In this broadcast, we’ll hear from Amy Coffman about the work the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System) is doing regarding the national Co-Stewardship effort.
The Refuge System is working toward improving relationships that respect the sovereignty of Tribes, Native Hawaiian Communities, Alaska Native Corporations, and Alaska Native Organizations (Indigenous peoples).
By acknowledging the sovereign rights and responsibilities of our Indigenous partners and working with them government to government, the Refuge System is better able to conserve fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for current and future generations. We must move beyond the lens of compliance and take a more holistic view of Tribal collaboration to steward lands with our Indigenous partners. To help answer your questions regarding Refuge System engagement in the lens of Co-stewardship please send us your questions in advance using this form.
About Our Presenter, Amy Lankford-Coffman:
Amy Lankford-Coffman has a diverse background in field work and has worked in many different roles in wildlife refuge locations, regions, and now headquarters. Amy has developed long-term collaborative land management plans with incredibly important Tribal partners and been a part of many great projects that have shaped her as a conservationist. She was born in Montana, raised on the Flathead Reservation, and was able to come back to it after a long period of being away working around the Nation. Previous positions included Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Superintendent of the Flathead Agency in Montana, then as a Native American Amy Lankford-Coffman Liaison for the Mountain-Prairie (Region 6) in the Service’s Office of Communications, and now as the Refuge System Tribal Co-Stewardship Coordinator.
Who Should Attend:
We welcome any Department of the Interior staff and partners, and anyone else who may be involved with tribes or who wish to learn more about working with tribes and Indigenous communities.
To Join the Broadcast
1. To join the broadcast click her or you can also watch this program on the FWS YouTube channel.
2. Follow the prompts
3. Please join 5-10 minutes early to make sure your connection is working properly.
We will record this broadcast and upload it to the NCTC Broadcast Gallery 2 weeks. Access the NCTC Broadcast Gallery’s Indigenous Speaker Series.
Contact:
For Closed Captioning or technical questions: Jennifer Hill 240.772.0393 or jennifer_hill@fws.gov