As a scientific organization for professsionals who manage and conserve wildlife and

habitats, The Wildlife Society (TWS) is increasingly concerned about the lack of ethnic and

cultural diversity within the profession. Diversity is essential if the profession is to grow and

meet the nation’ s conservation challenges. To help address this concern, TWS has established a

professional-development program for Native American and indigenous wildlife students.

The indigenous community has enormous potential to enrich diversity within the wildife

profession. Tribal lands often consist of important wildlife habitat, and indigenous students are

showing a growing interest in pursuing careers in wildlife management and conservation. TWS

has an active Native Peoples’ Wildife Management Working Group composed of wildlife

professionals and students, tribal and non-tribal, who recognize native people’ s cultural, spiritual,

and ecological connections to the land. TWS and the Working Group have been exploring ways

to promote the early development of Native American wildlife professionals.

TWS believes one of the most-effective ways to support Native American and indigenous

wildlife students is to give them an opportunity to attend TWS’ s Annual Conference – the largest

gathering of wildlife professionals on the North American continent. The Wildlife Society with

support from multiple federal agencies has recently implemented a Native American Professional

Development Program. Individuals selected for this program receive grants of $1,500 each to

help cover registration fees, lodging, meals and transportation to attend and participate in the

annual conference. Program participants also receive a one-year membership in TWS and

become members of the TWS Native People’ s Wildlife Management Working Group. As TWS

members they receive the quarterly member magazine The Wildlife Professional, the monthly

electronic newsletter The Wildlifer, discounts on TWS peer-reviewed publications such as The

Journal of Wildlife Management, and access to the TWS website, blog, job board, and other

online resources.