Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The Thirteen Moons program is the Tribal College Extension Program whose mission and goals are to increase awareness of natural resources, promote regional food sovereignty, provide new opportunities for social interaction and increase knowledge of the Ojibwe culture. To fulfill these goals, the Thirteen Moons program hosts workshops, events, and publishes monthly features in the Fond du Lac Newspaper on traditional resource ecology, management, and culture. These outreach events and activities are designed to be multigenerational with the intent of bringing youth and elders together. Through both virtual and in person programming we had educational outreach events that served over12,778 community members. Our partnerships have extended to multiple tribal, state, and federal agencies to increase outreach and support of work that supports the community. In spring of 2023 the Thirteen Moons brought together stakeholders to discuss community needs as well as make sure that we are serving our target audience. During the strategic planning meeting we discussed our stakeholder circle of influence. Each group member (or pair if individuals came from the same organization) was asked to reflect on their "circle of influence" as it relates to Thirteen Moons- the individuals or organizations that they are closely connected to that could support the program in furthering its mission. Group members were asked to identify: Who do you consistently work with? Who do you occasionally work with?Who do you wish to work with or partner with in the near future to move the work forward? Who are the potential partners or resources within your circle of Influence that might be most helpful for 13 moons to achieve their goal? Strategic planning participants have a wealth of connections relevant to the work of Thirteen Moons. Many are connected closely with several organizations both on and off the Fond du Lac reservation that are providing services connected to the mission of Thirteen Moons. Strong partnerships exist with groups and individuals working on traditional agriculture and food sovereignty, health and human services, Ojibwe language, education, history, culture, and the environment. Our stakeholders have increased our circle of influence within our community. We have expanded our programming and outreach to partner with/ or serve; University of Minnesota American Indian Studies Department,the American Indian Community Housing Organization , the Fond du Lac Cultural Center, the Fond du Lac Ojibwe School, Carlton County American Indian Education, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, 1854 Treaty Authority, Fond du Lac Wellness Programs, Fond du Lac Head Start, the MN State Health Insurance Program, Tagwii Recovery Program, Gidakiimanaaniwigamig STEM Camp, Fond du Lac Agricultural Department, Tribal Heritage Preservation Office, St. Louis River Alliance, Lake Superior Estuarine Research Reserve, National Museum of the American Indian, Environmental Protection Agency, Fond du Lac Resource Management, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, USDA SARE, USDA NRCS, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The expansion of stakeholders and working within their circle of influence allows us to strengthen our community work by bringing together resources. While Thirteen Moons Extension offered valuable original programming almost as importantly the tribal extension program acted as a catalyst of collaboration between agencies and organizations there serve the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Changes/Problems:Our Thirteen Moons program period ran from 2018 through a no cost extension period that ended in early 2023. We had to deal with changes in both staffing and a pandemic while striving to serve our community when it needed our programming the most. A major change in staffing occurred in May 2019. The previous Thirteen Moons coordinator took another position in the Fond du Lac Band's Resource Management division. In order to ensure continuity in programming the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Environmental Institute Director as well as Fond du Lac Resource Management staff took on additional duties that allowed programming to continue uninterrupted. In October 2019 the new Thirteen Moons Coordinator was hired and programming was able to continue without changes to events and activities. In December 2019 the new Thirteen Moons coordinator started his position just before a pandemic caused chaos in March of 2020. In mid-March of 2020 the Thirteen Moons program had to adjust its outreach because of the pandemic. Fond du Lac Band, the State of Minnesota, and the college/university system closed facilities, issued stay in place protocols, and restricted travel for community members. The program adjusted its outreach and used virtual platforms, one to one community assistance, and assumed a support role for many community programs. During 2020 and during Covid virus surges throughout 2021 our programming followed the health and safety protocols that were required by the Fond du Lac Band. We are proud of the ability and resiliency of our staff and partners to continue their service to the community. However, the pandemic severely limited our ability to use our funding. In all of our previous programming years we spent our allocated funding to provide important hands-on, experiential outreach to our target audience. The pandemic changed our programming for almost half of our grant period to mostly virtual platforms. While we are grateful that we were able to continue to serve the needs of our community the change to virtual limited our ability to use our full budgetto bring tribal stakeholders together for communal, multi-generational learning in the traditional format. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Professional development was offered to both the staff and community members. The Thirteen Moons coordinator participated in multiple trainings to better serve the community in areas of food production, natural resources conservations, and networking with other tribal organizations. As the Fond du Lac Band's Food Sovereignty work moves forward there will be a focus on how to change policy to support distribution of locally grown foods. The Thirteen Moons Coordinator along with other FDL staff and community members attended the Model Food Code workshop hosted by Great Lake Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission. This meeting focused on sharing an example of a tribal food code that could be implemented in various communities.The Thirteen Moons coordinator was able to attend the MOSES agricultural convention. During this 2 day convention the coordinator learned about the latest agricultural issues and methods as well as networking with tribal agricultural agencies, USDA programs, and other small farmers. In the spring of 2021 the American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) hosted the AICHO First Food Sovereignty Policy Initiative. Both of these meetings focused on food policy that could increase the agricultural / harvest economy in tribal communities. In addition to policy, the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission also held a Maple Growers Interest meeting. This was to discuss the impact of climate change on maple syrup production and opportunities to expand the network of indigenous maple producers in our region. In order to build a strong network of tribal producers that are kept up on the latest information on USDA programming, organic growing techniques, and tribal food sovereignty initiatives the Thirteen Moons coordinator and PTP participants attended agricultural conferences. These conferences included MOSES (largest organic conference in the country), the Indigenous Farmers Conference, the Growing Organic Sustainably Conference, and the FDLTCC Bee Symposium. The Thirteen Moons coordinator also took part in several meetings focused on natural resources and community building. The Superior National Forest Assisted Migration Plan is a collaboration between the US Forest Service and tribal communities. These meetings happened bi-monthly from 2020 to 2021 focused on cultural considerations of forestry management policy and having tribal community voices heard in decision making. The Lake Superior Living Labs brainstormed on how natural resources education and outreach could be done in relation to the Lake Superior watershed, both in the scientific, social, and culturally inclusive manner. The AIHEC Freshwater Security meeting discussed pressing issues on both water quality and water quantity on tribal lands. AIHEC FALCON conference was a valuable professional development opportunity that included training, program level policy, and a strong networking opportunity to learn about programming at each 1994 Land Grant. The conference offers an opportunity for tribal extension staff to get to know USDA NIFA program officers and learn about the support that NIFA gives to 1994 Land Grant Colleges. This conference helped influence programming by providing ideas of things that we could bring back to Fond du Lac from other tribal communities. The Thirteen Moons Coordinator is a member of the Fond du Lac Food Sovereignty Initiative Board. This board meets weekly to discuss projects, events, and directions of food sovereignty on the Reservation. In partnership with members of this committee the tribal extension program designs programs, partners on outreach, and plans future grant proposals that support the goals of the Fond du Lac community. In the winter of 2021 the Thirteen Moons coordinator helped design and implement strategic planning for FDLTCC Extension programming to better serve the community. The Thirteen Moons coordinator also participated in and supported the Fond du Lac Band's Strategic Planning for the development of the Fond du Lac Agricultural Division. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The Thirteen Moons program used various media to inform community members about the program and information on Ojibwe language, cultural events, and natural resources. Thirteen Moons published articles on natural resources and Ojibwe culture and language in the Fond du Lac newspaper. The Fond du Lac newspaper delivers nationwide to FDL Band members, currently 2000 newspapers are distributed by mail and additional copies are available to the public in Cloquet, Duluth, and Minneapolis Minnesota. Thirteen Moons is a featured program in the annual Environmental Institute Report and the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College newspaper. These publications are shared with over 500 college students and community members each year. Thirteen Moons workshop flyers are posted on Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College bulletin boards and electronic informational board. Thirteen Moons sends out flyers to a list serve with 240 participants to receive notices of upcoming events and workshops. Thirteen Moons uses Facebook to disseminate information on current workshops and events, topics on natural resource and Ojibwe culture and language. In 2023 the Thirteen Moons partnered with James Bell Associates to bring together stakeholders to produce theThirteen Moons: Strategic Planning Final Report. This report is the culmination of a two-day strategic planning meeting for Thirteen Moons. The information in this report will be used to guide the next five years of programming. The report findings are intended for the staff of the program as the primary audience but also as a resource for those individuals involved in the planning efforts and the broader organizations and communities they represent. The strategic planning was organized around exploration of three major questions: 1) where are we now?, 2) where do we want to be in five years?, and 3) how do we get there? The Thirteen Moons staff hoped to understand the way in which the group perceived the current work of Thirteen Moons and the connections each of them brought to support that work. The group engaged in a community mapping activity that was focused on a guiding question: What comes to mind when you think of the work that 13 Moons currently does? Each participant was asked to draw or write those things that most clearly come to mind when they hear the guiding question. This activity was followed by a facilitated full group conversation. The participants felt strongly that the core Thirteen Moons programming was having apositive impact on the community. Participants identified cultural programs and workshops that Thirteen Moons is currently involved in including thePow-wow, Rice Camp, and Sugarbush The group also associated Thirteen Moons with other cultural teachings and trainings includingMind-Body Medicine, training on Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Circle Keeping Participants with history of the program and thefunding and policy environmentdescribed the complex historical challenges faced by Thirteen Moons and the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College more broadly. The group noted that thestaff of Thirteen Moons is an asset. One member noted that they are "knowledgeable" and "very approachable." It was also noted that thesestaff need additional supportin their work, either through the Vista program or additional full-time support. Participants also noted areas that they see asgapsthat either were previously stronger or are opportunities for growth including language camps, gathering of wild foods, and learning more directly from Fond du lac traditions. As one member noted "we are borrowing from other people to learn about ourselves." Circle of influence. Each group member (or pair if individuals came from the same organization) was asked to reflect on their "circle of influence" as it relates to Thirteen Moons- the individuals or organizations that they are closely connected to that could support the program in furthering its mission. Strategic planning participants engaged in a consensus building workshop to develop a shared vision for Thirteen Moons in five years. To arrive at this vision, the group discussed a series of four questions based on the ORID method of inquiry which asks group members to reflect on questions that are Objective, Reflective, Interpretive, and Decisional. The four questions were: O: Think about 13 Moons in 5 years- what does the program look like? R: What makes you excited about this 5-year vision? I: What kinds of changes will we need to happen to get to this vision of 13 Moons? D: What are some key actions that need to be taken between now and 5 years from now to achieve this vision of 13 Moons? Some key takeaways from this discussion include: Opportunities exist for Thirteen Moons to serve as a convener and resource for existing community efforts. Participants value and prioritize the work that Thirteen Moons does to promote traditional harvesting practices. Food sovereignty is a core value of the participants and Thirteen Moons is seen as an important program in promoting traditional foods and food practices. Participants see Thirteen Moons as expanding its programming to serve individuals across the generations. Opportunities exist for Thirteen Moons to promote their programming across Fond du Lac. Thirteen Moons should continue to be guided by cultural beliefs and values and emphasize the Ojibwe language. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The Thirteen Moons program leveraged their long-standing and new partners to offer outreach and programming to more people from the Fond du Lac community and the Ojibwe Ceded Territories (Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan). Thirteen Moons is growing its reputation in the region as a great partner to get the latest information and training on natural resource management, traditional harvest, and cultural practices. During our 2018-2023 grant period we served over12,775community members using multiple outreach methods. Our youth focused programming partnered with both camps and workshops. One of our first camps was a partnership with the Climate Strong youth camp. This camp was a NOAA sponsored camp and focused on community resiliency and youth leadership in the face of climate change. Presentations included treaty rights and the importance of manoomin in Ojibwe tradition and diet.Hands-on training covered the harvest and processing of manoomin. Elders provided instruction on the culture of the harvest and respectful, sustainable harvest practices. The Miinigoowiziwinan camp focused on sustainable harvest and career exploration. Thirteen Moons supported this youth camp by doing a treaty rights presentation as well as manoomin harvest trainings. Thirteen Moons also hosted traditional game events that include teachings about the cultural significance as well as the harvesting techniques used to make the equipment for the games. Baaga'adowewin (traditional lacrosse) demonstration with youth, included teachings from a Fond du Lac community member. The traditional game of snow snakes was held in partnership with the FDL Ojibwe School to teach community youth about harvest of " snow snakes", young tree saplings, and how to play the game. An elder from the White Earth reservation and an organizer of bringing back snowsnake tournaments traveled to Fond du Lac Reservation to teach our youth about the game and its cultural significance. Starting in February of 2022 Thirteen Moons partnered with University of Minnesota - Duluth American Indian Resource Center and the Gidakiimanaaniwigamig STEM Camp to host Ojibwe Winter Games. Over 100 community members attended this day long event. This partnership has continued in 2023 and looks to be an annual event. Thirteen Moons helped coordinate and provided educational outreach at the Ganawenjigewing Maawanji'idiwin Fall Fest. The half - day event is hosted by the Fond du Lac Band Resource Management Division, FDL Ojibwe School, and regional tribal agencies. Informational tables were set up that provided information on the food sovereignty work in the community, demonstrations on sustainable harvest, and distribution of plants for home gardens. Ganawenjigwing Maawanji'idiwin also focused on youth outreach with activity tables that taught about water quality, invasive species, gardening, and manoomin processing. The Fond du Lac Ojibwe School brought school groups, 1stto 10thgrade, to participate in the event. Quite a few of the outreach events focused on natural resource management in the context of Anishinaabe culture as well as economic opportunity. Our non-timber forest harvest and seasonal decorations workshop focused on economic opportunities of the seasonal harvest of balsam boughs and birch bark. Sustainable harvest and best practices were shared with the participants. The black ash and birch bark basket workshop was a partnership between Thirteen Moons, FDL Resource Management, and an Ojibwe traditional ash basket maker. This workshop stressed the impact of the invasive insect, the Emerald Ash Borer, on the future of black ash in our region. Black ash is a culturally significant tree and is used in making baskets, snowshoes, and medicines. The workshop also talked about the concerns around how the loss of this tree species would affect the hydrology of our regional wetlands. Maple tree tapping, and maple sap processing techniques were demonstrated through multiple workshops during the March sugar bush season. Sustainable harvest, maple sap boiling for syrup and bottling for sale are some of the topics covered during these workshops. Multiple partners were integral to success of some big community events that served our multistate region. The Gichi Manidoo Pow Wow was hosted in January during 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023. This event brought over5900community members together with tribal, federal, and state agencies to increase learning around programs that help take care of the land and community. The "We are Water" outreach event was a partnership with many regional organizations such as Minnesota Humanities, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, City of Duluth, Fond du Lac Resource Management, Minnesota Sea Grant, Department of Natural Resources, Lake Superior Estuarine Research Reserve, Lake Superior Coastal Program, and the Great Lakes Aquarium. Over the "We are Water" month there were a variety of presentations, a River Watch Congress, activities, and displays at the Great Lakes Aquarium. Anestimate of1500-2000guests visited and participated in the "We Are Water" events. Starting in mid-March 2020 the Fond du Lac Band and state of Minnesota mandated pandemic safety procedures to protect the health of the community. These guidelines led to alternative ways of outreach being offered to the community. In spite of these conditions Thirteen Moons still managed to offer harvest, agricultural, and cultural traditions outreach to the community. In the summer of 2020 the Thirteen Moons partnered with the Bimaaji'idiwin Farmer Producer program to help supportagricultural training. During the growing season four acres are plowed and prepared for participants in the Bimaaji'idiwin Farmer Producer program. Thirteen Moons helped support the program by providing supplies, equipment, and implementation work on the Fond du Lac farm. Over the next 3 seasons over 48 community members were part of this beginning farmer program.The Producer Training Program provides land, resources and education materials to support Fond du Lac food sovereignty goals and fosters innovative land management techniques like using wild rice hulls as crop mulch. The Producer Training Program (PTP) in partnership with the Fond du Lac Band's Gitigaaning Farm is open to community members who want to learn about organic farming and how to start an agricultural enterprise. Program participants have access to education through workshops, land at the FDL Gitigaaning Farm, infrastructure such as water, tools, and farming equipment, support in entering local farmers markets, and connections to be able to sell their produce while providing the community with fresh, organic foods. The Producer Training Program provides healing and land reclamation while engaging with food sovereignty. Thirteen Moons and Fond du Lac Gitigaan (garden) program offered beginning courses on best organic growing practices. A major event that was towards the end of harvest was the Gitigaan Wiikondiwag Feast and Demonstration. This event was in partnership with FDL Health Clinic, FDL Gitigaaning, FDL Planning Department, and FDLTCC Sustainable Food Systems. The Gitigaan Wiikondiwag event was a half day event that included a tour of the farm and new community kitchen/ cannery. A highlight of the day was presentations by the PTP participants on the program, and the demonstrations by indigenous chefs around how to grow and cook fresh, nutritious foods. Over the next 3 years over280 community membersparticipated in this event.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Savage, P. (2022, October 21-23) Thirteen Moons: Tribal College Extension. (Conference Presentation). FALCON Conference, Albuquerque, NM
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Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The Thirteen Moons program is the Tribal College Extension Program whose mission and goals are to increase awareness of natural resources, promote regional food sovereignty, provide new opportunities for social interaction and increase knowledge of the Ojibwe culture. To fulfill these goals, the Thirteen Moons program hosts workshops, events, and publishes monthly features in the Fond du Lac Newspaper on traditional resource ecology, management, and culture. These outreach events and activities are designed to be multigenerational with the intent of bringing youth and elders together. Through both virtual and in person programming we had 28 educational outreach events that served over1800 community members. Our partnerships have extended to multiple tribal, state, and federal agencies to increase outreach and support of work that supports the community. Our partnerships include the Food Sovereignty Initiative Committee, the Carlton County Soil and Water Conservation District, Native Food Alliance, Tiahwe Foundation, Minnesota State Health Initiative Program, USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, Fond du Lac Agricultural Department, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, USDA NRCS, and the USDA Farm Service Agency.? Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Professional development was offered to the Thirteen Moons staff.The AIHEC FALCON conference was a valuable professional development opportunity that included training, program level policy, and a strong networking opportunity to learn about programming at each 1994 Land Grant. The conference offers an opportunity for tribal extension staff to get to know USDA NIFA program officers and learn about the support that NIFA gives to 1994 Land Grant Colleges. This conference helped influence programming by providing ideas of things that we could bring back to Fond du Lac from other tribal communities. The 2021 FALCON Conference was held virtually and held over a two day period. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The Thirteen Moons program used various media to inform community members about the program and information on Ojibwe language, cultural events, and natural resources. The Duluth News Tribune ran a feature story on the Gitigaan Wiikondiwag (Farm to Table Feast). The Duluth News Tribune has a circulation of over 15,000 papers in the region. Thirteen Moons published articles on natural resources and Ojibwe culture and language in the Fond du Lac newspaper. The Fond du Lac newspaper delivers nationwide to FDL Band members, currently 2000 newspapers are distributed by mail and additional copies are available to the public in Cloquet, Duluth, and Minneapolis Minnesota. Thirteen Moons was a featured program in the 2022 Environmental Institute Report. This publication is shared with over 200 college students and community members. The Thirteen Moons Coordinator tabled at Fond du Lac Human Services Health Fair. Over 100 community members attended the Health Fair. Thirteen Moons uses Facebook to disseminate information on current workshops and events, topics on natural resource and Ojibwe culture and language. The Thirteen Moons Facebook can be found at www.facebook.com/pages/13-Moons-Ashiniswi- giizisoog/118178048248982. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the 2022-2023 year the Thirteen Moons program will have monthly workshops as well as seasonal events that focus on Anishinaabe culture, relationship to resource management, and sustainable harvest. Thirteen Moons will work closely with the Bimaaji'idiwin Producer Training Program agricultural program to help support and encourage beginning indigenous farmers. Programming will continue to bring focus on how cultural traditions on sustainable harvest help achieve the Fond du Lac Band's goals of food sovereignty. Thirteen Moons will continue to be a regular contributor to the Fond du Lac Food Sovereignty Initiative Committee and collaborate on supporting the Fond du Lac Band goals. Thirteen Moons will continue to work with the regional youth outreach programs, Fond du Lac Ojibwe School, Fond du Lac Resource Management, and other tribal agencies.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Pandemic restrictions were still a concern in the beginning of our 2021-2022 program year. Combining both virtual and limited in person outreach, Thirteen Moons still managed to offer harvest, agricultural, and cultural outreach to the community. This year we served over1800 community membersusing these multiple outreach methods. Our programming was designed around the holistic understanding of harvest and building community resiliency through the understanding of sovereignty and connection to culture. Manoomin, wild rice, is a staple of the Anishinaabe diet and a first food of the Ojibwe people. In September of 2021 we were able to host the manoomin camp at Leeman lake. This event was in partnership with gidakiimanaaniwigamig STEM camp, 1854 Treaty Authority, and Thirteen Moons to have a camp that had youth, Fond du Lac community members, and other participants from the region. This camp was a teaching opportunity to demonstrate how to harvest and process wild rice. This camp was the first of several workshops that focused on food sovereignty, nutrition, and food preservation. Throughout the year we held workshops that focused on canning, seed saving, garlic planting, salsa making, sugar bush outreach, and maple candy making. These workshops , along with a regional organic farm tour, served over 100 community members. These workshops were also a chance to partner with the Native Producers, Fond du Lac Agricultural Department, and experienced community members that helped teach these workshops. The focus on food sovereignty continued as Thirteen Moons partnered with the Fond du Lac Clinic nutritionist and the Ojibwe School to use the Harvest of the Month program to pull students into the Bimaaji'idiwin Garden and use the food from the garden to feature in the school lunches. This program interacted with over 100 students. The January Gichi Manidoo Pow wow was postponed until April 2022 to protect against a surge of covid in the region. The April pow wow,IshkwaagamizigeGiizi, hosted over 26 state, federal, and tribal agency information tables. Over 1000 community members participated in the pow wow and visited the information tables to learn more about what these organizations have done to help protect the land. The pow wow was supported by various community programs including Tiawhe, the State Health Initiative Program, Fond du Lac Resource Management, and Thirteen Moons. Community outreach continued with the Gitigaan Wiikondiwag (Farm to Table) Feast. Over 200 community members came to view producer garden plots, grow dome, orchard, and community kitchen at the Fond du Lac Gitigaaning Farm. A feast featured the produce from the producer garden plots, locally harvested wild rice, and venison. The focus on first foods and organic produce helped promote the eating of fresh and traditional foods. Informational tables from USDA Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Agriculture Statistics Service, and the MN Department of Agriculture gave out information on programming that will help tribal communities grow and harvest their own food. The theme of harvest continued through the workshops that were designed to bring back knowledge around natural resources. Workshops included birch bark harvest and basket making, seasonal decorations, and sustainable harvest of balsam boughs for non-timber harvest products. These workshops occurred throughout the program year and had over 80 participants. Thirteen Moons also worked with community partners to sponsor events that brought community together through cultural events. Several baaga'adowewin (traditional lacrosse) games were hosted in partnership with the FDLTCC CYFAR (Youth Resiliency Project), Fond du Lac Behavioral Health Department, and Fond du Lac community leaders. These events brought back baaga'adowewin, the associated Anishinaabe values, and did it with multi-generational games. Over 70 community members participated in these games. In February of 2022 Thirteen Moons partnered with University of Minnesota - Duluth American Indian Resource Center and the Gidakiimanaaniwigamig STEM Camp to host Ojibwe Winter Games. Over 100 community members attended this day long event. As soon as snow was on the ground Thirteen Moons brought together Ojibwe Elders to host winter storytelling. The storytelling events brought together over 30 community members. A part of the outreach that Thirteen Moons supported was bringing in Indigenous leaders in science and literature. American Indian Youth Literature Award winner Brian Young gave two seminar readings to the student of FDLTCC and the community. Brian Young spoke to 100 students and 60 community members during an evening reading. Dr. Kyle Bobiwash gave a virtual lecture on Native Bees of the Great Lakes Region to 30 community members. To help support language outreach Thirteen Moons worked with the Fond du Lac Cultural Center to print a Anishinaabe language coloring book that was focused on gardening. Six hundred books were printed for dissemination to Fond du Lac youth.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience: The Thirteen Moons program is the Tribal College Extension Program whose mission and goals are to increase awareness of natural resources, promote regional food sovereignty, provide new opportunities for social interaction and increase knowledge of the Ojibwe culture. In order to fulfill these goals, the Thirteen Moons program hosts workshops, events, and publishes monthly features in the Fond du Lac Newspaper on traditional resource ecology, management, and culture. These outreach events and activities are designed to be multigenerational with the intent of bringing youth and elders together. Through both virtual and in person programming we had 15 educational outreach events, over 30 one to one meetings wtih beginning producers and other community members, and involvment in strategic planning sessions to help improve tribal extension and help establish an Agricultural Division at Fond du Lac Reservation. During the 2020-2021 program year, in the middle of a pandemic, theThirteen Moons program served over 3100participants.Community partners are essential for the success ofThirteen Moons programming. This past year the program collaboratedwith the Fond du Lac Reservation Programs including the Reservation Business Committee, Fond du Lac Language Program, Fond du Lac Ojibwe School, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Fond du Lac Planning Department, FDL Health Clinic, Gitigaan Community Garden program, Gitigaaning Farm, Carlton County Soil and Water Conservation District, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, Lake Superior Estuarine Research Reserve, and Fond du Lac Band Resources Management. Changes/Problems: In mid-March of 2020 the Thirteen Moons program had to adjust its outreach because of the pandemic. Fond du Lac Band, the State of Minnesota, and the college/university system closed facilities, issued stay in place protocols, and restricted travel for community members. The program adjusted its outreach and used virtual platforms, one to one community assistance, and assumed a support role for many community programs. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Professional development was offered to both the staff and community members. The Thirteen Moons coordinator participated in multiple trainings to better serve the community in areas of food production, natural resources conservations, and networking with other tribal organizations. As the Fond du Lac Band's Food Sovereignty work moves forward there will be a focus on how to change policy to support distribution of locally grown foods. The Thirteen Moons Coordinator along with other FDL staff and community members attended theModel Food Code workshop hosted by Great Lake Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission. This meeting focused on sharing an example of a tribal food code that could be implemented in various communities. In the spring of 2021 the American IndianCommunity Housing Organization (AICHO) hosted theAICHO First Food Sovereignty Policy Initiative. Both of these meetings focused on food policy that could increase the agricultural / harvest economy in tribal communities. In addition to policy, the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission also held aMaple Growers Interest meeting. This was to discuss the impact of climate change on maple syrup production and opportunities to expand the network of indigenous maple producers in our region. In order to build a strong network of tribal producers that are kept up on the latest information on USDA programming, organic growing techniques, and tribal food sovereignty initiatives the Thirteen Moons coordinator and PTP participantsattended agricultural conferences. These conferences includedMOSES (largest organic conference in the country), theIndigenous Farmers Conference, theGrowing Organic Sustainably Conference, and the FDLTCCBee Symposium. The Thirteen Moons coordinator also took part on several meetings focused on natural resources and community building. The Superior National Forest Assisted Migration Plan is a collaboration between the US Forest Service and tribal communities. These meetings that happened bi-monthly from 2020 to 2021 were focused on cultural considerations of forestry management policy and having tribal community voices heard in decision making. TheLake Superior Living Labs brainstormed on how natural resources education andoutreach could bedone inrelation to the Lake Superior watershed, both in the scientific, social, and culturally inclusive manner. TheAIHEC Freshwater Security meeting discussed pressing issues on both water quality and water quantity on tribal lands. AIHEC FALCON conference was a valuable professional development opportunity that included training, programlevel policy, and a strong networking opportunity to learn about programming at each 1994 Land Grant. The conference offers an opportunity for tribal extension staff to get to know USDA NIFA program officers and learn about the support that NIFA gives to 1994 Land Grant Colleges.This conference helped influence programming by providingideas of things that we could bring back to Fond du Lac from other tribal communities. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The Thirteen Moons program used various media to inform community members about the program and information on Ojibwe language, cultural events, and natural resources. Thirteen Moons published articles on natural resources and Ojibwe culture and language in the Fond du Lac newspaper. The Fond du Lac newspaper delivers nationwide to FDL Band members, currently 2000 newspapers are distributed by mail and additional copies are available to the public in Cloquet, Duluth, and Minneapolis Minnesota. Thirteen Moons was a featured program in the 2020Environmental Institute Report.Thispublicationisshared with over 200 college students and community members.Thirteen Moons uses Facebook to disseminate information on current workshops and events, topics on natural resource and Ojibwe culture and language. The Thirteen Moons Facebook can be found at www.facebook.com/pages/13-Moons-Ashiniswi- giizisoog/118178048248982. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? During the 2021-2022year the Thirteen Moons program will have monthly workshops as well as seasonal events that focus on Anishinaabe culture, relationship to resource management, and sustainable harvest. Thirteen Moons will work closely with the Bimaaji'idiwin Producer Training Program agricultural program to help support and encourage beginning indigenous farmers. Programming will continueto bring focus on how cultural traditions on sustainable harvest help achieve the Fond du Lac Band's goals of food sovereignty. Thirteen Moons will continue to be a regular contributor to the Fond du Lac Food Sovereignty Initiative Committee and collaborate on supporting the Fond du Lac Band goals. Thirteen Moons will continue to work with the regional youth outreach programs, Fond du Lac Ojibwe School, Fond du Lac Resource Management, and other tribal agencies.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In 2020-2021 we still struggled with working under pandemic conditions duriing this program year.Combining both virtual and limited in person outreach,Thirteen Moons still managed to offer harvest, agricultural, and culturaloutreach to the community. This year we served over 3100 community members using these multiple outreach methods. Our programming was designed around the holistic understanding of harvest. The idea of harvest, fresh and traditional foods was especially important during our pandemic year. The community was feeling the impacts of sickness and uncertainty so to be able to feed your family and community was a critical need. Manoomin, wild rice, is a staple of the Anishinaabe diet and a first food of the Ojibwe people. Thirteen Moons programming started off with a presentation on manoomin sustainable harvest, the latest research by Fond du Lac Resource Management on the wild rice conditions, Elder stories on sustainable harvest as well as processing demonstrations. This was a virtual event that had 10 participants and taped processing videos that were viewed by over 50 people after the event. During the fall a workshop focusing on making cider from the abundance of the regional apple harvest was offered to the community. A series of recordings that highlighted the step by step process of using an apple press was shared on the Thirteen Moons facebook page. This event had over 92 participants. During sugar bush season (maple sap harvest) the Thirteen Moons program did a series of maple sap processing videos. These videos highlighted the brand new community kitchen / cannery that was build by Fond du Lac Reservation on the Gitigaaning Farm. The community kitchen includes some maple sugar processing equipment as well as other equipment that will help community members with space to boil down sap to make maple syrup for both home use and commercial sales. This workshop had 24 participants. The Thirteen Moons program also gave out taps and bags for community members to tap trees during the sugar bush season. As spring approached we headed into the netting / spearing season. The Thirteen Moons coordinator interviewed community Elder Jeff Savage who demonstrated how to fillet walleye. The interview and demonstration was posted on facebook and had over 2500 views. A major part of the tribal extension program work this year was around the Bimaaji'idiwin Producer Training Program. The Producer Training Program provides land, resources and education materials to support Fond du Lac food sovereignty goals and fosters innovative land management techniques likeusing wild rice hulls as crop mulch. The Producer Training Program (PTP) in partnership with the Fond du Lac Band's Gitigaaning Farm is open to community members who want to learn about organic farming and how to start an agricultural enterprise. Program participants have access to education through workshops, land at the FDL Gitigaaning Farm, infrastructure such as water, tools, and farming equipment, support in entering local farmers markets, and connections to be able to sell their produce while providing the community with fresh, organic foods. The Producer Training Program provides healing and land reclamation while engaging with food sovereignty. This year the PTP program had 38 beginning farmers growing food at Gitigaaning and at home gardens.In March 2021, 13 Moons and Fond du Lac Gitigaan (garden) program offered beginning courses on best organic growing practices. These workshops included courses such asPest and Disease Management and Invasive Plant Species.These workshops attracted over 80 community and PTP participatnts."From Planting Sticks to Tractors" ,a presentation by Intertribal Ag Council member Dan Cornelius, had over 30participants.One on one work with Producer Training Program participants and help on prepping farm plots for spring growing season started in May 2021.Tractor Operation and Safety was one of the first Gitigaaning hands on workshops of the growing season and had 16 PTP participants take part in the training.A major event that was towards the end of harvestwas the Gitigaan Wiikondiwag Feast and Demonstration.This event was in partnership with FDL Health Clinic, FDL Gitigaaning, FDL Planning Department, and FDLTCC Sustainable Food Systems. The Gitigaan Wiidondiway event wasa half day event that included a tour of the farm and new community kitchen/ cannery. A highlight of the day was presentations by the PTP participants on the program, and the demonstrations byindigenous chefs around how to grow and cook fresh, nutritious foods. Over 80 community members participated in this event. The theme of harvest included information about sustainable uses of natural resources for personal and economic uses. In fall 2020 the wreath makingworkshop showed how to make christmas wreaths along with information on how to sustainably harvest balsam boughs as an economic opportunity. Thirteen Moons also partnered with FDLTCC Environmental Institute and Unv of Minnesota Cloquet Forestry Center to have the college students learn from a forester on sustainable harvest and collect the boughs for the workshop. Kits were given out to community members for the workshop and the video was posted on 13 Moons Facebook page. This workshop served 21 community members.Birch Bark Basket Making Workshops were inMay- July 2021. These traditional baskets are used for anything from decorations to sap collection to rice harvest. Kits were given out to participants and the workshop was taped and posted on the 13 Moons Facebook page and over11 participants grabbed kits while many more viewed the online recordings of these virtual workshops. The Thirteen Moons Coordinator was involved in several committees that are working towards achieving the goals of food sovereignty and community well being.The Thirteen Moons Coordinator is a member of the Fond du Lac Food Sovereignty Initiative Board. This board meets weekly to discuss projects, events, and directions of food sovereignty on the Reservation. In partnership with members of this committee the tribal extension program designs programs, partners on outreach, and plans future grant proposals that support the goals of the Fond du Lac community. In thewinter of 2021 the Thirteen Moons coordinator helped design and implement strategic planning for FDLTCC Extension programming to better serve the community. The Thirteen Moons coordinator also participated inand supported the Fond du Lac Band's Strategic Planning Session on developing a tribalAgricultural Department. This planning session brought in over 25 stakeholders to discuss the role of a tribal Agricultural Department to support, sustain, and grow theFDL food sovereignty goals.
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Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The Thirteen Moons program is the Tribal College Extension Program whose mission and goals are to increase awareness of natural resources, promote regional food sovereignty, provide new opportunities for social interaction and increase knowledge of the Ojibwe culture. In order to fulfill these goals, the Thirteen Moons program hosts workshops, events, and publishes monthly features in the Fond du Lac Newspaper on traditional resource ecology, management, and culture. These outreach events and activities are designed to be multigenerational with the intent of bringing youth and elders together. Our outreach to these target audiences included partnering on 2 youth field day events and camps as well as 8 community educational outreach events. Thirteen Moons also produces an informational 2-page layout in the Fond du Lac Reservation Newspaper, Nahgachiwanong Dibahjimowinnan. Our programs and partnerships have allowed the Thirteen Moons program to serve over 2000 participants during the 2019- 2020 grant year. Currently the Thirteen Moons program collaborates with Fond du Lac Reservation Programs including the Reservation Business Committee, Fond du Lac Language Program, Fond du Lac Ojibwe School, Farm to School program, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Fond du Lac Planning Department, Gitigaan Community Garden program, Carlton County Soil and Water Conservation District, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, Lake Superior Estuarine Research Reserve, and Fond du Lac Band Resources Management. Changes/Problems:In December 2019 a new Thirteen Moons coordinator was hired. PhillipSavage took the position that was left by Nikki Crowe in May 2019.In mid-March of 2020 the Thirteen Moons program had to adjust its outreach because of the pandemic. Fond du Lac Band, the State of Minnesota, and the college/university system closed facilities, issued stay in place protocols, and restricted travel for community members. The program adjusted its outreach and used virtual platforms, one to one community assistance, and assumed a support role for many community programs. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Thirteen Moons coordinator was able to attend the MOSES agricultural convention. During this 2 day convention the coordinator learned about the lastest agricultural issues and methods as well as networking with tribal agricultural agencies, USDA programs, and other small farmers. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The Thirteen Moons program used various media to inform community members about the program and information on Ojibwe language, cultural events, and natural resources. Thirteen Moons published articles on natural resources and Ojibwe culture and language in the Fond du Lac newspaper. The Fond du Lac newspaper delivers nationwide to FDL Band members, currently 2000 newspapers are distributed by mail and additional copies are available to the public in Cloquet, Duluth, and Minneapolis Minnesota. Thirteen Moons was a featured program in the 2019 Environmental Institute Report and the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College newspaper. These publications are shared with over 200 college students and community members. Thirteen Moons workshop flyers are posted on Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College bulletin boards and electronic informational board. Thirteen Moons sends out flyers to a list serve with 240 participants to receive notices of upcoming events and workshops. Thirteen Moons uses Facebook to disseminate information on current workshops and events, topics on natural resource and Ojibwe culture and language. The Thirteen Moons Facebook can be found at www.facebook.com/pages/13-Moons-Ashiniswi- giizisoog/118178048248982. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the 2020-2021 year the Thirteen Moons program will have monthly workshops as well as seasonal events that focus on Anishinaabe culture, relationship to resource management, and sustainable harvest. Thirteen Moons will work closely with the Bimaaji'idiwin agricultural program to bring focus on how cultural traditions on sustainable harvest help achieve the Fond du Lac Band's goals of food sovereignty. Thirteen Moons will continue to be a regular contributor to the Fond du Lac Food Sovereignty Initiative Committee and collaborate on supporting the Fond du Lac Band goals. Thirteen Moons will continue to work with the regional youth outreach programs, Fond du Lac Ojibwe School, Fond du Lac Resource Management, and other tribal agencies.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The Thirteen Moons program leveraged their long-standing and new partners to offer outreach and programming to more people from the Fond du Lac community and the Ojibwe Ceded Territories (Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan). Starting in mid-March the Fond du Lac Band and state of Minnesota mandatedpandemic safety procedures to protect the health of the community. These guidelines led to alternative ways of outreach being offered to the community. In spite of these conditions Thirteen Moons still managed to offer harvest, agricultural, and cultural traditions outreach to the community. This year we served over 2000 community members using multiple outreach methods. Our youth focused programming partnered with both camps and workshops. One of our first camps of the year was a partnership with the Climate Strong youth camp. This camp is NOAA sponsored and is focused on community resiliency and youth leadership in the face of climate change. The first camp was a manoomin harvest and processing camp. The Thirteen Moons coordinator presented on treaty rights and the importance of manoomin in Ojibwe tradition and diet. A social distanced outreach was held lakeside with small family groups that serve the youth that came from the Climate Strong Camp, as well as interested community members. Information about manoomin harvest and processing of manoomin were shared with participants. Elders provided instruction on the culture of the harvest and respectful, sustainable harvest practices. The traditional game of snow snakes was held in partnership with the FDL Ojibwe School to teach community youth about harvest of " snow snakes", young tree saplings, and how to play the game. An elder from the White Earth reservation and an organizer of bringing back snowsnake tournaments traveled to Fond du Lac Reservation to teach our youth about the game and its cultural significance. There were many multi-generational community outreach events throughout this last grant year. Thirteen Moons helped coordinate and provided educational outreach at the Ganawenjigewing Maawanji'idiwin Fall Fest. The half - day event is hosted by the Fond du Lac Band Resource Management Division, FDL Ojibwe School, and regional tribal agencies. Informational tables were set up that provided information on the food sovereignty work in the community, demonstrations on sustainable harvest, FDLTCC student research, water quality, and distribution of plants for home gardens. Ganawenjigwing Maawanji'idiwin also focused on youth outreach with activity tables that taught about water quality, invasive species, gardening, cider pressing, and manoomin processing. The Fond du Lac Ojibwe School brought school groups, 1stto 10thgrade, to participate in the event. Over 225 community members attended this event. Thirteen Moons in partnership with the Bimaaji'idiwin Agricultural program hosted a Corn Harvest and Informational workshop for college students and community members. The participants learned about the heirloom Oneida corn grown at the FDL Farm and helped harvest the corn for seed saving. There were 20 participants at this day long event. Quite a few of the outreach events focused on natural resource management in the context of Anishinaabe culture as well as economic opportunity. Our non-timber forest harvest and seasonal decorations workshop focused on economic opportunities of the seasonal harvest of balsam boughs and birch bark. Sustainable harvest and best practices were shared with the participants. This event served 20 community members. Maple tree tapping, and maple sap processing techniques were demonstrated through multiple virtual outreach activities and one to one teachings during the March sugar bush season. Sustainable harvest, maple sap boiling for syrup and bottling for sale was some of the topics covered during these outreach events. Over 25 community members attended these outreach events.Gill nets were distributed to 5 community members to use during netting and spearing season. The Thirteen Moons partnered with the Bimaaji'idiwin Farmer Producer program to help support the agricultural training for the 21 participating members. During the growing season four acres were plowed and prepared for participants in the Bimaaji'idiwin Farmer Producer program. Thirteen Moons helped support the program by providing supplies, equipment, and implementation work on the Fond du Lac farm. Thirteen Moons in partnership with the Carlton County Soil and Water Conservation District distributed 15 pollinator habitat plant starter pack to community members. This outreach is part of the Northeastern Minnesota Bee Friendly Corridor program that brings together Carlton County, Oldenburg Community Center, Fond du Lac Band, and the Gitigaan program. Fifteen Fond du Lac Community members were part of this project along with over 100 greater community members.
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Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The Thirteen Moons program is the Tribal College Extension Program whose mission and goals are to increase awareness of natural resources, promote regional food sovereignty, provide new opportunities for social interaction and increase knowledge of the Ojibwe culture. In order to fulfill these goals the Thirteen Moons program hosts workshops, events, and publishes monthly features in the Fond du Lac Newspaper on traditional resource ecology, management, and culture. These outreach events and activities are designed to be multigenerational with the intent of bringing youth and elders together.Our outreach to these target audiences included partnering on 4 youth field day events and camps as well as 8 community educational outreach events. Thirteen Moons also produces an informational 2 page layout in the Fond du Lac Reservation Newspaper, Nahgachiwanong Dibahjimowinnan. Our programs and partnerships have allowed the Thirteen Moons program to serve over 2900 participants during the 2018-2019 grant year. Currently the Thirteen Moons program collaborates with Fond du Lac Reservation Programs including the Reservation Business Committee, Fond du Lac Language Program, Fond du Lac Ojibwe School, Fond du Lac Planning Department, Gitigaan Community Garden program and Fond du Lac Band Resources Management. Changes/Problems: A major change in staffing occured in May 2019. The previous Thirteen Moons coordinator took another position in the Fond du Lac Band's Resource Management division. In order to ensure continuity in programming the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Environmental Institute Director as well as Fond du Lac Resource Management staff took on additional duties that allowed programming to continue uninterrupted. In October 2019 the new Thirteen Moons Coordinator was hired and programming was able to continue without changes to events and activities. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The Thirteen Moons program used various media to inform community members about the program and information on Ojibwe language, cultural events, and natural resources. Thirteen Moons published articles on natural resources and Ojibwe culture and language in the Fond du Lac newspaper. The Fond du Lac newspaper delivers nationwide to FDL Band members, currently 2000 newspapers are distributed by mail and additional copies are available to the public in Cloquet, Duluth, and Minneapolis Minnesota.Thirteen Moons was a featured program in the 2018 Environmental Institute Report and the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College newspaper. These publications are shared with over 200 college students and community members. Thirteen Moons workshop flyers are posted on Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College bulletin boards and electronic informational board.Thirteen Moons sends out flyers to a list serve with 240 participants to receive notices of upcoming events and workshops. Thirteen Moons uses Facebook to disseminate information on current workshops and events, topics on natural resource and Ojibwe culture and language. The Thirteen Moons Facebook can be found at www.facebook.com/pages/13-Moons-Ashiniswi- giizisoog/118178048248982. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the 2019-2020 year the Thirteen Moons programwill havemonthly workshops as well as seasonal events that focus on Anishinaabe culture, relationship to resource management, and sustainable harvest. Thirteen Moons will work closelywith the Bimaaji'idiwin agricultural program to bring focus on how cultural traditions on sustainable harvest help achieve the Fond du Lac Band's goals of food sovereignty.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The Thirteen Moons program leveraged their long-standing and new partners to offer outreach and programming to more people from the Fond du Lac community and the Ojibwe Ceded Territories (Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan). Thirteen Moons is growing its reputation in the region as a great partner to get the latest information and training on natural resource management, traditional harvest, and cultural practices. This year we served over3900community members using multiple outreach methods. Our youth focused programming partnered with both camps and workshops. One of our first camps of the year was a partnership with the Climate Strong youth camp. This camp is NOAA sponsored and is focused on community resiliency and youth leadership in the face of climate change. The first camp was a manoomin harvest and processing camp. The Thirteen Moons coordinator presented on treaty rights and the importance of manoomin in Ojibwe tradition and diet. The day long camp held lakeside with youth that came from the Climate Strong Camp, Carlton School District American Indian Program, American Indian Housing Community Organization youth group as well as interested community members. The station was set up to provide hands-on training covering the harvest and processing of manoomin. Elders provided instruction on the culture of the harvest and respectful, sustainable harvest practices. There were over100youth and community members that participated at this event. The Miinigoowiziwinan camp focused on sustainable harvest and career exploration. Thirteen Moons supported this youth camp by doing a treaty rights presentation as well as manoomin harvest trainings. There were20youth participants in this week long camp from various tribal communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Thirteen Moons also hosted 2 events focused on traditional game events that include teachings about the cultural significance as well as the harvesting techniques used to make the equipment for the games. Traditional lacrosse demonstration with youth, including teachings from a Fond du Lac community member,had over15youth and adult participants. The traditional game of snow snakes was held in partnership with the FDL Ojibwe School to teach community youth about harvest of " snow snakes", young tree saplings, and how to play the game. An elder from the White Earth reservation and an organizer of bringing back snowsnake tournaments traveled to Fond du Lac Reservation to teach our youth about the game and its cultural significance. There were many multi-generational community outreach events throughout this last grant year. Thirteen Moons helped coordinate and provided educational outreach at the Ganawenjigewing Maawanji'idiwin Fall Fest. The half - day event is hosted by the Fond du Lac Band Resource Management Division, FDL Ojibwe School, and regional tribal agencies. Informational tables were set up that provided information on the food sovereignty work in the community, demonstrations on sustainable harvest, and distribution of plants for home gardens. Ganawenjigwing Maawanji'idiwin also focused on youth outreach with activity tables that taught about water quality, invasive species, gardening, and manoomin processing. The Fond du Lac Ojibwe School brought school groups, 1stto 10thgrade, to participate in the event. Over250community members attended this event. Quite a few of the outreach events focused on natural resource management in the context of Anishinaabe culture as well as economic opportunity. Our non-timber forest harvest and seasonal decorations workshop focused on economic opportunities of the seasonal harvest of balsam boughs and birch bark. Sustainable harvest and best practices were shared with the participants. This event served23community members. The black ash and birch bark basket workshop was a partnership between Thirteen Moons, FDL Resource Management, and an Ojibwe traditional ash basket maker. This workshop stressed the impact of the invasive insect, the Emerald Ash Borer, on the future of black ash in our region. Black ash is a culturally significant tree and is used in making baskets, snowshoes, and medicines. The workshop also talked about the concerns around how the loss of this tree species would affect the hydrology of our regional wetlands. Over30community members attended this event. Maple treetapping, and maple sapprocessing techniques were demonstrated through multiple workshops during the March sugar bush season. Sustainable harvest, maple sap boiling for syrup and bottling for sale was some of the topics covered during these workshops.Over25community members attended one or multiple of the demonstrations Multiple partners were integral to success of some big community events that served our multistate region. The Gichi Manidoo Pow Wow was hosted in January 2019. This event brought over1400community members together with tribal, federal, and state agencies to increase learning around programs that help take care of the land and community. The "We are Water" outreach event was a partnership with many regional organizations such as Minnesota Humanities, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, City of Duluth, Fond du Lac Resource Management, Minnesota Sea Grant, Department of Natural Resources, Lake Superior Estuarine Research Reserve, Lake Superior Coastal Program, and the Great Lakes Aquarium. Over the "We are Water" month there were a variety of presentations, a River Watch Congress, activities, and displays at the Great Lakes Aquarium. And estimate of1500-2000guests visited and participated in the "We Are Water" events. The Asemaa anishinaageg cultural practices event was a multi-partnership event that focused on the issues of traditional tobacco and smoking cessation. There were30community participants.
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