Contacts
John Leonard, 612-713-5108
Scott Flaherty, 612-713-5309
Eight Native American tribes in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin are among
48 federally recognized tribes that will share 53 grants totaling nearly $9
million to conserve and recover endangered, threatened and at-risk species
and other wildlife on tribal lands in 22 states, Interior Secretary Gale Norton
announced today.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency of the Department
of Interior, is awarding the grants under two new programs initiated by the
Bush Administration in 2003, the Tribal Landowner Incentive Program (TLIP)
and Tribal Wildlife Grant Program (TWG). These programs are similar to cost-share
programs recently developed by the department to assist states, local communities,
private landowners and other partners undertake wildlife conservation projects.
Last year, for example, the department provided $25.8 million
in grants to states under the new Landowner Incentive Program to assist private
landowners in conserving and restoring the habitat of endangered species
and other at-risk plants and animals on their property. The program was modeled
after a successful program implemented by President Bush in Texas when he
was governor.
Tribal Landowner Incentive Program grants
totaling $353,122 were awarded to the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
in Michigan ($110,881), the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa ($142,241) and White
Earth Band of Chippewa ($100,000) in Minnesota. Tribal Wildlife grants totaling
$910,404 were awarded to the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians (($129,261)
and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community ($197,128) in Michigan, the Leech Lake
Band of Ojibwe ($209,000) and Grand Portage Band of Chippewa Indians ($249,000)
in Minnesota and to the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa ($126,025)
in Wisconsin.
"For most of known history, Indian cultures, religious
beliefs and customs have centered on their relationship with fish and wildlife
resources," Secretary Norton said today. "I'm very pleased to build
stronger conservation partnerships with the tribes by providing funding to
help them undertake innovative conservation projects designed to conserve
our shared wildlife heritage."
Of the $9 million, the Service is providing about $3 million
to federally-recognized Indian tribes to help fund 25 projects under TLIP.
Contributions from tribes and other partners raise the total value of these
projects to $4.4 million. The grants were chosen through a competitive process
to address protection, restoration and management of habitat to benefit at-risk
species, including federally listed endangered or threatened species and
proposed or candidate species. The maximum award under this program is $150,000
with a required minimum 25-percent match from non-federal funds.
Meanwhile, about $6 million will help fund 28 projects under
TWG. Contributions from tribes and other partners increase the total value
of these projects to $7.8 million. These grants are awarded to federally-recognized
Indian tribes to benefit fish, wildlife and their habitat including non-game
species. Although matching funds are not required for these grants, they
are considered to be an indicator of a tribe?s commitment. The maximum
grant award under this program is $250,000.
"The number of grant requests coming from Indian Country
was truly gratifying, far exceeding available funding,? said Fish and
Wildlife Service Director Steve Williams. ?Still, for the first time,
we are gaining a solid understanding of tribal wildlife management priorities
and we hope this will make us better partners for tribes of all sizes that
want to build capacity for wildlife management."
Additional information about grants awarded today is available
on the Internet at http://www.grants.fws.gov.
In addition, the CFDA number for Tribal Landowner Incentive grants is 15.638
and 15.639 for Tribal Wildlife grants.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal
agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife
and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American
people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge
System, which encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small
wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national
fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services
field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the
Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally
significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands,
and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation
efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes
hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment
to state fish and wildlife agencies.
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