Association applauds new partnership of Native American Fish & Wildlife Society and IHEA-World

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is excited to see the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS) partner with the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA), allowing Native American tribes Americans become certified to teach Hunter Education. This announcement was made last week during the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in St. Louis, MO.

“The Association is thrilled to see the inclusion of NAFWS in partnership with the Hunter Education community,” said Curt Melcher, Director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “This new association will provide the opportunity for Native Americans to provide hunter education training to their members and legally participate in hunts around the world.”

This partnership allows NAFWS member tribes to teach Hunter Education and issue valuable official Hunter Education cards that certify new hunters to purchase licenses anywhere in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Australia, South Africa and other IHEA partner countries. -WORLD. Continuing education training for tribal Hunter Educators is now available through IHEA-USA’s Learnhunting.org portal, and Hunter Education classes are expected to launch on tribal lands in the summer of 2023.

“Kwak kway (thank you) to the International Hunter Education Association and the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society for collaborating together to achieve the Hunt Safe Program under the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society,” he stated. Darren Talayumptewa, Hopi Tribe Program Manager. Department of Natural Resources and Southeast Regional Director of the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society. “This program will allow tribes to use their sovereignty to implement the same hunter education curriculum taught within every state hunting and fishing agency; however, it will allow tribes to incorporate their own respective traditional and cultural hunting practices and ethics for our people and the general public. . We look forward to the tribes and state agencies honoring the certification and continuing our collaborative efforts to teach the values ​​and ethics of hunter education to all.”

“At IHEA, we work with partners to create safe, responsible and ethical hunters in the field,” said Alex Baer, ​​CEO of IHEA. “NAFWS has the potential to reach thousands of new students each year with these ideals through this professional relationship. We are excited to work together and appreciate your commitment and contributions to the IHEA-WORLD community.”

About the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS): The Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS) is a national tribal organization established informally in the early 1980s. NAFWS was incorporated in 1983 to develop a national communications network for the exchange of information and management techniques related to self-determined management of tribal fish and wildlife.

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies— the organization representing North America’s fish and wildlife agencies — promotes sound resource management and conservation, and speaks out on important fish and wildlife issues. Found on the web at www.fishwildlife.orgOn Facebook /Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and on twitter @fishwildlife.