American Fish and Wildlife Society Logo - FWS logo drawn by G. Martinez.

On September 10-13, Dave Wedan and Heidi Keuler represented the La Crosse National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office at the 20^th Annual Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS)– Great Lakes Region in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin. 

A total of 180 attended and represented 23 Great Lakes Tribes, USFWS, USGS, NRP, EPA, BIA, USDA, US Forest Service, GLIFWC, WI DNR, MI DNR, MN DNR, MI State University, Central MI University, UWSP, UW-Madison and many private organizations. 

The opening ceremony included a parade of colors with law enforcement from most of the Great Lakes tribes and some U.S. military and a local drum group with a ceremonial drum. 

Speakers in the ceremonial opening included Bob Jackson - BIA, Victoria Doud - Lac du Flambeau Tribal President, Charlie Wooley - Deputy Regional Director USFWS, Luke Jones - EPA, Don Reiter - Great Lake NAFWS Regional Director, and Joe Jay Pinkham - National NAFWS President. 

Later in the day, legislative and funding updates were given by John Leonard - Native American Liaison with the USFWS. 

On Tuesday evening, conference attendees were treated with the Lac du Flambeau Traditional Feast which included venison, wild rice, corn, fry bread, chicken, and of course walleye.  During the entire conference approximately 70 presenters from various federal, tribal, and state organizations provided information on fisheries, wildlife, environmental, and tribal historical preservation. 

Some of the presentations included data on VHS, bald eagles, moose, walleye rearing, black bear, trout streams, wolves, lake sturgeon, CWD, avian influenza, and many other topics.  Heidi Keuler presented her thesis, “Growth and condition of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in Legend Lake and the Wolf River – Lake Winnebago System of northeastern Wisconsin.”  Highlights of the conference included a Red Lake Walleye Fry for lunch on Wednesday and the NAFWS Regional Banquet and Silent Auction Wednesday evening. 

The banquet meal consisted of prime rib and chicken along with wild rice and steamed vegetables.  Entertainment was provided by a traditional Lac du Flambeau dance group called the Waswagoning Dance Theatre which has performed across the United States and at the Vatican for the Pope. 

The NAFWS conference was not only very informative about natural resource management, but also about Native American culture.  This event strengthened partnerships between the USFWS and many tribal leaders throughout the Great Lakes Region and sent home some very full people from all of the wonderful traditional food they ate.