Native American Fish & Wildlife Society

For over 40 years, the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society (NAFWS), an intertribal non-profit 501(c)3, has strived to meet the needs of its members and member Tribes; directly, through conferences, training, youth education, and indirectly; through ongoing support of, and providing venues for government consultations, discussions, and by participating with innovative projects and initiatives in Indian Country. These included the 41st Annual National Conference sponsored by the Great Lakes Region and hosted by the Prairie Island Indian Community in Welch, MN May 13-16, 2024. In attendance were 364 people representing 77 Tribes from all 7 NAFWS regions. We also hosted 4 regional conferences with a total of 313 participants from 75 Tribal nations.MembershipIn 2024, there were 77 active Member Tribe memberships and 493 active Individual memberships with memberships renewed on a rolling basis. Conferences in 6 regions and a strong social media presence contributed to membership growth.

EducationNational Summer Youth Practicum: Twelve students representing 9 Tribes from four NAFWS regions attended the 2024 National SYP which took place at both the Colorado State University Mountain Campus and main campus. Students heard from 24 guest lecturers and participated in team building activities. Students utilized the knowledge gained throughout the week for a Wildlife Management Challenge and staff selected a student group to attend the 2025 NAFWS National Conference to present their plan.Alaska Summer Youth Practicum: Nine Alaska Native youth from nine Tribes participated in the second Alaska SYP. The six-day program took place in Anchorage, AK on the Alaska Pacific University campus. Participants learned about options for post-secondary education, career pathways, salmon restoration, riparian plant ecology, watershed science, Alaska fish & wildlife regulatory systems, and wildlife management with human interactions in a nearby park.Internships: NAFWS welcomed Arial Vaughan and Katie Smith-Easter and Mairuaq Lauryn Nanouk Jones as interns for the summer.Scholarships: NAFWS awarded scholarships to 11 Native Scholars.Native Emerging Professionals: NAFWS hosted the fourth National Tribal Poster Session and Professional Mixer during the National Conference in May.