A future fisheries biologist helps release lake sturgeon in the Wild Rice River during the Heiberg Renovation Ceremony. - FWS photo

Award recipients after the ceremony held near the Heiberg Dam Fish Passage Site. - FWS photo.

Heiberg Dam Fish Passage Site after completion. - FWS photo

June 19 celebrated the return of the majestic sturgeon on the banks of the upper reaches of the Wild Rice River, a major tributary to the Red River of northern Minnesota. 

The low, repetitious beat of the tribal drums reminded the audience of approximately 75 people of a heartbeat steady and sure.   This slow rhythm lulled us into a peaceful silence and not a sound was made from anyone’s lips as smoke from a ceremonial pipe curled and lifted into the sky. 

Minds drifted to a time when lake sturgeon and many other riverine fish migrated freely up the adjacent river to spawn in the cool, rapidly flowing water of the Wild Rice.  Those attending could imagine, 200 years ago, watching tribal members perform this same sacred ceremony, giving thanks for sustenance and a fish that had existed for centuries. 

In 1900, the original Heiberg Dam was constructed on the Wild Rice River to power a flour mill, but the dam was later destroyed during a flood in 1965.  Another dam was built in 1977 in the same location to reduce the effects of ice downstream, but this dam was damaged during a flood in 2002. 

Finally, after five years, the Heiberg Dam fish passage project was completed with the help of many partners, including the Wild Rice Watershed District, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, White Earth Reservation, Houston Engineering, and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. 

The partnership created a rock-sloped stretch of rapids allowing the migration of fish past the dam.  This successful project reconnected over 120 miles of the Wild Rice River which will improve fish diversity and increase the likelihood of restoring a feral sturgeon population on the White Earth Reservation.

Participants of the ceremony included the Eagle Sprit Drum Group from the White Earth Reservation, and several speakers including Gerry Jackson from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Ron Payor from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), Warren Seykora from the Wild Rice Watershed District, Erma Vizenor from the White Earth Reservation, and representatives from state and federal congressional offices. 

Awards were presented by the MDNR and USFWS.  There was a ceremonial release of lake sturgeon produced at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery and Joe Bush, a tribal elder, gave a final blessing.  The event concluded with a fried fish lunch.