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The Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) is a Native American environmental and economic justice organization based here in Bemidji that works with Indigenous Nations and communities both in the U.S., Canada and worldwide. We have sponsored this rally to bring attention to the citizens, Tribes and Tribal members of the area about the proposed plans by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to de-list the gray wolf away from being protected as an endangered species. IEN works to ensure that both Native and non-Native people are informed of this federal plan and take part in these scheduled hearings.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has scheduled a series of public information meetings to provide information on a de-listing proposal, if finalized, would remove gray wolves in the Eastern District Population Segment from the federal list of endangered and threatened species. This is because the US Fish and Wildlife Service say the gray wolves in this Eastern District have recovered. The proposal would also remove critical habitat for the gray wolf in Michigan and Minnesota. The Eastern Gray Wolf District in this proposal includes the historical range of the gray wolf from the Dakotas, Kansas and Nebraska, throughout the Great lakes and to the East Coast of the United States.
IEN has been part of this alliance of Minnesota citizens, organizations and concerned Tribal members that say this de-listing proposal is PREMATURE and must NOT be implemented at this time. IEN is opposed to the de-listing of the gray wolf from federal protection According to the law, a species can be removed from the endangered species list only when it no longer needs the protection of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The determination that the species has "recovered" must be based on scientific data and objective evidence. There are many States involved in this de-listing plan. The gray wolf has NOT fully recovered in all the historical range of these States and deserves to continue to be protected under the Endangered Species Act.
If the US Fish and Wildlife Service de-listing plan is implemented, the authority for wolf protection goes to each State (and potentially in partnership with our Tribes) to manage the wolf population. These management plans have the potential to establish death quotas of the wolf population that could create State funded wolf hunting and trapping programs. There is a danger that State wolf management plans would not be effective in protecting our brother and sister Wolf.
Even here in Minnesota, in 1998, IEN was involved with many stakeholders on the development of a Minnesota State Wolf Management Plan. After months of working on this and reaching a level of consensus on allowable levels of wolf population, the State legislature trumped the process and developed their own plan. Politics got involved in the decision-making process of protecting the wolf.
The survival of the wolf is important for the survival of many of our Native cultures. The habitat of the wolf doesn't recognize State and Tribal boundaries. When you really look at it, we are in their environment.
We have great admiration for the wolf. We learned honor, endurance, perseverance, and loyalty from the wolf. The wolf is the true warrior to our people. The wolf is coming back for a reason, and we must not mess around with these things. The wolf wants to teach us something and we have to be able to learn to see what this is.
Restoring the wolf to their rightful place provides an opportunity for Native and non-Native people to work together. As we build alliances to work together and rekindle our relationship to the wolf, maybe someday we could hear the victory song of the wolf. Thank you. |
