Mission
It is the responsibility of the White Earth Nation, to protect, manage and enhance the reservation’s resources and environment by efficient and effective ways to allow maximum usage while yet maintaining a population at a level capable of regeneration. The department must coordinate activities and projects between state, federal and private agencies within the reservation boundaries.
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Agriculture
The Ag program manages agriculture lands throughout the reservation for the purposes of maintaining a healthy and productive environment. Also, the program strives to improve food sovereignty by bringing together and organizing community driven efforts that aid in establishing a sustainable and sovereign food system based in traditional methods of planting, gathering, harvest, hunting, and fishing protected by tribal policy.
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Conservation Enforcement
The Conservation Department provides conservation law enforcement throughout reservation lands. Duties include enforcement of the conservation and the environmental code, routine patrol, assistance to other internal and external agencies, certified tracking, and natural resource safety instruction when requested.
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Environmental Affairs
The Gidakiiminaan Environmental Program consists of eight seven primary areas: Emergency Management, Air Quality, General Assistance Program (GAP), Pesticides Program, Underground Storage Tanks, Air Quality and Section 128(a) Brownfields. These programs are coordinated with Federal, State and local entities in a cooperative effort for the protection of the environment within the Reservation boundary. Through the Gidakiiminaan Environmental Program, the White Earth Reservation intends to create a positive and productive working relationship with the EPA and other agencies. By working together internally and externally, we can provide a balanced approach to the long-term health and welfare of residents living on the White Earth Reservation.
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Fisheries
The White Earth Reservation lies mainly in the Red River Drainage Basin, which is the headwaters area of the greater Hudson Bay Drainage Basin. Surface water on the Reservation consists of lakes, wetlands, rivers and streams. There are approximately 530 bodies of water greater than 10 acres, covering 48,362 acres, 53,243 acres of wetlands and approximately 300 miles of rivers and streams.
White Earth has a robust fishery program focusing on Lake Sturgeon, Walleye and a pilot White Fish rearing program. Other managed fish species include muskellunge, northern pike, bass species, sunfish species, yellow perch, black crappie, burbot, bowfin, channel catfish, flathead catfish, rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, whitefish and tullibee. There are also several species of rough fish found on the Reservation including suckers, redhorse, mooneye, goldeye and carp.
The White Earth Reservation has been involved with several multi-agency cooperative plans since 1983. Past cooperative efforts have taken place with Lac du Flambeau, Fond du Lac, Bad River and Red Lake Reservation fisheries programs. White Earth is currently in cooperative agreements with the Leech Lake Reservation, USFWS and MN DNR for walleye production and stocking. The program recently completed its co-op with the MN DNR, USFWS and Rainy River First Nations of Ontario Canada on a twenty-year lake sturgeon reintroduction plan within White Earth Lake, Round Lake and the Wild Rice River. White Earth will begin planning for the second phase of its lake sturgeon plans in FY 24/25.
AIS
White Earth maintains a core staff for the implementation of their Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) planning and monitoring program. Aquatic Invasive Species pose a tremendous threat to White Earths waters and cultural activities which take place within them. Each year the staff monitors and samples more than one hundred-twenty deep and shallow water lakes for Aquatic Invasive Species. Over the past ten years the staff has identified waters which have become infested with AIS and planned management efforts for their use and to mitigate the spread to additional lakes.
Forestry
The Forestry program is tasked with the management of forested lands on the reservation. Activities include timber sale design and administration, forest development and fuels management projects, wildfire suppression, prescribed burning, firewood permits, and spirit firewood processing and delivery.
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The Land Office strives to maintain the balance between developing lands on the reservation and protecting the land & assets for the White Earth Nation. They assist with land titles and records management, leasing (homesites, lakeshore, residential, and commercial), service line agreements, easements, rights-of-way, land acquisition & conveyance, realty research, survey, GIS mapping, zoning, and permits. The White Earth Land Office supports tribal members and programs to meet land use goals that will benefit in the long-term and future generations.
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The White Earth Reservation is blessed with vast and beautiful natural resources that lay the foundation for a wonderful quality of life. The reservation boundaries encompass three major biomes: the Prairie/Grassland biome, the hardwood forest biome and the conifer forest biome. All three combine to create a wide variety of environmental diversity uniquely located within the boundaries of the Reservation. The Parks & Rec program provides recreational opportunities to the public including maintaining and developing the Roy Lake recreational area, Little Elbow Lake Park, Lynwood recreational area, Naytahwaush Shooting Range, and various boat landings & fishing piers within the reservation boundaries.
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Permitting
The White Earth Permitting Office oversees the management and regulation of permits. They ensure that activities such as special harvest permits, land access, building permits, etc. comply with tribal laws and regulations.
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Wildlife
The Wildlife program manages, creates, and enhances quality habitat on Tribal lands that provide space for multiple species of mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and vegetation. Program staff collaborate with outside agencies on landscape enhancements, wildlife habitat management, and keeping informed on anything that might be negatively affecting natural resources.
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Wild Rice
The Wild Rice program focuses on the management and enhancement of Manoomin. Tasks include opening and closing the season, coordination with the Tamarac Refuge and the State of MN, seeding lakes, purchasing green rice, and in charge of the rice finishing. The program also works with outside agencies to ensure Rights of Manoomin are considered when permitting projects, making management decisions, or any activity that could have a negative impact.
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