Paige Schmidt will be presenting Departmental policy on the inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge and efforts to develop Department-wide implementation guidance and training. She will also discuss efforts to step down the Department’s policy through the Service’s Indigenous Knowledge Co-stewardship sub-team. Paige is excited to answer your questions about the new policy on Indigenous Knowledge and learn how U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service-specific (FWS) guidance can best meet your needs and issues. If you would like to submit a question in advance, please email Paige at paige_schmidt@ fws.gov.
About Our Presenter, Paige Schmidt:
Paige works for FWS Headquarters in Science Applications and the Native American Program, where she serves as the Indigenous Knowledge Coordinator. Previously, she spent 12 years as a Zone Biologist for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Throughout her career, she has maintained her passion for elevating the role of Indigenous Peoples in the wildlife profession. She has served in numerous leadership positions with The Wildlife Society’s Native Peoples’ Wildlife Management Working Group and focused on increasing the number of Indigenous wildlife biologists. In her current role, she has worked to evaluate how the Service provides financial assistance to Tribes and represents the Service in the development of Federal guidance and Departmental policy for the consideration and inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge in federal activities.
Paige is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma and resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma with her son. Originally from the Great Lakes region, her Tribe signed over 40 treaties, was forcibly removed multiple times across hundreds of miles, and eventually purchased their current homelands in Oklahoma. As a result of this history and cultural assimilation policies such as, boarding schools, her family’s cultural connection was severed. Her journey to reconnect with her Tribe and restore traditions for herself and her son drives her passion for her current work. In her spare time, she enjoys mountain biking, running, yoga, native plant and vegetable gardening, reading, and catching live music.
Who Should Attend:
We welcome any Department of the Interior staff and partners, and anyone else who may be involved with tribes or who wish to learn more about working with tribes and Indigenous communities.
Please join 5-10 minutes early to make sure your connection is working properly
Live captions will be included in the broadcast.
We will record this broadcast and upload it to the NCTC Broadcast Gallery in 2 weeks.
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