Taking Sustainability to the Outer Limits Perspectives of Sustainability as Identified by Students at the College of Menominee Nation William Van Lopik, PhD AASHE 2011 Conference Pittsburgh, PA.

The Menominee Nation Located in Northeast Wisconsin 358 miles² or 235,000 acres pop 4, lakes and 4 rivers, (Wolf River)

The distinctiveness of the Forest can be seen from space in contrast to surrounding farmland GLCF, LandSat ETM+, Path 24R29, True color

A 2-Year Tribal College where sustainable development is integrated into the curriculum and operations.

Demographics of the College Total graduates659 Average age at graduation33 Alumni ethnicity72% Native, 28% non-Native Top degree choices – Business, Nursing, Education Gender of graduates – 26% male, 74% female

Interactive Dynamic Dimensions Upon which Sustainable Development Depends Land and Sovereignty Natural Environment Institutions Technology Economy Human Perception, Activity & Behavior Menominee Autochthany

Course Content of Introduction to Sustainable Development Part 1: Human Behavior, perception and attitudesPopulation scales and monitoring Demographic distribution Population growth patterns Economic inequities Part II:Land and sovereigntyIndigenous land rights Human rights Resource extraction Globalization Part III:TechnologyAppropriate and alternative technologies Renewable energy Globalization of communication technologies Part IV:Institutional development and sustainabilityNon-profit institutions Funding sources Social Activism Part V:Natural EnvironmentGlobal environmental threats Global Climate Change Permaculture Part VI:EconomicsTriple bottom-line accounting Green economies Business ethics Sustainable career options

Texts for Introduction to Sustainable Development Course

Topics Selected

Environmental Sustainability Environmental Toxins and their threat to humans Herbicide use on Menominee Forest Invasive species Reintroduction of the Gray Wolf Colony collapse of honey bees Water quality issues Destructive mining practices

Solid Waste Management/Recycling Recycling e-waste Recycling shoes Starting a clothing exchange project Recycling paper Diaper alternatives Unsustainability of nuclear repositories History of landfills Enforcing recycling policies Littering Packaging Sustainable art – art from discarded materials

Sustainability and Native Issues Native American Land Rights Indian Gaming and Tribal Sovereignty Sustaining Native Culture* Crandon Mine story Tribal initiatives for sustainability Government policy threats against tribal sovereignty Native American confederacy

Sustainability and Social Work Psychology and sustainable development* Using the Trans-theoretical Model of human change from the field of substance abuse counseling as a way to confront a climate change denier. The way we treat ourselves is how we treat nature Empowering people to change

FOOD Sustainable gardening Vegetarianism Organic/Sustainable Farming Food and ADHD/ADD Eating locally produced food Household Cleaning Products Proper disposal of products Effects of products on the environment Procurement methods

Oneida Sustainability Oneida Seven Generations Corporation* Oneida Community Integrated Food Systems Environmental restoration on the reservation Oneida tribal values that promote sustainability Three sisters’ planting Role of casino in maintaining tribal sustainability

Menominee Sustainability Forest Management Menominee history of sustainability Menominee Tribal Enterprise Wild Rice Sustaining people through culture and wellness Carbon sequestration as income generation Sustainability through Menominee eyes Ingrid Washinawatok – Menominee martyr for indigenous rights in Colombia Menominee wisdom of the forest Termination and its effect on sustainability

Sustainable Technology Vermiculture and composting Designing with Hemp Designing a grey water system Rainwater harvesting Ogoni Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People Human rights and mining for oil Ken Saro-Wiwa’s fight for indigenous rights Oil mining, poverty and environmental degradation

Social Sustainability Threats to the rainforest and the indigenous people who live there Homelessness Threats to oceans Conflict gems Poverty Domestic abuse and its threat to a sustainable society* Unsustainability of consumerism Maintaining water quality in water parks Human rights and sustainability

Non-Profits and Sustainability Some students choose to explore more deeply the work of these organizations such as: CARE, Doctors without Borders, Defenders of Wildlife, Green For All, SERRV Int’l, American Forests, and the Center for Health, Environment and Justice Alternative and Renewable Energy Fusion gasification Methane gas as a renewable source Appropriate renewables for Wisconsin Alternative transportation fuels Biomass Identify alternative energies

Climate Change Indigenous Perspectives from Elders Carbon Sequestration strategies How to talk about it with children Mitigation Strategies Effects on Wildlife Policy Debates at international and national level. Green Building Green architecture Earth-Sheltered houses Green housing development in Indian Country LEED certification and energy efficiency Sustainable building materials

Sustainability and Nursing Sustainability in nursing homes Managing medical waste Usages of the placenta Disposal of pharmacuticals and contamination of the water supply Nurses as sustainability change agents Nursing shortages in Africa as a threat to healthcare. Recycling medical supplies Greening hospital facilities Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E.org)

Sustainable Business* Green efforts in transportation freight industry Greening a grocery store Sustainability and the cosmetic industry Organic and sustainable breweries Fair trade products (coffee, chocolates, clothes) Greening of the military “Green Hawks” Socially responsible investments Green burials Sustainable Wal-mart (pros and cons) Starting a green auto repair shop “Greening” a golf course Hotel maintenance and sustainability Environmentally friendly diapers

Sustainability in the Home Creating a sustainable home Changing the way I live Working with my family on practicing sustainability in our home Leading by example Choosing a career path that supports sustainability Green Restaurants Green initiatives by McDonalds Creating a sustainable bar and grill Sustainability and restaurant operations Knowing where the food comes from

Education for Sustainability Teaching sustainability to pre-schoolers Classroom activities to promote sustainability* Creating a sustainable classroom Examples of “green” schools Creating sustainable head-start programs Energy savings in day-care center Using art and play to promote classroom sustainability

What does this teach us? Students embrace the concepts of sustainable development when they realize their place in the world and that their actions can have a profound negative or positive influence

Menominee elder – Everything we have comes from Mother Earth – from the air we breathe to the food we eat – and we need to honor her for that. In treating the forest well, we honor Mother Earth