Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission

What Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission does

The Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) is a tribal intertribal commission formed in 1984 to serve eleven Ojibwe tribes in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan who reserved hunting, fishing, and gathering rights under the 1836, 1837, 1842, and 1854 Treaties with the United States government. Headquartered in Odanah, Wisconsin, with a satellite environmental office in Madison, GLIFWC provides natural resource management expertise, conservation enforcement, legal and policy analysis, and public information services in support of well-regulated, off-reservation treaty harvest across ceded territories spanning three states. The organization operates under the Anishinaabe-bimaadiziwin (The Anishinaabe Lifeway) philosophy and integrates Traditional Ecological Knowledge with contemporary science and policy.

GLIFWC's operational technology centers on four interconnected platforms: the NAGFA online harvest registration system (glifwc.nagfa.net), the ArcGIS-powered Interactive Maps portal at maps.glifwc.org for ceded-territory visualization, a custom PostgreSQL database for biological and environmental data (invasive species, waterfowl, native plants, fish populations), and a Traditional Ecological Knowledge archive that digitizes Indigenous interviews from legacy formats. Core programs include the Ganawenindiwag Manoomin Anishinaabeg wild rice stewardship program, the Climate Change Program (phenology and ice monitoring, seed collection, climate adaptation planning), the Conservation Enforcement Division, the Division of Intergovernmental Affairs, and a Public Information Office that publishes the quarterly Mazina'igan newspaper and an educational materials store. Supporting products include the Ojibwemowin language resource site (glifwc-inwe.com), treaty rights educational posters developed with NOAA and the Wisconsin Historical Society, and annual community events such as the seven-day Healing Circle Run/Walk.

GLIFWC is funded primarily through federal grants including the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, research grants from universities and national laboratories (Northwestern, Georgia Tech, Argonne, University of Minnesota, Purdue), member tribe sustentation contributions from the eleven Ojibwe tribes, and minor revenue from publication sales and donations. The commission holds a 20-year Memorandum of Understanding with the US Forest Service for tribal-forest relations within ceded territories, employs approximately 70+ staff across multiple divisions, and is governed independently with no parent company, no private-equity or venture-capital ownership, and no publicly traded securities.

Name

Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission

Legal name

Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission

Website

https://glifwc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Odanah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Grants: Primary funding from federal grants including Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), with support from various federal agencies for conservation, climate adaptation, and tribal sovereignty programs
2. Research Grants: Grants from universities and research institutions including Northwestern University, Georgia Tech, and national laboratories for climate change, manoomin, and sovereignty research
3. Member Tribe Contributions: Sustentation funding and contributions from eleven member Ojibwe tribes
4. Publication Sales: Revenue from educational materials store including books, posters, and publications such as Mazina'igan newspaper, guides, and educational resources

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GLIFWC provides natural resource management expertise, conservation enforcement, legal and policy analysis, and public information services in support of off-reservation treaty rights for eleven Ojibwe tribes in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Core offerings include the NAGFA online harvest registration system, GIS-based interactive maps of ceded territories, the Mazina'igan quarterly newspaper, the Manoomin (wild rice) stewardship program, conservation enforcement, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge documentation. The commission operates under the Anishinaabe-bimaadiziwin philosophy, integrating Indigenous knowledge with contemporary science and policy.

Product overview

The Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) provides a suite of interconnected programs and services supporting off-reservation treaty rights for eleven Ojibwe tribes. Core offerings include the NAGFA online harvest registration system, GLIFWC Interactive Maps (GIS mapping platform), Mazina'igan quarterly newspaper, the Ganawenindiwag Manoomin (wild rice) stewardship program, Climate Change Program, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge documentation. Supporting products include the Healing Circle Run/Walk annual event, educational publications and posters through the online store, Ojibwemowin language resources, and comprehensive treaty harvest regulations for deer, small game, fishing, trapping, and wild rice across Ceded Territories in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NAGFA Online Harvest Registration System Online portal for tribal members to self-issue permits and register off-reservation treaty harvests across ceded territories.
• GLIFWC Interactive Maps Web-based GIS mapping application enabling users to explore Ceded Territories, tribal lands, and natural resource data across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
• Mazina'igan Quarterly Newspaper Subscription-based quarterly newspaper covering Ojibwe culture, treaty rights, natural resources, and member tribal activities.
• Ganawenindiwag Manoomin Anishinaabeg Program (Wild Rice Stewardship) Wild rice (Manoomin) conservation and stewardship program focused on habitat protection, harvest management, and restoration efforts across the Ceded Territories.
• Healing Circle Run/Walk Annual seven-day prayer run connecting ten Ojibwe reservations across northern Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota, serving as a collective prayer for healing for individuals, families, communities, nations, and the Earth.
• Mino Wiisinidaa! Let's Eat Good Cookbook Cookbook featuring traditional Anishinaabe food recipes with harvesting references, nutritional information, and community interviews.
• Treaty Rights Educational Posters Educational posters including the Timeline of Anishinaabe Treaty Rights, Inawendiwin Ojibwe Weather Poster (with NOAA partnership), and Name Ogii-shawenimaan Iniw Anishinaaben (Lake Sturgeon) poster.
• Ojibwemowin Language Resources Language resources, lessons, and teachings for the Ojibwe language (Ojibwemowin).
• Treaty Harvest Regulations & Permits Comprehensive seasonal harvest regulations for off-reservation treaty rights including deer, small game, wild rice (manoomin), fishing, trapping, and other species across 1836, 1837, 1842, and 1854 Ceded Territories.
• Climate Change Program Program examining climate change impacts on culturally important species and ecosystems, including phenology monitoring, ice monitoring, seed collection, and climate adaptation planning using both Traditional and Scientific Ecological Knowledge.
• GLIFWC Educational Materials Store Online store offering publications, books, posters, guides, and educational materials including the Treaty Rights Guide, Plants Used by the Great Lakes Ojibwa, Ojibwe Journeys, and other cultural and resource management resources.
• Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Program Program integrating Indigenous knowledge into contemporary science and policy through interviews, documentation, and comparison with Western scientific methods for natural resource management.
• Conservation Enforcement Services Conservation enforcement services including conservation wardens for off-reservation treaty harvest regulation across ceded territories in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

Quantifiable outcome

• Coordinated regulatory framework across 1836, 1837, 1842, and 1854 treaty territories
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• USDA Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 202120-year anniversary of Memorandum of Understanding regarding Tribal-USDA Forest Service Relations on National Forest Lands within the 1836, 1837, and 1842 Ceded Territory
• Georgia TechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in STRONG initiative and 'Focused CoPe: Strengthening Resilience of Manoomin' project, bringing data-science and Seventh Generation Stewardship approaches
• University of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Focused CoPe research initiative for manoomin resilience and climate stewardship
• Argonne National LaboratoriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in Focused CoPe initiative supporting data-science approaches to manoomin stewardship
• Purdue UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Focused CoPe initiative for Great Lakes manoomin resilience research
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Inawendiwin Ojibwe Weather Poster and climate education materials, exploring climate change through cultural and scientific lenses
• Wisconsin Historical SocietysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing the Timeline of Anishinaabe Treaty Rights poster, providing historical review and expertise
• Wisconsin Department of Public InstructionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing educational materials including the Treaty Timeline poster for classroom use
• US Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemorandum of Understanding for tribal-forest relations within ceded territories. Joint appointment of staff working on forest ecology and wildlife management across National Forest lands. 20th anniversary of MOU celebrated in 2021
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership on climate adaptation and Traditional Ecological Knowledge integration into federal decision-making

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes: Coalition of 35 sovereign tribal nations in the Great Lakes region. Operates in overlapping geography with GLIFWC and engages on similar treaty-rights and natural resource issues, providing a broader regional advocacy platform.
• Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan: Tribal consortium representing eleven federally recognized tribes in Michigan. Comparable in intertribal coordination structure, with broader policy scope but similar community-led model for tribal governance and natural resource advocacy.

Others

• Great Lakes Commission: Binational (US-Canada) interstate compact agency coordinating Great Lakes policy, including tribal participation. Comparable as a coordination body operating in the same Great Lakes geography but focused on broader stakeholder interests rather than treaty rights.
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: State agency with overlapping jurisdiction over Wisconsin's natural resources, including ceded territories. Works alongside GLIFWC in co-management arrangements for treaty harvest and conservation.
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: State agency managing Minnesota's natural resources, including portions of the 1837 Ceded Territory. Partners with GLIFWC on co-management and treaty harvest implementation in overlapping geographies.

Broad incumbents

• National Congress of American Indians (NCAI): Largest and oldest national organization advocating for tribal sovereignty and policy. Provides national-level representation that complements GLIFWC's regional treaty-rights work.
• US Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region: Federal agency with overlapping authority over Great Lakes fish and wildlife management. Operates alongside GLIFWC through intergovernmental coordination and joint stewardship programs.
• Bureau of Indian Affairs - Great Lakes Agency: Federal agency administering trust responsibilities for Great Lakes tribes. Comparable as a regional institutional counterpart in tribal governance and natural resource management.

Direct peers

• Chippewa-Ottawa Resource Authority (CORA): Intertribal authority managing fisheries resources under the 1836 and 1842 Treaties, exercising fishing rights in the same ceded territories as GLIFWC. Direct peer for treaty-rights implementation and intergovernmental fisheries management.
• 1854 Treaty Authority: Intertribal natural resource management organization serving tribes in the 1854 Ceded Territory (Minnesota). Most directly comparable to GLIFWC in mandate, structure, and treaty-rights-driven conservation work, though operating in a different ceded territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GLIFWC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glifwc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission