NEW BLOG!
Featuring monthly highlights from the department. Get an inside look at the ongoing projects and insight from the professionals managing them!
Boozhoo!
The Natural Resources Department (NRD) administers programs for the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) with the intention of protecting, preserving, and enhancing natural resources on the L’Anse, Marquette, and Ontonagon reservations as well as the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan also referred to as the 1842 ceded territory. The KBIC is successor to the L’Anse Band of Chippewa Indians, signatory of the Treaty of 1842 and Treaty of 1854. Department programs are the responsibility of the Natural Resources Director, who in turn takes direction from the Chief Executive Officer and the Tribal Council.
Our Sections
Environmental Health
Focuses on our relationship with the environment, including water, air, and land with emphasis on the impacts and potential concerns that influence the natural world.
Fisheries and Aquaculture
Responsible for maintaining aquaculture systems that support the stocking program. Field operations consist of annual surveys and aquatic invasive species management.
Great Lakes
Responsible for understanding the impacts of human activity on the Great Lakes ecosystem. Primarily focused on the development of industry and sustainability.
Food Sovereignty
Responsible for developing food systems in our local community. Through education and demonstration we work to bring back traditional nourishment.
Wildlife and Habitat
Responsible for monitoring and enhancing wildlife populations and critical habitats. Including wolf monitoring, wildlife disease management, habitat restoration, invasive species removal, and education.
Special Projects
All sections play crucial roles in special projects, these are department-wide long-term efforts. For example, Sand Point, Fish Toxicity, and Buffalo Reef.
OUR BLOG
Ground Truth – Perspective from Below
Deep in the bedrock, below the relatively narrow layer of soil that hosts our backyard gardens and the Northern Hardwoods forests are metals like miskwaabik (copper), which have been used in this region for tools and in ceremony for generations. Ancient volcanic...
Keeping it (Less) Trashy
As temperatures begin to warm and community members return to the beach to enjoy the lake, we are excited to announce the return of our weekly summer beach cleanups. These cleanups are an important part of protecting our local waterways, preserving the natural beauty...
For CWA 401 Certification Requests or Permitting Questions, please contact the Water Resources Program at
