In order to learn more about what happens under the ice, crews from more than a dozen U.S. and Canadian universities and government agencies will make their way onto frozen sections of lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario and Superior during the week of Feb. 14. Read the full story by the Associated Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220204-winter
The Sea Grant field office on the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus has an opening for a First Nation’s graduate assistant at the masters or Ph.D. level, in collaboration with the First Nations Studies Program and Cofrin Center for Biodiversity to develop a place-based research or professional project focused on First Nation connection to the Green Bay watershed. Project activities could include, but are not limited to, archival research, archeology, oral tradition and application of Indigenous knowledge systems.
The individual will also work with the three supervising partners on outreach and educational activities.
The candidate must be enrolled or eligible for enrollment at UW-Green Bay in either the M.S. Environmental Science and Policy Graduate Program or the Ed.D. First Nations Education Doctoral Program for the fall 2022 semester.
This opportunity is open until filled. Full details are available here.
The post First Nations position opening in Green Bay field office first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant
News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/first-nations-position-opening-in-green-bay-field-office/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=first-nations-position-opening-in-green-bay-field-office
By John Flesher, Associated Press
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — What’s happening in the Great Lakes during those long, frigid months when they’re often covered partially or completely with ice? A casual observer — and even experts — might be inclined to say, “Not much.”
Lake scientists have long considered winter a season when aquatic activity slows.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/02/ap-scientists-data-warming-great-lakes/
Great Lakes Echo · Decommissioned Nuclear Plants in the Great Lakes Region By Cameryn Cass Editor’s note: This is part of a package of two articles and a podcast about nuclear power in Michigan. As Michigan and other states gradually move away from coal and other brown energy sources, there’s growing interest in carbon-free alternatives, […]
The post Nuclear power concerns outlast decommissioning first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/04/nuclear-power-concerns-outlast-decommissioning/
By Julie Riddle, The Alpena News
This article is part of a collaboration between The Alpena News and Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television to bring audiences stories about the Great Lakes, especially Lake Huron and its watershed.
ALPENA – An Alpena company will snag a piece of more than $241 million in grants awarded to upgrade U.S.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/02/grant-aid-lafarge-port-upgrades/
By John Flesher, Associated Press
Beef produced at a small Michigan farm was found to contain toxic “forever chemicals” after the cattle were fed crops grown with fertilizer made from contaminated wastewater biosolids, state officials said Friday.
A consumption advisory issued by state agencies stopped short of a recall, noting there are no government standards for the substances in beef.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/02/ap-forever-chemicals-michigan-beef/
Progress has been made, but more needs to be done to protect the lakes and the people who rely on them.
Last January, we set an ambitious agenda for the incoming Biden administration and new Congress. And by the end of the year, we saw exciting progress for the Great Lakes. Historic bipartisan infrastructure legislation included funding to speed up efforts to remove dangerous lead drinking water pipes, stop invasive carp, implement on-the-ground Great Lakes restoration projects, and more. And through a mix of legislation and executive orders, the administration and Congress have begun the important work of addressing long-standing environmental injustices and slowing climate change.
Yet the list of needs to protect the Great Lakes and the people who depend on them is long. Our policy team has identified our top three federal Great Lakes priorities for the coming year. In 2022, the Alliance urges the Biden administration and Congress to:
Last year our top federal policy priority urged the Biden administration and Congress to prioritize environmental justice. While they have taken initial steps, federal water programs must continue to shift to prioritize low-income communities and communities of color, where the burden of pollution often hits hardest. Repairing the long-term harm from environmental injustice issues can’t be a one-time step. Instead, it must be incorporated into every federal program and measured publicly to show progress. And protecting our communities from the impacts of a changing climate means building resilience into federal Great Lakes programs as well. Environmental justice and climate change are embedded in each of our 2022 policy priorities.
Read on for more details of our federal policy agenda.
Last year Congress passed historic bipartisan legislation – the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 – to address the nation’s backlog of infrastructure projects. The bill included about $50 billion over the next five years to fix failing and outdated drinking and wastewater infrastructure nationally. It was a critical down payment to help communities remove lead drinking water pipes, stop sewer overflows into rivers and lakes, and prevent community flooding.
But it’s not enough. Great Lakes states alone need an estimated $188 billion over the next 20 years for their water infrastructure needs.
We call on Congress and the administration to build on the bipartisan infrastructure bill and:
For full details of our water infrastructure policy asks, download our fact sheet.
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), established over 15 years ago, is one of the most important tools in the region’s toolbox to protect and restore the lakes. The program provides funding for on-the-ground restoration projects, from wetland restoration to cleaning up toxic hotspots. In addition to environmental benefits, GLRI funding garners a 3-to-1 return in additional economic benefits across the region.
While we need continued investment in the program, the strategy guiding the GLRI needs an update to ensure that funds are reaching communities most in need and to address climate change.
We call on Congress and the administration to:
For full details of our Great Lakes restoration policy asks, download our fact sheet.
Invasive carp pose a clear threat to the Great Lakes. Established populations of these harmful fish are only 50 miles from Chicago and Lake Michigan. But it’s not too late to prevent them from reaching the lakes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has proposed the construction of additional carp prevention measures at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, located near Joliet, Illinois. The facility is a critical choke point in the waterways leading to Lake Michigan.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dedicated funding received in the bipartisan infrastructure bill to wrap up project design and get started on construction. But more needs to be done.
We call on Congress and the Biden administration to:
For full details of our invasive carp policy asks, download our fact sheet.
The post 2022 Great Lakes Federal Policy Priorities appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.
News - Alliance for the Great Lakes
News - Alliance for the Great Lakes
https://greatlakes.org/2022/02/2022-great-lakes-federal-policy-priorities/
PORTER, Ind. (AP) — The National Park Service has approved an entrance fee for Indiana Dunes National Park beginning on March 31 to help fund parking and transportation improvements, visitor services and a bike trail.
The fees vary depending on the method used to enter the national park.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/02/ap-indiana-dunes-national-park-entry-fee/
The Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve (Lake Superior Reserve) is holding its 12th annual St. Louis River Summit March 7-9 via the virtual platform Zoom and with optional in-person events. Wisconsin Sea Grant is one of the sponsors.
The theme for the summit is, “River Transformations,” which celebrates progress on St. Louis River Area of Concern environmental projects and the transformative work of understanding and addressing climate change. The goal of the summit is to bring together key audiences working in the region to share information about the St. Louis River and encourage coordination of activities and funding proposals.
“This year, more than any other, we are emphasizing the community that surrounds, cares for, and benefits from the St. Louis River,” said Deanna Erickson, Lake Superior Reserve director. “From keynote speakers, to posters, to field trips and presenters, we are emphasizing community engagement and equity in this remarkable landscape. After decades of restoration, the river is transforming. A healthier St. Louis River supports positive community transformations and wellbeing.”
The keynote speaker will be Jesse Roesler, a filmmaker with Credo Nonfiction, which is the company that produced “Breaking Trail,” a documentary about Emily Ford, a Duluthian who last winter was the first woman and person of color to through-hike the 1,200-mile Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin. Roesler will address the power of storytelling to inspire positive change.
Jennifer Chenoweth will be a featured speaker. She is a visual artist and entrepreneur who created the XYZ Atlas, an interactive public art project that portrays the feelings, stories and experiences of people living in and visiting Austin, Texas. Chenoweth will describe how art can be a tool for social change through inspiration and connection.
In-person events include a poster session, an evening River Talk, and field trips. The poster session will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, in the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjacket Union.
The River Talk will be held at 6:30 p.m. on March 8, also in the Yellowjacket Union. It will feature Marne Kaeske with the 1854 Treaty Authority who will help participants construct wild rice knocking sticks during “Bawa’iganaakoog (Wild Rice Harvesting Sticks).” Advance registration is required.
During the morning of March 9, small-group, socially distanced field trips will be held. Options include a drone meet and fly, winter birding on Wisconsin Point, a snowshoe trek in the Superior Municipal Forest and a tour of Carl Gawboy’s classic murals in the Superior Public Library.
Students from local schools and institutions are invited to attend the summit to learn more about the research community and river projects. Students are free but need to register.
The cost to attend the summit is $30. To register and view the agenda, visit lakesuperiorreserve.org/summit/.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available. In addition to Sea Grant, initial sponsors include Barr Engineering, Duluth Pottery, the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve, the Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute, Izaak Walton League of America, the Lake Superior Research Institute, the Large Lakes Observatory, LimnoTech, Inc., Marine Tech, the Minnesota Land Trust, Minnesota Sea Grant, Roen Salvage Company, Stantec, the University of Minnesota Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute, the W.J. McCabe (Duluth) Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District, the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. EPA’s Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division.
The post St. Louis River Summit celebrates river transformations first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/st-louis-river-summit-celebrates-river-transformations/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=st-louis-river-summit-celebrates-river-transformations
Eight nuclear reactors at six sites have been shut down permanently in the Great Lakes region. Proper decommissioning takes approximately 30 years to complete. Strict procedures and laws set by the NRC and other agencies are intended to ensure that U.S. nuclear plants operate and decommission in a way that is safe for the environment and public. While no accidents at nuclear plants in the Great Lakes region have had a severe impact on water quality, government officials are still debating the proper way to store nuclear fuel and the impacts it can make.
The post Decommissioned nuclear plants are no harm to water if closed properly, experts say first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/03/decommissioned-nuclear-plants-are-no-harm-to-water-if-closed-properly-experts-say/
By Kari Lydersen
This story was first published on the Energy News Network and was republished here with permission.
A two-year-old economic development partnership is helping to draw attention — and investment dollars — to sustainability projects in the Great Lakes region.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/02/great-lakes-platform-green-projects/
Minnesota regulators are hoping to reduce possible human, wild animal and pet waste that spurs E. coli outbreaks, as five Duluth waterfront areas are being targeted for bacteria reduction. Read the full story by the Duluth News Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220202-bacteria-
Five members of Congress have signed a letter urging the Navy to increase its shipyard capacity, and to pick Ohio as the place to do it. Read the full story by The Plain Dealer.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220202-shipyard
Three species of Michigan birds will be the subject of free webinars hosted by Audubon Great Lakes and MI Birds in the coming weeks, including a webinar on Great Lakes piping plover recovery efforts. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220202-webinar
A water rescue expert from the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project warns about ice and ice shelves on Lake Michigan, as water underneath can make the icy areas unstable. Read the full story by WXMI-TV – Grand Rapids, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220202-ice
On a cold Sunday afternoon at Grand Haven State Park in Grand Haven, Michigan, the noise of crackling could be heard as ice shards began stacking and piling up on the shore. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220202-ice-shards
As ice coverage across the Great Lakes expands with colder weather, the deepest freeze is likely still to come, which can reveal a lot about what is to be expected regarding lake levels, fish health, and algae blooms in the warmer months. Read the full story by the Harbor Light.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220202-ice-cover
In Michigan, the Marquette City Commission authorized the submission of a grant application to the U.S. Economic Development Administration to fund the creation of eight miles of trails along Lake Superior shoreline and install green infrastructure to stabilize erosion sites. Read the full story by WNMU – Marquette, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220202-trail
Shipwrecks are a topic of enduring fascination and a window into Great Lakes history and science. The next installment in Wisconsin Sea Grant’s “Lake Talks” series will focus on a new sanctuary that will help protect Lake Michigan shipwrecks and enhance education and engagement surrounding them.
The free, online event takes place Thursday, Feb. 17 from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom. All are welcome to attend, but registration is required. Registration is open now.
Russ Green, pictured here, will be the featured presenter for the Lake Talks on Feb. 17. He’ll discuss a new marine sanctuary connected to Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan shipwrecks. (Submitted photo)
Russ Green, Great Lakes regional coordinator for the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, will present “What’s Next for the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary?” Green will give an overview of the sanctuary and discuss several ongoing projects both on and off the water. The hour will include time for audience questions.
The sanctuary, which is administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), was officially designated in 2021. It stretches along Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan shoreline in state waters adjacent to Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Manitowoc and Kewaunee counties and encompasses 36 known shipwrecks.
Green brings a rich background to leading this effort, having worked in Great Lakes conservation for two decades, first as an underwater archaeologist for the state of Wisconsin and later as deputy superintendent at the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena, Michigan.
He holds a graduate degree in maritime archaeology from East Carolina University. He has worked on maritime archaeology projects in Bermuda, Micronesia, Japan and along both U.S. coasts, including technical diving expeditions to the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor, which lies in 240 feet of water off North Carolina.
Green is also affiliated with Wisconsin Sea Grant, having joined its Advisory Council in 2021. Appointed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison chancellor, members of the council work to ensure that a variety of viewpoints inform Sea Grant’s functioning and that it remains accountable to stakeholders.
For Lake Talks event and registration information, visit the Sea Grant website, or follow Wisconsin Sea Grant on Facebook or Twitter. You can register for the Feb. 17 presentation now.
For questions about this series, contact Wisconsin Sea Grant science communicator Jennifer Smith.
The post Lake Talks series to explore Wisconsin’s marine sanctuary devoted to shipwrecks first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant
News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/lake-talks-series-to-explore-wisconsins-marine-sanctuary-devoted-to-shipwrecks/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lake-talks-series-to-explore-wisconsins-marine-sanctuary-devoted-to-shipwrecks
The Ontario Government is investing $1,698,792 million in three Hastings-Lennox and Addington communities to build, upgrade and rehabilitate storm and wastewater infrastructure to protect the Bay of Quinte and eastern Lake Ontario. Read the full story by the Kingstonist.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220202-wastewater-
It has been confirmed with officials from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission that the Brig Niagara, Pennsylvania’s Flagship, will sail the Great Lakes again this summer. Read the full story by WICU-TV – Erie, PA.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220202-niagara
Banning natural gas hookups in new homes and businesses at the local level is the latest example of environmental extremism, according to Michigan state Sen. Dale Zorn, R-Ida, who proposes prohibiting local bans.
The post Michigan lawmaker wants to block ban of natural gas hookups first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/02/michigan-lawmaker-wants-to-block-ban-of-natural-gas-hookups/
By Drew Costley, Associated Press
The Department of Interior is spending $1.15 billion to cap abandoned oil and gas wells across the United States.
There are over 3 million abandoned oil and gas wells in the U.S., according to the Environmental Protection Agency. And Interior officials say that wells have been exposing millions of people to air and water pollution for decades.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/02/ap-interior-department-abandoned-wells/
By Frank Jossi
This story was first published on the Energy News Network and was republished here with permission
St. Paul last week joined a growing list of Minnesota cities passing climate resolutions aimed at adding urgency to state and local climate actions.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/02/minnesota-cities-climate-resolutions/
Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today launched a new website that allows Great Lakes decision-makers to track the region’s progress to reduce harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie and stop aquatic invasive species.
The new site, www.blueaccounting.org, tracks efforts under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement to reduce the runoff of phosphorus from priority watersheds to Lake Erie, as well as programs and policies that stop species introduction, detect new species, and control harmful invasive species across the region.
The new site follows years of GLC collaboration with work groups that include representatives of state, provincial and federal governments, as well as the academic, nonprofit and private sectors. The work groups identify available data on specific issues, share information about current efforts, and help to translate those pieces into the information the region’s leaders need when making decisions that impact Great Lakes restoration and protection.
“Connecting scientists and policy experts across sectors is one of the key values this new site is bringing to the region,” said GLC Chair Todd L. Ambs of Wisconsin. “It’s our goal to use data to answer the critical question of how we are doing when it comes to protecting and restoring our Great Lakes.”
“This website provides us an opportunity to showcase our regional success stories, and make the case for continued, strategic investments in the Great Lakes,” said GLC Executive Director Erika S. Jensen. “We believe this work, as it grows and evolves, will set new standards for regional collaboration and stewardship. Restoring and protecting the Great Lakes is a team effort, and we appreciate the support of our commissioners, work groups, and partners in launching this new website.”
Additional work is underway to track efforts to protect the region’s drinking water, enhance maritime transportation, and build climate resiliency. Related data products and tools developed on these topics during an earlier phase of Blue Accounting, remain available in the website’s data portal.
Blue Accounting has received generous support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, and the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation. The Nature Conservancy and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also contributed significant resources and expertise to Blue Accounting’s development.
The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Todd L. Ambs, deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (retired), is a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. Its membership includes leaders from the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone. Learn more at www.glc.org.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/news/ba-020122
From lead pipes to PFAS, drinking water contamination is a major issue plaguing cities and towns all around the Great Lakes. Cleaning up contaminants and providing safe water to everyone is an ongoing public health struggle.
Keep up with drinking water-related developments in the Great Lakes area.
Click on the headline to read the full-story:
Illinois:
Legislators in Illinois are looking favorably upon a bill that may improve water quality for a large portion of the nation.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/02/water-quality-bill-mine-wetland/
The Great Lakes contain 95% of all the fresh surface water in the United States, and Wisconsin is fortunate that two of those lakes make up its northern and eastern borders—1,000 miles in all and supporting 105 Great Lakes communities.
Stewardship of the lakes is critical not just for those 105 communities, but for the entire state, which benefits from lakes Michigan and Superior culturally, recreationally and economically. Tuesday, Wisconsin Sea Grant announced 12 new two-year research projects worth $2.8 million that build Great Lakes understanding, leading to science-based management and policy decisions.
“We often say the Great Lakes are a gift from the glaciers,” said Sea Grant Director Jim Hurley. “This gift is a valuable one—a recent study found 1.3 million jobs are tied to the lakes, with $82 billion in annual wages. Just as the lakes fuel our economy, they also enrich our quality of life. That’s why we are pleased that these projects officially kick off today with funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.”
Research will be conducted on four University of Wisconsin System campuses and will, for example, deepen our understanding of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, harmful algal blooms and marine debris, three timely water-quality concerns.
In all, nearly 75 researchers, staff and students will be engaged in this work on the University of Wisconsin System campuses of Madison, Milwaukee, Platteville and Stevens Point. Additionally, the maritime archaeology program at the Wisconsin Historical Society will be supported for Lake Michigan shipwreck exploration.
Water samples laden with PFAS in the Christy Remucal lab at UW-Madison. Photo: Bonnie Willison
“This year, Wisconsin Sea Grant is celebrating its 50-year anniversary. We have a long history of supporting not just research, but the up-and-coming researchers across the state who want to meet Great Lakes challenges and opportunities. More than half of the projects announced Tuesday will be led by investigators who are first-time Sea Grant funding recipients,” Hurley said.
The post Great Lakes Stewardship Continues With New Projects Worth $2.8 Million Over Two Years first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant
News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/great-lakes-stewardship-continues-with-new-projects-worth-2-8-million-over-two-years/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=great-lakes-stewardship-continues-with-new-projects-worth-2-8-million-over-two-years
In the Great Lakes region there are community fridges in such major cities as Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, Cleveland and Toronto. Community fridges are working fridges, usually connected to an organization, that provide free food to passersby. The concept is to take what you need and bring what you can.
The post Community fridges: Radical solutions to food insecurity, waste and cultural stigmas first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/01/community-fridges-radical-solutions-to-food-insecurity-waste-and-cultural-stigmas/
By Michael Phillis, Associated Press
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Angela Stamps won’t drink water from her faucet, showers less and no longer takes the baths she once found relaxing. She doesn’t cook with tap water and sometimes skips rinsing her produce.
Even though the amount of lead in Flint, Michigan’s tap water has been well below a key state threshold for several years, she hasn’t been able to stop worrying since going through the trauma of the city’s lead crisis.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/01/us-pushes-better-tap-water/
By Tim Lydon, The Revelator
This story originally appeared in The Revelator and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story.
In July 2021 federal agents in New Orleans abruptly ordered the 600-foot cargo ship Pan Jasmine to leave U.S.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/01/cargo-invasive-species/
Between Wisconsin and Minnesota runs the St. Louis River. Along the river, a widening exists between the Fond du Lac neighborhood and the Duluth Harbor; here lies Spirit Lake. At the center of Spirit Lake is Spirit Island, a place rich in cultural history and a former home to the Ojibwe people.
Martin Defoe (left) and Jeff Savage. Image credit: National Lake Superior Estuarine Research Reserve
This past Jan. 12, Wisconsin Sea Grant and the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve’s River Talk featured Jeff Savage, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Cultural Center and Veteran’s Museum director, and Marvin Defoe, an elder with the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. They shared their memories and stories of Spirit Island.
Savage said that thousands of years ago, the migration of the Anishinaabe to continental America began with the journey through the Bering Strait, down to the Eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. As they traveled east, they met a variety of people who were already settled, and faced bouts of both conflict and kindness along the way. Eventually, the Anishinaabe made their way to the Eastern Coast of America, or rather, in the words of Savage, “the land where the sun comes up.” They spread along the coast creating homes and prospering in peace.
“While there, there were seven prophets,” said Savage, “They call these prophets the Seven Fires. The first prophet came and told the people all the knowledge to create a healthy and everlasting life.”
The second prophet warned that the Anishinaabe people would forget this knowledge as time went by, but eventually, a young boy would be born and help the tribes remember what was forgotten.
“The third prophet came and told them that there was a chosen ground in the west and that they must move their families to where the food grows on the water,” said Savage. The Anishinaabe people were also told that they would find a path to their chosen ground.
Several generations of traveling ensued due to the Seven Fires Prophecy. The journey took the Anishinaabe through many places, including modern-day Montreal, New York and Detroit, searching for an island shaped like a turtle.
The tribe was split up in this process, but eventually, Anishinaabe people from the north and south sides of Lake Superior were reunited. “We knew that we were the same people because we still had the same songs,” Savage said.
And so, they finally came across Spirit Island, the island that resembled a turtle’s back sticking out of the water and home to a cornucopia of food, including wild rice, a food that “grows on the water.”
Spirit Island. Image credit: David Bowman
The long history and deep-rooted traditions of the Anishinaabe carry on today as elders pass down the story of Spirit Island to younger generations. Defoe recalled watching his family harvest wild rice as a young boy and reminisced about oral traditions that he learned as a child.
“We told stories, we talked. Just like what we’re doing here, telling stories,” said Defoe.
Despite these long-standing traditions, it is important to note that things have changed regarding the lives of the Anishinaabe. Defoe noted that he has viewed the decline of wild rice crops since his childhood. These declines are concerning because it is possible that one day no one will have access to these resources. Defoe gave some insight into an Anishinaabe belief that “there was a time that all people–I don’t care what race they were–all people had a connection to the Earth.”
To watch a video of this presentation, visit the Lake Superior Estuarine Research Reserve’s YouTube site.
Other River Talks will be held Feb. 9, March 8, April 13 and May 11, 2022. For more information, visit the River Talks page: go.wisc.edu/4uz720.
The post Ojibwe Stories of Spirit Island first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.
Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/ojibwe-stories-of-spirit-island/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ojibwe-stories-of-spirit-island
Keep up with energy-related developments in the Great Lakes area with Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
Click on the headline to read the full story:
Illinois:
Aiming to increase diversity in wind and solar jobs, a proposed measure in the Illinois General Assembly would require more transparent reporting on the level of participation of minority-owned businesses in clean energy jobs.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/01/energy-news-roundup-nuclear-bill-natural-gas/
A collection of more than 150 Great Lakes shipping models are now in display at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit, Michigan through May 8. Read the full story by WJBK- TV – Detroit, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220131-ships
Wisconsin Sea Grant, in partnership with the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, is hosting an online book club designed to give parents and teachers tools to introduce young readers to Ojibwe culture and environmental stewardship. Read and hear the full story by WXPR – Rhinelander, WI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220131-education
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) projects the lake to be 52.3% covered by ice at its peak, with a long-term average of 62.3%. Lake Superior ice cover was roughly 12% late last week, compared to a long-term average of 20%. Read the full story by the Star Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220131-superior
The Medina County Park District is expanding the Black River Nature Preserve in the Lodi, Ohio area. Read the full story by the Akron Beacon Journal.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220131-restoration
The International Lake Ontario- St. Lawrence River Board has confirmed that outflows on Lake Ontario in January were found to be the fourth highest on record since 1990. This is following records set in 2020, 2021 and 1987. Read the full story by WWTI- TV – Watertown, NY.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220131-ontario
Cruise ships will visit Muskegon, Michigan again this summer, after stops were canceled for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. Read the full story by The Associated Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220131-cruise-ships
There’s a new proposal gaining support in Washington D.C. for a potential multi-billion-dollar investment that would bring U.S. naval facilities to Lorain and Lordstown, Ohio. Read the full story by WJW – TV – Cleveland, OH.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220131-naval-ships
Mayor Bill Mauro is making a case for Thunder Bay, Ontario to host a new Canadian federal agency designed to put greater focus on protecting and managing Canada’s water resources. Read and listen to the full story by the Thunder Bay News Watch.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220131-thunder-bay
Water scarcity is occurring in some of the United States’ biggest freshwater reserves, according to a new study. Not only is the crisis evident in the U.S. but also to other parts of the world. Read the full story by Nature World News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220131-water-shortage
A bill before the Michigan Legislature would allocate $2.4 billion dollars in federal funds for repairs to the state’s aging water infrastructure. Read the full story by 95.3 MNC Radio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220131-infrastructure
The annual Birds on the Niagara (BON22) festival will celebrate migrating birds of the area from February 10th – February 13th in Buffalo, New York. Read the full story by Buffalo Rising.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220131-bird-festival
In November 2020, shortly after President Joe Biden was elected, Great Lakes Now talked with University of Detroit Mercy associate professor Nick Schroeck about the opportunities and challenges facing the president-elect.
Schroeck is an environmental law attorney and urban policy expert who has a background in transboundary legal issues between the U.S.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/01/bidens-first-year/
THIS WEEK: Event Focus–Project Grants Webinar; All About Water Symposium; Water Watchers & Wellness Registration Open; Sand Sculptures Form on Lake Michigan Shore
Freshwater Future has been fortunate to provide Grant Programs for grassroots community organizations for over 26 years. Learn more about our Grants Program on Tuesday, February 22nd– noon (EST). To register online, please click HERE. To register by email or phone, please contact laurie@freshwaterfuture.org, (231)348-8200. Also, visit the map on our website to learn more about our Grant Programs funding initiatives and their impact on past projects.
Freshwater Future and All About Water invite you to join experts, peer groups and municipal officials to learn about federal dollars coming to states for water infrastructure projects. By participating you will gain valuable information about how your municipality can benefit from available federal funding to help replace lead lines, update water and wastewater treatment plants, utilize green infrastructure to prevent or reduce flooding, and more. REGISTER NOW! Thursday, February 17th, 9:30 am – noon EST.
2022’s first Water Watchers & Wellness forum was a wonderful turn out! The session included meditative self-care and a discussion on year-end financial management for nonprofits and community-based organizations. It’s still not too late to join this monthly seminar forum scheduled on the 4th Thursday of every month. The next session will be February 24th, 2022, from 11:30am-1pm ET. Register today!
Strong icy winds on the southern Lake Michigan shoreline whipped wet sand into formations reminiscent of Star Wars. Check out these cool photos of these short-lived sand sculptures.
Blog – Freshwater Future
https://freshwaterfuture.org/freshwater-weekly/freshwater-future-weekly-january-28-2022/
As local governments wrestle with the question of how to spend their share of American Rescue Plan Act money from Washington, some are earmarking it to improve broadband access and affordability for their residents.
The post Rural internet access competes with other needs for federal aid first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/31/rural-internet-access-competes-with-other-needs-for-federal-aid/
Three million dollars in funding will be invested to protect Lake Michigan and its shoreline from climate change and invasive species. The U.S. federal government is investing $1.5 million in funding to protect Lake Michigan and the City of Chicago is matching it. Read the full story by WGN-TV – Chicago, IL.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220128-lake-michigan-investment
As the Great Lakes experience more harmful algal blooms due to climate change, real time monitoring of drinking water for toxins is becoming increasingly urgent. That’s why the Great Lakes Water Authority wants to establish a baseline for water quality monitoring. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220128-monitoring
As the Great Lakes experience more harmful algal blooms due to climate change, real time monitoring of drinking water for toxins is becoming increasingly urgent. That’s why the Great Lakes Water Authority wants to establish a baseline for water quality monitoring. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220128-monitoring
The commercial fishing quota for lake whitefish in southern Green Bay will increase by 57%, according to a final rule approved Wednesday by the Natural Resources Board. Read the full story by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220128-whitefish
