AZHEGIIWE BAGWAJAYA’II--(HE/SHE RETURNS TO NATURE)--IMPLEMENTING EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE AT LEECH LAKE TRIBAL COLLEGE (Invited Presentation)

Azhegiiwe Bagwajaya’ii - a unique collaboration between the Leech Lake Tribal College (LLTC) and University of Minnesota, Duluth and Twin Cities, has created an Earth System Sciences program at LLTC. The program leads to a 2+2 program and a 4-year degree in Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship that can be earned at UMD through online and hybrid courses. Indigenous Research methods and Anishinaabe values are the project’s guiding principles. During the initial stages of this project, these methods and values were instrumental in building the program and lowering institutional and other barriers to success. Specific activities have included multi-institutional PI collaborations, constructive discussions between institutions that included administrative leaders, and support of community interest and investment in the success of the program. Internships with Leech Lake Division of Resource Management (DRM) and the Chippewa National Forest have provided opportunities for students to learn first-hand from community leaders and to develop needed skills for future careers. The stories of student-led research illustrate the impact these opportunities have made for students’ academic and career success. Two of our recent graduates are now employed with the DRM. The 2-year Earth Systems Science degree is up and running at LLTC and currently graduating students. The 2+2 is under development at UMD and will launch in 2019.