Voyageurs National Park

Tribal Co-Stewardship Celebration and Convening

June 23-24, 2026
Crane Lake Visitor Center and Ash River Visitor Center

Voyageurs National Park

Welcome, Biindigen, Pee-piihtikweek, Taŋyáŋ yahípi

The National Park Service and Voyageurs Conservancy are pleased to host the third of several workshops exploring Tribal Co-Stewardship models at Voyageurs National Park. The June 2026 gathering will be held at the Crane Lake Visitor Center and Ash River Visitor Center.

The series of workshops will help create a meaningful framework for listening and integrating Tribal knowledge into park management, stewardship, interpretation and education. We thank you for your participation and welcome questions and feedback as we continue this workshop series.

June Celebration and Convening Summary Schedule

Crane Lake Visitor Center

Tuesday, June 23 - Crane Lake Visitor Center:

  • Morning sessions devoted to Crane Lake Visitor Center exhibit development and opportunities to collaborate

  • Lunch provided

  • Afternoon sessions devoted to advancing co-stewardship conversations related to the drafting of a general agreement, including a private session for Indigenous partners

  • OPTIONAL: hiking near Crane Lake Visitor Center or boat trip on Crane Lake

  • Evening group dinner

Wednesday, June 24 - Ash River Visitor Center:

  • Morning boat tour of Namakan District, including culturally significant sites within the park

  • Lunch provided

  • OPTIONAL: afternoon cultural demonstration by Bois Forte Band Member Theresa Morrison (puzzle pouch)

A room block is available at the Oveson’s Pelican Lake Resort and Inn. Mention ‘Voyageurs Conservancy’ and call 1-800-860-3613 to book a room.

Register for the June 2026 Tribal Co-Stewardship Celebration and Convening

Please register using our online form to help us plan workshop content, transportation, and meals.

Registrations will be accepted leading up to the event. Later registrants may not be guaranteed meal preferences or lodging. Additional communications will be sent to workshop registrants via email.

Need help? Contact:
Larissa Juip, Project Manager
Larissa@Voyageurs.org 218-252-5755

Who is invited?

Each community should determine who should represent them in conversations and relay information back to community leadership. Formal invitation letters have been mailed to each community's council or leadership from the National Park Service.


Invitations to participate have been sent to the leadership of the following US Federally Recognized Tribes:

Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Mashkiiziibii)
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa (Zagaakwaandagowininiwag)
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Nah-gah-chi-wa-nong)
Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Gichi-Onigaming)
Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (Gaa-zagaskwaajimekaag)
Lower Sioux Indian Community of Minnesota Mdewakanton Sioux (Cansa’yapi)
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (Misi-zaaga’iganiing)
Prairie Island Indian Community of Minnesota Mdewakanton Sioux (Tinta Wita)
Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Gaa-Miskwaabikaang)
Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians (Miskwaagamiiwi – Zaagaiganing)
St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Indian Community of Minnesota
Spirit Lake Nation
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota
Upper Sioux Indian Community of Minnesota (Pezihutazizi Oyate)
White Earth Nation (Gaa- waabaabiganikaag)

As well as the leadership of the following Canadian First Nation and Métis Communities:

Couchiching First Nation; Gakijiwanong Anishinaabe Nation
Mitaanjigamiing First Nation
Naicatchewenin First Nations
Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation
Rainy River First Nation
Seine River First Nation
Northwestern Ontario Métis Community

Funds covering honorariums for participation and travel will be provided. Each attending Tribe or Nation will receive up to $5,400 which they can distribute as needed.

To expedite stipend and honorarium payments, please complete the appropriate form; you will receive a DropBox request to upload your document.

  • If you are a citizen of a Federally Recognized US Tribe and are being reimbursed individually OR if stipend and honorarium payments should go directly to your Nation, please fill out a W9.

  • If you are a citizen of a Canadian First Nation and are being reimbursed individually, please fill out a W-8BEN.

  • If your stipend and honorarium payments should go directly to your Nation, please fill out a W-8EXP.

About the Tribal Co-Stewardship Project at Voyageurs National park

Honorariums

Thank you

Workshop Facilitators

Wolakota Lab

Gwen Bridge Consulting

Tribal CoStewardship Guidance Planning Committee

Randy Teboe, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
Karen Oster-Bombay, Rainy River First Nation
Samantha Odegard, Upper Sioux Indian Community
Jaylen Strong, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
Colin St. James, Northwestern Ontario Métis Community

Funding Partners

National Park Foundation

Doris Duke Foundation

Voyageurs Conservancy