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鈥� A new agreement signed Tuesday between White Earth and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge does not transfer ownership or management of the Tamarac Refuge to the White Earth Nation.

It does not alter current hunting or fishing practices.

And it does not provide permits for hunting, trapping, harvesting and gathering activities that are not already allowed there.

So much for what it doesn鈥檛 do. What it does do are a number of things that benefit White Earth:

For one, it emphasizes the importance of using existing water control structures for the health and benefit of wild rice.

The agreement also commits both parties to developing a co-stewardship arrangement, which would empower White Earth to play a more substantial role in safeguarding and conserving the refuge, 鈥渆nsuring its preservation for future generations,鈥� according to a White Earth news release.

鈥淲ith deep cultural ties to this land, White Earth Nation has consistently regarded itself as its guardian and steward,鈥� said Tribal Chairman Michael Fairbanks. 鈥淲e are excited about the opportunity to formalize a co-stewardship agreement that will enable us to contribute more to preserving this special place.鈥�

The Memorandum of Agreement signed Tuesday also provides a way to resolve any disputes that come up between White Earth and Tamarac staff.

Here鈥檚 what else it does, according to a summary released on Tuesday:

• It provides for government-to-government data/information sharing, planning, and implementation in real-time and annually.
• Both parties commit to work expeditiously on future agreements and co-stewardship.
• White Earth agrees to amend its Conservation Code concerning Tamarac to include permitting standards and enforcement protocols consistent with treaty rights, inherent Sovereignty, and federal law.
• That means, because tribal code and federal conservation code will be in sync, the agreement will allow the Fish & Wildlife Service to recognize White Earth permits given to band members. Those permits are for things like ricing, trapping, and harvesting leeches, turtles, and minnows, as well as gathering wild plants, some wood cutting for dead and down timber and traditional wood products, ceremonies, and scientific activities. 

The signing ceremony was held Tuesday morning at the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen. 鈥淭he historic agreement, a testament to the strong partnership between the two governments, strengthens the enduring conservation partnership between the White Earth Nation and the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge,鈥� the band said in its news release.