States
MinnesotaEcosystem
WetlandBuilding on our shared conservation partnership
Building upon our existing collaborative agreements, we are proposing a multi-year funding agreement with the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, also referred to as White Earth Nation. This agreement will support our continued long-standing partnership at Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge and includes lands located within the boundaries of the White Earth Reservation. As a federal agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a trust responsibility to Tribal Nations. As part of that responsibility, we are working to grow co-stewardship with Tribal Nations throughout the Midwest Region. These actions expand our ongoing collaboration, as well as support opportunities for tribal partners to continue traditional activities on Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge.
Through the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975, tribes with a special historical, geographical or cultural connection to a federal entity can propose to assume programs, functions, services, or activities being provided by that agency. White Earth Nation clearly meets that standard and in November 2025 proposed to assume some duties at Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge. In the months following that proposal, collaborative negotiations were held to determine which areas White Earth Nation was interested in assuming. The three main areas of interest identified were water and wild rice management, forestry, and visitor services and lead to the development of a multi-year funding agreement.
Milestones
Staff from Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge and White Earth Nation have worked together for decades on common natural resource goals. Following a 2023 request from White Earth Nation to transfer lands of the refuge to tribal ownership, discussions were initiated regarding how we could work together more effectively. A memorandum of agreement was developed to formalize our existing relationship and address some issues related to resource management. The agreement was signed in June 2024 and alleviates the administrative burden of multiple permits for traditional tribal activities. Additionally, the agreement focuses on increasing communication and collaboration on resource management, planning and research.
Following the establishment of the memorandum of agreement we continued our collaboration with White Earth Nation by developing a co-stewardship agreement which was signed in October 2024 and focuses on how White Earth Band and Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge will work together on planning actions, natural resources management, volunteer opportunities, and opportunities to work collaboratively on natural resources interpretation and education.
In November 2025, White Earth Nation made a formal request to enter into a multi-year funding agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to assume certain programs, functions, services and activities at Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge through the Self Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975. Building on our successful partnership, we have reached an agreement and intend to implement it beginning in the summer of 2026.
Funding agreement goals
The multi-year funding agreement details three main management activities that White Earth Nation will undertake with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service funding:
Water resources
Water is the foundation that supports life at Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge. Under the multi-year funding agreement, White Earth Nation will manage water resources, including water quality monitoring, data management and manipulation of water levels in support of habitat management goals at the refuge. Additionally, the tribe will coordinate with Becker County where flowing water intersects with roads, maintain specific refuge trails and ricing canoe landings and coordinate beaver dam management in collaboration with refuge staff. The tribe will also monitor and respond to aquatic invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species .
Forestry
Forests dominate the landscape at Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge and require management to support diverse habitat conditions. White Earth Nation will evaluate forest conditions, conduct timber stand improvement and harvest activities, support reforestation projects and implement overall forest habitat goals.
Visitor services
Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge welcomes thousands of visitors each year to enjoy and learn about refuge resources. White Earth Nation will support visitor services through co-development of signs, collaboration on educational programs, presenting workshops on traditional activities, incorporating culturally relevant messages into interpretive materials, and protection of cultural resources.
What you can expect
As Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge and White Earth National staff share duties, the refuge will continue to be managed under existing laws, policies and regulations of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Visitors should expect to see White Earth National staff and vehicles on the refuge in an increased capacity accomplishing our common conservation goals. The timing of this enhanced partnership is particularly important given reduced staffing levels at the refuge.
Public access is central at Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, as it has been for decades, and continues to be a welcoming place for everyone. Opportunities for quality hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography remain available and we are look forward to helping you enjoy this special place.
Learn more about visiting Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge and plan your next visit.
Timeline
The language for the multi-year agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and White Earth Nation for Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge was agreed upon by leaders from both organizations in late March 2026. As required by the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975, the document has been provided to all tribes in Minnesota for a 90-day review period. The document is expected to be signed in late June 2026, and implementation of the agreement will begin on July 1, 2026.
