Minisan - Connecting Ojibwe Ecological Knowledge and Climate Change in the Apostle Islands - Additional Resources

The Apostle Islands lie within Gichigami (Lake Superior). The Ojibwe tribal communities of Gaa-Miskwaabiikaang (Red Cliff) and Mashkiiziibii (Bad River) are nearby. Ojibwe people throughout the region rely on the Apostle Islands and Lake Superior for their lifeways.

NPS Photo

Additional Resources to accompany this interpretation and education companion to the "Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for Terrestrial Ecosystems at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore" report, published in 2020

• Glossary of Ojibwemowin (Ojibwe language) used throughout the ecosystem pages.
• Native Ecological Knowledge on Climate Change
• Scientific Ecological Knowledge on Climate Change
• Tribal Climate Change Programs

 

 

Glossary of Ojibwemowin

The Ojibwe language is called Ojibwemowin. It is the language of the land and Ojibwe people. These words in Ojibwemowin are used throughout the ecosystem pages. Throughout these pages, you'll find links to audio of many Ojibwemowin words and place names. Audio of area place names, the 13 Ojibwe Moons, and words from the park's Junior Ranger book can all be found on the park's website. The University of Minnesota Ojibwe People's Dictionary is another excellent resource to hear and learn Ojibwemowin words.

• Apaakozigan (Bearberry also sometimes called Kinnikinnick)
• Amik (Beaver)
• Asiniig (Rocks)
• Azaadiwag (Quaking aspen)
• Baapaagimaak (Black ash)
• Bakaan ingoji gaa-ondaadag (non-local plant beings or invasive species)
• Ishkode (Fire)
• Gaa-miskwaabiikaang (Red Cliff Nation)
• Gaawaandag (White spruce)
• Gagaagiwanzh (Eastern hemlock)
• Giizhikatig (Northern White Cedar) trees
• Gozigwaakominagaawanzh (Juneberry)
• Indinawemaaganidog (All my relations)
• Izhitwaawin (Knowledge system)
• Jiimaan (canoe or boat)
• Ma’iingan (Wolf)
• Manidoog (Spirits)
• Manidoonsag (Little spirits or insects)
• Mashkiig (Swamp and muskeg)
• Mashkiigobagwaaboo (Labrador tea)
• Mashkiigwakamig (Sphagnum moss)
• Mashkiiziibii (Bad River Nation)
• Memengwaa (Butterfly)
• Miinan (Blueberries)
• Mino-bimaadiziwin (Living a good life)
• Miskwaabiikaang (The place where there is red rock cliffs)
• Mishwaabiimizh (Red osier dogwood)
• Nabagashk (Cattails)
• Nibi (Water)
• Niibaayaandag (Canada yew)
• Ojibwemowin (The Ojibwe language)
• Omakakii (Frog)
• Waabooz (Snowshoe hare)
• Waawaashkeshiwag (White-tailed deer)
• Waabashkikiibag (Leatherleaf)
• Wadoop (Speckled or Tag alder)
• Wazhashk (Muskrat)
• Wenabozho Ominisan (Apostle Islands)
• Wiigwaasitig (Paper birch)
• Wiigwaasaatigoog (Paper birch trees)
• Wiinizik (Yellow birch)
• Zesegaandag (Black spruce)
• Zhingob (Balsam fir)
• Zhingwaak (Eastern white pine)

 

 

Native Ecological Knowledge on Climate Change

• Climate Vulnerability Assessment - Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildilfe Commission (GLIFWC)
  • The Climate Change Program is conducting a climate change vulnerability assessment within the Ceded Territories. Vulnerability assessments have become an important tool in understanding and adapting to climate change effects. The process evaluates how species, habitats, and ecosystems are vulnerable to climate change by examining their exposure, sensitivity, and ability to adapt to predicted changes.
• Dibaginjigaadeg Anishinaabe Ezhitwaad (A Tribal Climate Adaption Menu) - GLIFWC
  • The Tribal Adaptation Menu is an extensive collection of climate change adaptation actions for natural resource management, organized into tiers of general and more specific ideas. The Menu also includes a companion Guiding Principles document, which describes detailed considerations for working with tribal communities.
• G-WOW Changing Climate, Changing Culture
  • The “Gikinoo’wizhiwe Onji Waaban” (Guiding for Tomorrow) or “G-WOW” Initiative is a unique approach to increasing awareness of how climate change is affecting the environment, people, cultures, and economies; and promoting action to address it.

 

 

Scientific Ecological Knowledge on Climate Change

• Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI)
  • The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) is a statewide collaboration of scientists and stakeholders formed as a partnership between UW-Madison’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. WICCI’s goals are to evaluate climate change impacts on Wisconsin and foster solutions.
• "Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for Terrestrial Ecosystems at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore" - National Park Service
  • Apostle Islands National Lakeshore has undertaken a vulnerability assessment to gather the best available information on how climate change may affect the park’s terrestrial ecosystems. This assessment, created by a team of local experts representing diverse institutions and disciplines, is designed to provide information about what ecosystems are vulnerable, how vulnerable they are, and why they are vulnerable.

 

Determinations of Climate Change Vulnerability and Confidence for the 11 terrestrial Apostle Islands Ecosystems.

The following table provides an overview of the determinations of climate change vulnerability and confidence for the 11 terrestrial Apostle Islands ecosystems as found in the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment. 

• Potential impacts are rated on a scale from Disruptive to Supportive, and adaptive capacity is rated on a scale from Low to High.
• Potential impacts and adaptive capacity are combined to reach a vulnerability determination (Low to High).
• Evidence is rated on a scale from Limited to Robust, and agreement is rated on a scale from Low to High.
• Evidence and agreement are combined to reach a confidence determination. See Appendix 5 of the report for more detail.

Determinations of climate change vulnerability and confidence for the ecosystems.

Ecosystem	Potential Impacts	Adaptive Capacity	Vulnerability	Evidence	Agreement	Confidence

 

 

Tribal Climate Change Programs

• Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildilfe Commission (GLIFWC)
• Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
• Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
• Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
• 1854 Treaty Authority
• Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan: 1854 Ceded Territory Including the Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, and Grand Portage Reservations

 

Explore Another Ecosystem or Return to the Start

• Minisan Overview or Ecosystem Map
• Additional Resources
• Beaches & Dunes
• Boreal Forests
• Coastal Wetlands
• Deep Ravine Forests
• Erodible Maritime Bluffs
• Great Lakes Pine Forests & Barrens
• Interior Alder Thickets
• Interior Peat Swamps & Bogs
• Lake Superior
• Mixed Conifer Forests
• Rock Cliffs & Ledges
• Upland Hardwood Forests