U.S. EPA Names LCO Tribal Governing Board Secretary and GLIFWC Chairman Mic Isham to New Great Lakes Advisory Board

Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board Secretary and Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) Chairman Mic Isham has been named to the newly-formed Great Lakes Advisory Board by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 14th.

The Great Lakes Advisory Board will provide feedback directly to the EPA on how best to protect the Great Lakes, the largest surface freshwater system on Earth. The board will support implementation of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).

On behalf of 16 federal agencies, the EPA named Isham to a two-year appointment to the board, joining 17 other professionals from across the U.S.

“GLIFWC's Board of Commissioners nominated its Chairman Michael J. Isham, Jr. to serve on EPA's Great Lakes Advisory Board because of his proven passion for and commitment to the protection and sustainability of the Great Lakes ecosystem,” said GLIFWC Executive Administrator James Zorn. “The Board recognized his extensive experience and leadership regarding a wide range of natural resource, environmental and land use issues. For nearly 20 years, Mic has been involved in tribal and intertribal natural resource management programs and has also dealt first-hand with complex biological and scientific issues, such as toxic pollution contaminating natural resources, particularly relating to mining and mercury pollution; fish and wildlife management issues related to population dynamics, methods for establishing and monitoring species populations; and invasive non-native species issues.”

Noting Isham's strong values as a member of the Anishinaabe community, Zorn added, “the Board was confident that Mic would bring Anishinaabe values to the Great Lakes Advisory Board, thereby helping to ensure the viability of healthy natural resources for generations to come. He not only understands the issues, but knows how to develop solutions to better protect the Great Lakes ecosystem and to address the problems plaguing it.”

Other tribal leaders also voiced support for Isham's nomination, including Lac du Flambeau Band of Lakes Superior Chippewa Indians President Tom Maulson, who said, “Mic's voice — from a traditional Anishinaabe viewpoint and from his wide breadth of on-the-ground and leadership experience — will offer the Great Lakes Advisory Board both a necessary tribal perspective on issues facing the Great Lakes region and unique framework for solutions.”

“I am proud to accept nomination to the Great Lakes Advisory Board because the Great Lakes are a crucial ecosystem not only to the great tribes of Wisconsin, but also to non-native people as well,” said Isham. “The Great Lakes are sacred to the values we hold and to the traditions we practice and my participation on the Great Lakes Advisory Board will assure these values are upheld through the protection of this resource for generations to come.”

EPA considered candidates from a broad range of interests including business, agriculture, foundations, environmental justice groups, youth organizations, environmental groups, academia and state, local and tribal representatives.

“Protecting the Great Lakes is important for the health and well being of millions of people,” said EPA Acting Administrator and Acting Interagency Task Force Chair Bob Perciasepe. “I'm pleased to announce the membership of the first-ever Great Lakes Advisory Board. The scientists, business leaders, public servants, and representatives of non-profit organizations who make up the Advisory Board will help us build upon the success we've already seen and move forward into the next phases of Great Lakes restoration and protection.”

The Interagency Task Force is in the process of scheduling next steps for the Great Lakes Advisory Board this spring.

The Great Lakes provide more than 30 million Americans with drinking water and support a multi-billion dollar economy. In February 2009, President Obama proposed the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the largest investment in the Great Lakes in two decades. GLRI funds are being used to accelerate cleanup work in the 29 remaining AOCs identified by the U.S. and Canada under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.