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Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) is a special group that helps eleven Ojibwa tribes manage their traditional lands and resources. It was started in 1984. GLIFWC works to make sure that tribal members can still gather food and resources from their lands, as promised in old treaties. At the same time, they protect these natural resources so they will be there for many years to come.

How GLIFWC Works

GLIFWC is guided by a group called the Board of Commissioners. This board includes the leader (chairperson) from each of the eleven member tribes, or someone they choose. These leaders make the big decisions about how GLIFWC operates.

There are also two main committees that help. These are the Voigt Intertribal Task Force and the Great Lakes Fisheries Committee. They give advice and ideas to the board about how to manage resources like fish and wildlife.

GLIFWC has different teams that do specific jobs. For example, one team handles money and daily operations. Another team, called Biological Services, studies animals and plants to make sure they are healthy. The Enforcement team helps make sure rules are followed. Other teams work with different governments, plan for the future, and share information with the public.

While GLIFWC's main goal is to protect nature, they also work hard to keep the traditions and language of the Anishinaabe people strong.

Areas GLIFWC Helps Manage

GLIFWC helps manage natural resources in specific areas. These areas are important because they were part of old agreements, called treaties, between the tribes and the United States government. These treaties set aside certain rights for the tribes to use these lands.

  • 1836 Treaty Lands: This area is managed together with another group called the Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority.
  • 1837 Treaty Lands: This territory is also covered by GLIFWC's work.
  • 1842 Treaty Lands: GLIFWC helps manage resources in this area too.
  • 1854 Treaty Lands: This territory is managed with the help of the 1854 Treaty Authority.

Member Tribes of GLIFWC

Eleven different Ojibwa tribes are part of the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission. They work together to protect their rights and the environment. These tribes are: