The Sustainable Development Institute Center for First Americans Forestlands is involved in many diverse partnerships. The following is an example of some of the initiatives which result from CFAF partnerships.
Technical Workshops and Conferences
Our technical workshops have provided participants a non-contentious space for dialogue and learning among tribal officials, students, community members, and tribal, state, and federal natural resource managers. We have held workshops on the following topics: Forest Management Planning, Invasive Species, Emerald Ash Borer, Green Design and Construction, Collaborated on Sharing Indigenous Wisdom II conference, Sustainable Forestry, Sustainable Forestry and Policy in Latin America, Forest Service Consultation with American Indian Tribes, Ash Tree Conservation on Tribal Lands, and forest products and industry in the Lake States.
| Year | # workshops | # participants |
| 2005-2006 | 2 | 90 |
| 2007 | 2 | 190 |
| 2008 | 2 | 80 |
| 2009 | 4 | 104 |
| 2010 | 3 | 48 |
| 2011 | 6 | 180 |
| 2012 | 3 | 225 |
|
Total |
917 |
Liaison Presentations, Seminars, and Guest Lectures
The Forest Service Liaison has given many presentations and lectures to CMN and other undergraduate university students, graduate university students, faculty, community members, and natural resource professionals. Topics have included: SDI Model of Sustainability, CMN/FS Partnership, Emerald Ash Borer and American Indian Communities, Community Forestry in Bolivia
| Year | # presenations | # participants |
| 2005-2006 | 9 | 233 |
| 2007 | 4 | 140 |
| 2008 | 18 | 294 |
| 2009 | 11 | 218 |
| 2010 | 11 | 342 |
| 2011 | 5 | 235 |
| 2012 | 8 | 422 |
|
Total |
1,884 |
Research
- Community Forestry, Sustainable Forest Management, and Environmental History in Indigenous communities in Wisconsin and Bolivia
- Acoustic Testing of Wood Properties for Optimal Biomass Utilization
- Climate Change and American Indian Communities
- Social Indicators of Sustainable Forest Management on Tribal Forestlands
- Traditional Knowledge and Forest Inventory of Birch Bark in the Lake States
- General reference articles on American Indian Forestlands and Bolivian Forest Management
Menominee Sustainable Forestry and Community Educational Field Tours
Tours discuss history of forest management on the Menominee Reservation, Menominee history, Menominee community and government, Menominee Forest Management, Silviculture, Ecology, Sustainability, and Culture.
| Year | # field tours | # participants |
| 2005-2006 | 6 | 116 |
| 2007 | 3 | 168 |
| 2008 | 4 | 36 |
| 2009 | 6 | 117 |
| 2010 | 5 | 57 |
| 2011 | 2 | 32 |
| 2012 | 5 | 133 |
|
Total |
659 |
Projects with College of Menominee Nation Students
Internships – Our internships are one of the most important ways we work with students. Student interns develop projects, research, and individual study on topics important to American Indian communities. Topics have included: Emerald Ash Borer, Sustainability Criteria and Indicators, Birch Bark, Sustainable Design and Construction, Micrometerology.
25 College of Menominee Nation Student interns since 2004.
2 Student Leadership Workshops
5 US Forest Service STEP students
1 US Forest Service SCEP student leading to permanent placement
Leveraged Funding
$150,000 Sustainability Indicators Research PSU/CMN
$45,000 Invasive Species and EAB in American Indian Communities
$36,500 for Sharing Indigenous Wisdom (Not including CMN contribution)
$57,000 for CMN student interns (Not including CMN contributions)
$150,000 Acoustic Testing of Wood CMN/FPL/UMN Duluth
$100,000/year North East Climate Science Center (as of 2013 $200,000 total)
$50,000 NRS/USFS R&D Tribes and Climate Change Research with CMN
$25,000 total for NRS Special Project Funds: CMN Intern for NRS and cultural training
$50,000 MTE Mill Works Division Grant from FPL
$200,000 In-Kind Agreement with UW Madison Knowledge Systems for Sustainability
Other Highlights
October 2003, MOU Signed by College of Menominee Nation, Sustainable Development Institute, Forest Products Laboratory, Eastern Region, North East Research Station, North Central Research Station, and Northeastern Area. The Center for First Americans Forestlands is created.
April 2005, US Forest Service hires a Liaison to be based at the College of Menominee Nation Keshena Campus to facilitate projects and the administrative aspects of the partnership.
October 2009, second MOU is signed by the College of Menominee Nation, Sustainable Development Institute, Forest Products Laboratory, Eastern Region, North East Research Station, North Central Research Station, and Northeastern Area.
The Center for First Americans Forestlands maintains engagement with the US Forest Service national level through the Office of Tribal Relations.
The Center for First Americans Forestlands has worked with several units of the US Forest Service to develop strategies for the recruitment of new employees and student employment.
The Partnership is expanding to facilitate cross-boundary management of cultural and natural resources. CMN Education and Extension Archeology and Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest cultural resource management project on the National Forest.
