Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment

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Cover page

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Statement page

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United South and Eastern Tribes logo

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Refuge draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment is responsible for protecting fish, plants and wildlife and “enforces Federal wildlife laws, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, administers the Endangered Species Act, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts.” (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: 2010). 

  • The plan is a main protector of the Alabama swamps which is in the Southeastern part of the United States. Since native american people live off of the land and all that it brings, indigenous representation in environmental protection is a major way they represent themselves and their connection to nature and many plants and animals. 
  • Native people have strong connections and symbolism to animals spiritually. They believe that humans were put on earth to act as caretakers of the earth which is our mother. This meant that humans and animals all had spirits that were equal to each other.
  • There are many animals that are considered guardian spirit animals and hold significant meaning throughout a person’s life (Painter: 2019). 

When these animals go endangered or extinct it affects the spiritual connection that native people have to these animals.  The conservation plan provides protection of all species in Iroquois territory.  The United South and Eastern Tribes is also a resource that aims at protecting the environment, specifically water drinking water and climate change.      

  1. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, “Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment” (2010) 
  2. Office of Environmental Resource Management.  United South & Eastern Tribes. http://www.usetinc.org/departments/office-of-environmental-resource-management/, accessed November 15, 2019.  
  3. Painter, Sally.  Native American Spirit Animals. LoveToKnow. LoveToKnow Corp. https://paranormal.lovetoknow.com/about-paranormal/native-american-spirit-animals, accessed November 10, 2019. 
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment