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Sharing Indigenous Wisdom, An International Dialogue on Sustainable Development

Conference Summary

Host

Sustainable Development InstituteCollege of Menominee Nation/Sustainable Development Institute
P.O. Box 1179
Keshena, WI. 54135
Phone: 715-799-5600
Fax: 715-799-5951

 

Purpose

To provide a forum that encourages dialogue, learning, solidarity, cross-fertilization of ideas and international concepts of sustainable development.

Dates

June 11-15, 2007

Location

Radisson Hotel & Conference Center
Green Bay, Wisconsin
(920) 494-7300
www.radisson.com/siwc

Proceedings

Presentations of current research and position papers will be
compiled for publication.

Field Trip

A visit to the Menominee Forest will be provided to participants
to witness first-hand a model of sustainable forestry in practice.

Conference Purpose

The conference is held to foster dialogue on traditional indigenous knowledge being utilized and incorporated as models and methods of sustainable practices. Traditional or Indigenous Knowledge refers to the wisdom, embodied in indigenous communities or groups, being utilized to preserve and protect resources vital to the continuity of indigenous communities or groups. This year the conference will focus on Natural Environment foundational element of the Menominee model of sustainable development.

The Menominee model of sustainable development is a theoretical model that conceptualizes sustainable development as the process of maintaining the balance and reconciling the inherent tensions between the various dimensions of sustainability.

The six dimensions are:

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Each dimension is understood to be dynamic, both in respect to its internal organization, and in relationship to each of the other five dimensions of the sustainable development process.

In collaboration with the USDA Forest Service and the International Union of Forest Research Organization’s Task Force on traditional forest knowledge, papers or presentations are invited for the following topics, consistent with the focus on Natural Environment:

  • History of the relationship of formal forest science and traditional knowledge in forest management
  • Application of traditional knowledge in forest ecosystem assessments and management
  • Indigenous community priorities for forest research and collaborative forest management
  • Case studies on joint initiatives and utilization of traditional and formal scientific knowledge in forest management activities
  • Development of good practices for including both traditional knowledge and formal science in forestry education, research and forest management activities

 

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©2007 College of Menominee Nation.

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LAND & SOVEREIGNTY

Are integral to the process of sustainable development. The Menominee Nation has a firm experiential basis for their understanding of this process. They know first hand the horror of termination, and the struggle for restoration of their status as a federally recognized Indian tribe. While political restoration has been accomplished, other aspects of restoration are yet unattended. Central to our research and extension mission is the commitment to those topics and activities that re-affirm tribal sovereignty and preserves the tribal estate.

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

The long and successful Menominee experience in sustained yield forestry is the cornerstone of its community's sustainable development. SDI has prioritized forest products, forest ecology, enhanced commerce of timber products, and value added forest products as immediate topics relevant to its scholarship and research and extension mission.

INSTITUTIONS

In aiding in the development and maturation of the institutional life of the rural and reservation communities which we serve, we ensure the longevity of our efforts, maximize the impact of our initiatives, and position our own institution firmly within the community context which has chartered our mission.

TECHNOLOGY

SDI works collaboratively with the Menominee Telecommunications Design Team to enable a multi-media telecommunications infrastructure capable of serving our rural and reservation community institutions. The Design Team includes the College, the Tribal and County governments, and the Menominee Tribal Enterprises. We believe rural and reservation communities are dependent on the foresight of their institutions to assure access to the new wave of information technology. We are committed to forwarding the development of information infrastructure. We are attuned to the potential of electronic commerce, medicine, and judicial practice, advancing local access to technological innovations, and complementing our academic goal of advancing technological literacy.

ECONOMY

Initial entry into extension services to forward this dimension are in nascent development, with an initial emphasis on cooperating with the local business incubator, offering workshops for potential entrepreneurs and service as a research resource for tribal enterprise. We anticipate the local regions designation as an enterprise community will provide additional training opportunities.

HUMAN PERCEPTION, ACTIVITY & BEHAVIOR

A priority for research lies in projects which assure access to safe and reliable food and water resources. To that end, we anticipate complimenting research efforts in sustainable forestry with new initiatives in permaculture, ethnobotany, and preliminary investigation of the feasibility of aquaculture and hydroponics production.

Decision Making

Today we remain dependent on this land and water to sustain us. Therefore, we must make the necessary decisions to sustain it for future generations. We believe Menominee Autochthony is the centerpiece by which decision making must take place for successful sustenance of this nation and land.

AUTOCHTHONY - n. from the land itself; nativeness by virtue or originating or occurring naturally as in a particular place. (Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913).

Land and Sovereignty Natural Environment Institutions Technology Economy Human Perception, Activity and Behavior Decision Making