APIS Department Grant: Preserving Traditional Ecological Knowledge with Tribal Collaboration

The Lac du Flambeau, Red Cliff, and Bad River Chippewa tribes will work together to gather traditional ecological knowledge of the Apostle Islands area.  Oral history interviews will gather multi-generational traditional information.  This information will be used to inform management direction by NPS and be shared within the tribal communities to preserve historical knowledge. 

One public purpose of this work would contribute the greater body of knowledge incorporating more historical information from the elders of three tribes. This would expand the knowledge of natural and cultural resources which can help focus management decisions in the future. Another public purpose is that students will participate and learn how to gather the information from elders and tribal leaders which allows them to gain real world knowledge and experience beyond the classroom. Goals/Objectives: This project will be led by the Tribal Historic Preservation Offices of the Red Cliff, Lac du Flambeau, and Bad River Chippewa tribes. Using established methods, 9-12 tribal members from various age groups will be trained and mentored to conduct oral history interviews with elders and tribal knowledge bearers. All original interviews will be curated by the tribes. Information will be disseminated to the general public and tribal communities through a variety of mediums, including web based projects, video clips, community events, and technical reports, though tribes may determine that some information is sacred and not share that information. Youth will be engaged in the gathering of TEK, as well as media production. This project will inform park management, preserve multi-generational traditional information, empower tribal communities to benefit from the process of gathering traditional cultural and natural resource knowledge, and educate the next generation about the Great Lakes ecosystem.