic data processing species specific call characteristics. The series focuses on species specific bat acoustic calls, laying the foundation for how to process acoustic bat data. Topics covered include data management, data quality control, call analysis software, call processing, species call characteristics, goals and objectives and tips for best practices.
Bat Acoustic Data Processing and Eastern Species Call Characteristics- October 30, 2024
Bat Acoustic Data Processing and Western Species Call Characteristics- October 31, 2024
Invasive Species Team
Sharing Knowledge with All Audiences
The Invasive Species Program Team has been working diligently this past year to make connections with members, Tribes, and partners to highlight the opportunities that are offered through our program. Promoting Early Detection Rapid Resource (EDRR) and focusing on the importance of minimizing invasive species impacts on Tribal lands is the key to sharing knowledge among our members, Tribes, youth, and partners. It’s been quoted before that “knowledge is power” and the traditional knowledge that is shared among Indigenous communities offers solutions to our survival and adaptive natures. Through our peer-led opportunities, we have been able to dialogue with Tribes, including our Tribal youth, to bring focus to invasive species issues and assist in getting these concerns addressed to benefit our Tribes and protect our lands.
Here are a few highlights of the events that the Team has been active in over the past few months:
Alaska SYP – July 16-22, 2024, Anchorage, AK – Thomas Hafen:
The students of the AK SYP took to the water on canoes as they attempted to fish for invasive northern pike. This activity opened discussions on the impacts that northern pike have on native salmon and how detrimental they are in the ecosystem. The students also worked on plant identification with the Chickaloon Tribe to better be able to identify native and non-native plants and the management Chickaloon is doing with invasive species.
National SYP – July 21-28, 2024, Northern Colorado – Wade Reiter:
Zebra mussels were the topic species for the National SYP Natural Resources Challenge. The students of the National YSP were introduced to the species and given a scenario to guide the challenge. The students sat in at a mock Tribal Council meeting where they were able to witness the problem be presented and listen to all the feedback from members of the tribe. The students had to take all the feedback and apply it to their natural resource challenge and come up with a solution to further stop the spread of Zebra mussels. It was brought to their attention that just before the SYP there was a real-life event of zebra mussels getting into the Colorado River. The students learned first-hand how bad they can destroy an ecosystem and how costly it would be to “slow” the spread being that the Colorado River is an important river in the Southwest.
Southwest Regional Workshop – August 13-15, 2024, Lemoore, CA – Annette Bravo:
Invasive species threaten tribal food sovereignty by outcompeting native plants used for gathering and impacting water supplies. Invasive species management planning to prevent the introduction of invasive species, avoid their spread, and controlling existing invasive species at cultural and traditional gathering areas are paramount.
Invasive Species Management & Field Techniques Workshop – August 28-29, 2024, Nice, CA – Entire Team:
This workshop was focused on invasive species management planning and field techniques geared to the removal of impacting invasive species. The workshop brought together many pacific tribes, even a tribe from the northeast and the opportunity to collaborate, share ideas and different perspectives on invasive species management While an array of species was presented on throughout the workshop, hands-on removal training activities dealing with water primrose and Asian carp were focused on in the field control portions of the workshop. Although used for training purposes, the actual removals of these species benefited the Tribes with their removal efforts on the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of Clear
Lake. Many thanks to the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake and Robinson Rancheria Pomo Indians for their hospitality and assistance to bring forth a great successful workshop.
32nd Annual NAISMA Conference – October 1-4, 2024, Missoula, MT – Entire Team:
To build on the expertise and knowledge of the NAFWS Invasive Species Program, the ISP Team attended the NAISMA Conference to build on our own professional development in the invasive species arena, as well as learning about innovation tools and strategies in invasive species management. This conference presented examples of online resources that can be incorporated into planning strategies to increase EDRR efforts in our communities. The key benefit of the conference was meeting others who are working on invasive species, especially other Tribes, gave us opportunities to make connections and collaborate with Tribes, federal, state, and local agencies, as well as other non-governmental partners.
Grants Team
As this year’s field season winds down, the Grants team has been reflecting on how lucky we have been to spend the last few months on the road, visiting many of your Nations’ grant-funded projects and learning about the fantastic fish, wildlife, and habitat restoration work going on in Indian Country. Katie Schultz and Andy Edwards, NAFWS ATBC Field Liaisons, spent July, August, and September visiting Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Penobscot Nation, Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes, Tule River Indian Tribe, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Holy Cross Native Village, Bristol Bay Native Corporation, and Rappahannock Tribe to learn about their work on projects funded by the America the Beautiful Challenge. Click the links to read more about each Nation’s project – with more highlights forthcoming on our website!
In October, Grants Coordinator Megan Hawkins will join the road warriors to visit Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians, White Mountain Apache Tribe, and Cocopah Indian Community. The Grants team uses these site visits to provide technical assistance on any grant management issues, convey additional needs or supports to the funding agency (National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, or NFWF), and highlight the great work that is happening. We thank each of your Nations for hosting our team and look forward to meeting more of you in the future!
While many of you have submitted proposals for ATBC, National Coastal Resilience Fund, Tribal Wildlife Grants, and other opportunities in recent months, we have a number of interesting funding opportunities to look forward to coming up. As always, use this link to book a meeting directly with our team and see how we can further support your Nation on grant-related needs. Please get in touch with any questions at all – we can help you brainstorm, be a second set of eyes on proposals, or help search for the right opportunities for your program. We can also assist with grant writing trainings, workshops on project management, and more!
Upcoming Trainings
As always, we have so much on our calendars to look forward to. Be sure to check out our events page regularly for in person trainings, events, and webinars to help in your professional development! Some of our upcoming events include:
Funding Opportunities
(*Be sure to check NAFWS’ NEW Grants Database for Many more – we are always updating and you can search by topic, open and close date, match required, etc.)
BIA Tribal Climate Resilience Funding; Due October 18, 2024
The Tribal Climate Resilience Program will support Tribes and authorized Tribal organizations as they prepare for and address climate change impacts on Tribal Treaty and Trust resources, economies, regenerative agriculture and food sovereignty, conservation practices, infrastructure, and human health and safety. Funding will be prioritized for projects that address imminent climate-related threats to human health and safety (including relocation, managed retreat, and protect-in-place efforts) and Tribal capacity to address such threats.
National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program: Due October 18, 2024
The NADPRP Program provides funds to support high-value projects that will help prevent the introduction and spread of foreign and emerging animal diseases that threaten U.S. agriculture. (Some diseases impact both wildlife and agriculture – inquire further for wildlife-related project ideas).
NFWF Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund: Due October 24, 2024
The Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund invests in projects that achieve or substantially lead to measurable on-the-ground conservation outcomes and fill key information gaps through assessments and strategic monitoring that result in improved habitat or population management actions, within limited geographies in Alaska – see website for details.
NOAA Great Lakes Fish Habitat Restoration Partnership Grants: Due October 28, 2024
Up to $12 million in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding is available for new NOAA Great Lakes Fish Habitat Restoration Partnership Grants. Through this funding opportunity, NOAA aims to support habitat restoration projects that will lead to significant and sustainable benefits for Great Lakes native fish species.
John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue and Response Grant Program: Due Oct 30, 2024
The John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue and Response Grant Program provides grants or cooperative agreements to eligible marine mammal stranding network participants to support recovery, response, data collection, and facility costs in response to marine mammal strandings.
NOAA Species Recovery Grants to Tribes: Due Oct 31, 2024
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) recognizes the unique importance of many protected species to tribes and values ongoing efforts by tribal nations to conserve and protect species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), 16 U.S.C. 1535. NMFS is authorized to provide Federal assistance to tribes to support conservation programs for listed marine and anadromous species under its jurisdiction
National Fish Passage Program; Accepted on a rolling basis
The National Fish Passage Program (NFPP) is a voluntary program that provides direct technical and financial assistance to partners to remove instream barriers and restore aquatic organism passage and aquatic connectivity for the benefit of Federal trust resources. In doing so, NFPP aims to maintain or increase native fish populations to improve ecosystem resiliency and provide quality fishing experiences for the American people.
Update: Changes to the USFWS Small Grants Program
The USFWS Small Grants Process is a new procedure for applying to existing USFWS programs and funding to make them more accessible to applicants under-served by the traditional grants process. The Small Grants Process provides a simplified application and award management process, including availability of FWS employees to support application submissions, and a way for applicants to bypass Grant Solutions. This can save significant time and administrative effort. Projects must have award amounts of less than $100,000 and be able to be accomplished within 2 years. For more information and links, visit the NAFWS Grants Database.
Lastly, we expect the BIA Fish, Wildlife, and Parks funding may be announced in the coming months. Stay tuned for NAFWS emails and check out the Grants Website for more!
Position Openings
We also have our job board that is chalk full of new internal as well as external jobs updated daily! Take a look and if you are wanting to have a job posted, please Contact Us with your position!