Natural Resources and ConservationÂ
The Natural Resources and Conservation Program within Kowabdanawa odë kė will conserve, protect, and enhance
habitats for fish, wildlife, and cultural resources to benefit the Tribal citizenry. Services offered to the Pokagon Band include conservation, management, and propagation of the Tribe's fish and wildlife resources. These services will be offered through 3 main services:
- Terrestrial (forest/woodland) and aquatic habitat (rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands) assessment
- Restoration of lost or declining habitat and vegetation
- Management of culturally significant habitats such as Black Ash swamps and Sugar maple forests will include conservation, management, and species propagation
Turtle Booklet
Order Your Plush Turtle
Citizens, spouses, and government team members may order a Plush Turtle here:
Prescribed Burning on Tribal Properties
Prescribed burning is an important management tool for maintaining and enhancing grasslands. Fire was an important natural part of the development and maintenance of grasslands, forests, and wetlands, throughout history.
For thousands of years, tall grass prairies and open brushlands were kept free of trees by the occasional wildfires that cleared the landscape every two to 50 years. These fires were caused by lightning or set intentionally by early Tribes. They had discovered that fire killed woody plants but encouraged fruit-bearing shrubs and forage-producing grasslands.
Present-day research and experience have shown that prescribed burning can be an effective management tool. Prescribed burns are used most frequently to maintain and restore native grasslands.
Wildlife Management
- Conduct baseline fish and wildlife inventories to develop forestry, wildlife, and fisheries habitat management plans. Prepare written reports concerning fish & wildlife populations and habitats and issue recommendations.
- Provide input and expertise in developing and updating hunting, fishing, and gathering rules and regulations to preserve, protect, and enhance fish & wildlife resources on tribal property, and issue tribal hunting, fishing, and gathering licenses and permits.
- Implement and manage: the Wetlands Reserve Program and Natural Resource Conservation Service – WHIP & EQIP projects through the establishment of warm-season prairies, shallow wetland marshes and annual prescribed burning.
- Keep apprised of wildlife related tribal consultation opportunities, new policies & legislation, and developing wildlife disease implications.
North Liberty - Wetland Reserve Program (WRP)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), which is now called the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership Program is a program that aims to restore, enhance, and protect wetlands and associated lands. In 2008 the Band enrolled 1,147 acres of property into the WRP program near North Liberty, Indiana. Through a collaboration with NRCS the work being completed on the North Liberty property aims to restore vegetative conditions and re-create marsh and other wetland habitats using vegetation management and low-impact earthwork.
Since 2008, the North Liberty property has undergone multiple practices to enhance the wetland and prairie habitats present on the site. These practices include multiple native plantings, rotational prescribed burns throughout the property, wetland scrapes, water-control structures, and invasive species management. The intent of the work being done on the property is to help restore the natural flow of the surface water, allow for more frequent inundation which helps protect neighboring properties, and helps to bring back the original wetland state of the site which is located within the historic Grand Kankakee Marsh that once existed along the Kankakee River.