Elk (Cervus canadensis), a native ungulate to Minnesota, historically roamed most of the state
and had numbers estimated in the thousands. They are known as omashkooz by the Ojibwe and heȟáka by the Dakota and continue to be important to the diet and culture of Native Americans. 

Today Minnesota’s remaining elk are confined to two small areas in the far northwest corner of the state where agriculture is a dominant land use and conflicts with producers are frequent. As such state statute restricts the ability to increase elk numbers on their current range, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) maintains limited elk herd sizes through regular hunting seasons. 

In 2014, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Fond du Lac Band) proposed to restore elk to the northeast part of the state where row crops are less dominant on the landscape and public lands more plentiful. Since then, multiple feasibility studies were carried out to determine public support, existing habitat quality, and risk of human-wildlife conflict at 3 potential elk release sites. After these studies were completed, the project grew into a partnership between the Fond du Lac Band, the MN DNR, and many other tribal, government and nonprofit organizations. 

The objectives of this project are to restore a state-listed species to an area they have been extirpated, and in doing so, provide an economic boost to the local community from wildlife tourism and additional hunting opportunities for tribal and state hunters.