Andean Guests Visit College of Menominee Nation

On Friday, June 22^nd, a group of Indigenous Leaders visiting from South America met with the College of Menominee Nation and Menominee Tribal Leaders. Through the US Forest Service, College of Menominee Nation welcomed the visitors who were on a nation-wide tour discussing indigenous natural resource management. Their visit with College of Menominee Nation fostered dialogue between South American indigenous groups and the Menominee. 

On Thursday, June 21^st, the group participated in a campfire organized by Kate Flick, SDI Education Coordinator, in conjunction with a community service project group, Young Leaders in Action. The focus of the campfire was on community service and taking care of the earth..Through engaging performances, folk singer Skip Jones played songs about the importance of water and water quality. The Indigenous guests, in their Native languages, thanked the high school group for working toward a better world and generously presented gifts as a thank you.

In Friday morning’s discussion, Dr. Fowler welcomed the visitors to the College of Menominee Nation and John Teller discussed Menominee Culture and history. Dr. Fowler highlighted the importance of having control of your own knowledge and noted: “One of the biggest changes you can do is take control of your education." 

“I think about the values that have helped the Menominee people through the years,” said Dr. Fowler who also commented on the importance of educating students in Menominee respect and hospitality. Following the conversation, a community lunch was served. In the evening, many of those in attendance visited Lakewood Ranger District and Archibald Lake Cultural Heritage Site.

Pictured above is the group at the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest visiting a culturally-significant historical site. Archaeologists have physical evidence to show that this was once a Menominee garden. Questions were raised about who "owns" this land and how relationships evolve between the National Forest Service, the Menominee, and other influencers concerning historical sites such as this one. Overall, the nation-wide study tour served to help indigenous leaders learn about and share information on sustainable forestry management, tribal resource management, tribal and US government relations, and how tribes think about and manage for climate change. 

Above: Dr. Mike Dockry at Archibald Lake

Above: Archibald Lake

Through an agreement with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the US Forest Service is providing technical assistance to Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru through the Initiative for Conservation for the Andean Amazon. Areas of technical assistance proposed in the current work plan include reduced impact logging, watershed management, protected area management, climate change vulnerability assessment, and indigenous exchange.