Taking Sustainability to the Outer Limits

1. 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.

2. The Menominee Nation Located in Northeast Wisconsin 358 miles² or 235,000 acres pop 4,562 128 lakes and 4 rivers, (Wolf River) www.wikipedia.org

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

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

5. Demographics of the College • Total graduates 659 • Average age at graduation 33 • Alumni ethnicity 72% Native, 28% non-Native • Top degree choices – Business, Nursing, Education • Gender of graduates – 26% male, 74% female

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

7. Course Content of Introduction to Sustainable Development • Part 1: Human Behavior, perception and attitudes Population scales and monitoring • Demographic distribution • Population growth patterns • Economic inequities • Part II: Land and sovereignty Indigenous land rights Human rights Resource extraction Globalization • Part III: Technology Appropriate and alternative technologies • Renewable energy • Globalization of communication technologies • Part IV: Institutional development and sustainability Non-profit institutions • Funding sources • Social Activism • Part V: Natural Environment Global environmental threats • Global Climate Change • Permaculture • Part VI: Economics Triple bottom-line accounting • Green economies • Business ethics • Sustainable career options

8. Texts for Introduction to Sustainable Development Course

9. Topics Selected

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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)

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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