Background

Indigenous communities maintain long-term and strongly integrative perspectives on their local environments, yet Indigenous peoples are still marginalized in dominant institutions in the US and the world that study the environment. There are 12 Indigenous Nations and communities in Wisconsin, and many Indigenous peoples living in and attending school in the state. The dedicated resources and opportunities for Indigenous peoples and Nations to train their citizens internally and externally in a culturally equitable and critical way is rarely available. Here, we are creating opportunities for Indigenous students, leaders, community members, and managers to gather and learn together about seasonal changes taking place in the environment, learn and discuss science practices, and consider relevant management and policy.

What is PhIN?

As a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Limnology at Trout Lake Station (TLS) and the Lac du Flambeau (LDF) Tribe’s Tribal Natural Resources Department (TNR), we will be hosting seasonal workshops over the course of three years that focus on water in the northern Great Lakes region. These workshops will focus topics such as: aquatic plants & animals, lake chemistry, data sovereignty, community-based research, etc. In terms of aquatic plants and animals, we will focus on ones that are food resources, of research interest, and have a cultural and socio-economic impact for peoples in the region. Individuals will gain hands-on training in collecting limnological information and in working with these respective species. We invite Indigenous & non-Indigenous speakers affiliated with UW-Madison, other academic institutions, and communities to present and workshop on varying sub-topics including genetics, language & research, science communication, etc.

Who can Participate?

Workshop participation is specifically open to Indigenous peoples, which includes citizens and descendants of a Tribe within the United States. Adults at all stages of career, regardless of educational background, and with or without natural resources backgrounds are invited to participate.

When and Where?

We are excited to announce our new year of workshops taking place in October 2024 and Winter 2024-5 centering the themes of Lake Toxicology, along with an optional opportunity to participate in a Wild Rice Harvesting Camp on September! The Wild Rice Camp will take place from Sept 6th to the 7th and the Fall PhIN workshop from Oct 11th to the 13th, both hosted at Trout Lake Research Station (Boulder Junction, WI). Please see the "Apply" tab for application info.

Our pilot PhIN workshops took place in Winter 2023 and Spring 2023 and were hosted at Trout Lake Station and the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Natural Resources Department respectively.

Our Goal

Our goal is to teach attendees about performing community-based research, develop interdisciplinary and inter-institutional relationships, and engage the local Tribal communities with research methods and topics relevant to their Lands.

Applications closed until Fall 2025

Be on the look out for future opportunities!