On July 31st, the High School Sustainability Cohort (SLC) hosted an Elder and Community input day at Mawawceseniyah. About thirty-five people attended to hear what the SLC has been working on and give the students feedback and input. Each of the three groups presented their projects—speaking to the action-research project process they had been implemented over the past several weeks and more specifically to their topics. The first group outlined how they had been making a film
that looks at obstacles to Menominee athletes reaching their full athletic potential. Another group gave a summary of their film that explores how sturgeon have related to the Menominee people and culture through the past, present, and future. The third group shared their efforts in building a medicinal plant bed to contribute to making more outdoor community an education spaces at the College of Menominee Nation. Each group fielded questions from the audience and received some leads on interesting sources that could contribute to their projects. “It was nice to see them really take ownership of their projects,” Jeff Grignon, Menominee Tribal Enterprises Forest Development Forester, said after the presentations.
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The beautiful day also
allowed for several other activities related to sustainability. Ron Corn Jr., Menominee language and culture student and teacher, led the high school student and community members in constructing the frame of a wigwam on the shore of LaMotte Lake. The group bent maple saplings into poles shaped in “U’s” which they then connected with sinew. Ron Corn Jr. plans on adding the birchbark finish soon.
Ben Grignon, CMN and Menominee Indian High School art instructor, shared techniques he learned in New Mexico to add decorations to the wood fire clay oven. Ben found the clay locally and showed the group how to prepare it, which allowed many people got their hands and feet dirty by stomping and squishing the clay into a smooth and consistent texture that had no granular bumps left. Having learned about soil texture of clay, sand, and silt mixes earlier in the year, students could apply their soil science knowledge to art. Ben and company then packed it onto the top and turned a round oven into a gaping face that could be fed with logs and food.
Many thanks to our generous hosts at Mawawceseniyah and the people who contributed their perspectives and feedback.