On:
In: Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing, Evan Larson, Ishkode: A story of fire book, Melonee Montano, Moira Villiard., Ojiwe use of fire, prescribed burning, Robin Wall Kimmerer, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin-Platteville

A Wisconsin Sea Grant-funded research project about the role fire historically played on Wisconsin and Minnesota points along Lake Superior is the topic of a new children’s book.

“Ishkode: A Story of Fire” was authored by research project managers Evan Larson and Nisogaabokwe Melonee Montano with a forward by Robin Wall Kimmerer. It features illustrations by Moira Villiard and was published by Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing of Wisconsin. The story invites readers into a stand of ancient red pines where a grandmother red pine, who has witnessed centuries of connection between people, fire and the land, guides a young woman toward healing and renewal.

“The book is a celebration of hope, healing and lessons we can learn from the land,” said Larson, a professor in the department of environmental sciences and society and a dendrochronologist with the University of Wisconsin–Platteville. He said the book emerged from over a decade of collaboration among Great Lakes researchers and community members. “‘Ishkode: A Story of Fire’ intertwines Indigenous and Western scientific knowledge to share a story of the deep, long-term relationships among people, fire and pines—and the wider web of life in Great Lakes ecosystems, including blueberries,” Larson said.

“The Anishinaabe used fire for ceremonies, to promote plant growth, and to care of the land,” said Montano, a Red Cliff tribal member and a University of Minnesota graduate student who is managing the research project with Larson. “The intentional, controlled use of fire by people shapes fire history in the region. Our book brings these connections to light.”

Larson added, “Our intent was to share the lessons we learned through this work, not just scientists and managers, but also children. When we first started talking about creating this book, I had a vision in my mind’s eye of a grandmother or parent reading to a child, and in that way, starting to rekindle the stories around fire that have been shared for generations. This is one way we can help rebuild a positive relationship with fire as a society – from the ground up with our children, creating opportunities for generations to come to recognize fire as an important part of Great Lakes landscapes and cultures.”

More information about the Ishkode project can be found here. “Ishkode: A Story of Fire” is available in hard cover for $17.95 from Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing.

The post Sea Grant research project inspires children’s book first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

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News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/sea-grant-research-project-inspires-childrens-book/

Marie Zhuikov

On:
In: Adam Gips, Amy Corrozino-Lyon, Brothertown Nation, Deidre Peroff, Elliot Benjamin, Gweni Malokofsky, Jesse Conaway, Kane Farmer, Lake Winnebego, Lucia Richardson, manoomin, Menominee Indian Reservation, Oconto, Pipper Gallivan. Back row: Sashi White, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Sarah Zieglmeier, Titus Seilheimer, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, wild rice

Summer Outreach Scholar students Sarah Zieglmeier, Adam Gips and Gweni Malokofsky canoe to learn about ecological monitoring and a Manoomin restoration/reseeding project. Image credit: Deidre Peroff, Wisconsin Sea Grant

The calendar has flipped to 2024. Our staff members are already tackling new projects. Before they move too deeply into the new year, however, some staff members took a moment to retain the glow of their favorite 2023 project. Deidre Peroff, social science outreach specialist, shared her thoughts.

My favorite project from 2023 was when I took seven “Generation Z” students who are studying Manoomin (wild rice) camping near Green Bay. I was mentoring two of the students as part of Wisconsin Sea Grant’s Summer Outreach Scholar Program and the other five came from the University of Minnesota. They were also studying Manoomin and participating in summer Manoomin-related field excursions.

The Summer Outreach Scholar group enjoys an ice cream stop after a day trip. Pictured, left to right, front row: Elliot Benjamin, Adam Gips, Pipper Gallivan. Back row: Sashi White, Lucia Richardson, Deidre Peroff, Sarah Zieglmeier, Kane Farmer. Image credit: Deidre Peroff, Wisconsin Sea Grant

During four jam-packed days, we learned from Indigenous knowledge-holders about the significance of Manoomin and visited sacred cultural sites on the Menominee Indian Reservation. We met with Amy Corrozino-Lyon (University of Wisconsin-Green Bay restoration scientist) and Titus Seilheimer (Sea Grant fisheries outreach specialist) one day to learn about ecological restoration efforts of Manoomin in Oconto and did journal and poetry writing to better connect with a new plant (inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer’s work, “Braiding Sweetgrass”). We also met with Jesse Conaway (who is working with the Brothertown Nation on another Sea Grant-funded project) to participate in a traditional Manoomin appreciation ceremony, plus we saw how drones are used for monitoring Manoomin in the Lake Winnebego region.

While the students learned so much, what I think we all appreciated the most was spending time together and getting to know each other. During our three nights camping, we enjoyed cooking meals together, playing cards, telling stories by the campfire and swimming in Lake Michigan.

At night, we reflected on what we had learned that day and I enjoyed seeing the students’ newfound understanding and appreciation of Indigenous knowledge and finding a balance between Western and Indigenous science approaches to conservation, restoration and monitoring of a cultural, spiritual and ecological keystone species. When we weren’t reflecting on what we were learning during the day, we enjoyed sleeping under the stars (and storms) and finding time to decompress in nature.

 

The post Learning about Manoomin first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant

Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/learning-about-manoomin/

Deidre Peroff