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In: Anne Moser, Brenna DeNamur, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, water is life

A new website is available that details what Indigenous communities in the Upper Midwest are doing to conserve and protect water. Named Bimaadiziwin Nibi, Water is Life, the story map is divided into sections, each centered around a different environmental issue. These include wild rice, fish, nonlocal beings (invasive species), mining, contaminants and beach sampling. Within each section are photos, reports and videos from tribal natural resource departments and a summary of interviews with scientists.

The project was created by Brenna DeNamur during her internship with Wisconsin Sea Grant in 2020. DeNamur, a recent University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate, partnered with the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) to develop the content in a culturally responsive manner.

Image courtesy of the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission

“It’s my hope that visitors to the site will gain a better understanding of the challenges faced in the intersection of conversation efforts and tribal culture, and that they be introduced to the diverse voices working in this area,” DeNamur said.

For instance, in the nonlocal beings section, DeNamur writes, “Although Indigenous science teaches respect and consideration for all, these nonlocal beings still pose a threat to biodiversity and the individual species, such as manoomin (wild rice) and ogaa (walleye), that Native Americans have had deep relationships with for generations.”

In response, GLIFWC has taken action against nonlocal beings. They conduct surveys, control actions and follow up monitoring for both terrestrial and aquatic species. The web page details how the commission divides its efforts into prevention, early detection and rapid response, control and management, research, and cooperation and coordination.

“This story map is a great tool for understanding how the collaboration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western Science methodologies can produce strategic and respectful conservation efforts concerning water throughout the Ceded Territories and beyond,” said Hannah Arbuckle, GLIFWC Outreach Coordinator.

Anne Moser, Wisconsin Sea Grant senior special librarian/education coordinator and DeNamur’s mentor, hopes to see the story map grow in the coming years. “I am grateful and honored to collaborate with GLIFWC on this project. It helped me gain a deeper understanding about Great Lakes literacy and how to incorporate Indigenous approaches into my work in education and outreach.”

“Ultimately, teaching Indigenous science is about understanding the world from different perspectives. If more people lived by this, we could sustain a healthier, more prosperous world,” DeNamur said.

To access the story map, visit go.wisc.edu/4n6n3n.

The post An Indigenous Story Map Experience About Water first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/an-indigenous-story-map-experience-about-water/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=an-indigenous-story-map-experience-about-water

Marie Zhuikov

On:
In: indigenous water issues, water is life

A free public event centering indigeneity, water, art, and the power of community

Emmet County, MI – The Water Is Life Festival (WILF) is an annual event that celebrates our connection to the water and builds power through community so we can work towards living in a holistic way with the water and protect it from those who seek to exploit or endanger it. The festival is held each summer with a new water focused theme. This year’s theme is “Water Equity & Your Community.” Over 200 registrants are expected to participate virtually with the event moving online this year in an effort to protect public health and follow COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.

The 2-day virtual event will be held September 5th & 6th and invites sharing and connecting among presenters and participants to explore what water equity means to each individual and what water equity means to communities and ecosystems throughout the world. By sharing examples of Indigenous art, conversations and workshops from around the world, facilitators will ignite reflection within audience members on traditional responsibilities and relationships to Mother Earth and community.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on issues of water injustice that have been occurring for decades and has shown us, these systemic inequalities can be a matter of life and death. We must envision and create a safe, healthy world for all. Some of the most impacted communities by lack of water equity are Indigenous peoples and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) in general. To find real solutions, we must center the voices of the people and communities most impacted. We envision a world that listens to people historically harmed to make just and healthy societies for all.

Event organizers hope participants are inspired to take action and shift the narrative away from one based in fear and violence to one of responsibility and care for Mother Earth. Attendees will be invited to actively participate and co-create actionable steps that move toward a shared vision.

The Water Is Life Festival annual event was launched by Jannan J. Cornstalk, a citizen of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, grandmother and water warrior, and Kalvin Hartwig and Megan Hess, members of the Sault Sainte Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. We The People – Michigan is also helping to organize the 2020 event.

Please visit https://waterislifefestival.wordpress.com/ to register and to view a complete event schedule of Water Is Life Festival.

Original Article

Blog – Freshwater Future

Blog – Freshwater Future

https://freshwaterfuture.org/uncategorized/2020-water-is-life-event-goes-virtual-september-5-6th/

Alexis Smith