Every year, the UW-Madison recognizes exemplary partnerships that embody the Wisconsin Idea of university-community collaboration. This year, Earth Partnership Indigenous Arts and Sciences was one of seven projects across the entire campus that was selected for this honor. Dr. Earlise Ward (School of Nursing and Morgridge Center for Public Service Director) and Chancellor Rebecca Blank presented the awards at the Chancellor’s home.
Earth Partnership Director Cheryl Bauer-Armstrong and Ho-Chunk Nation Cultural and Community Education Division Manager Michelle Cloud accepted the award on behalf the entire IAS initiative, which include these partners:
EARTH PARTNERSHIP
Cheryl Bauer-Armstrong, Maria Moreno, Claire Bjork, Rachel Byington, Jessie Conaway
BAD RIVER BAND OF THE LAKE SUPERIOR TRIBE OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS
Naomi Tillison, Stephanie Julian, Lori Lemieux, Dylan Jennings, Joe Rose
RED CLIFF BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA
Chad Abel, Alex Breslav, Marvin Defoe, Frank Montano, Reggie Cadotte
LAC COURTE OREILLES BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA
Amber Marlow, Dennis White, Sue Menzel, Mike Heim, Janine McNulty
LAC DU FLAMBEAU BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA
Brian Gauthier, Larry Wawronowicz, Celeste Hockings, Leon Valliere
HO-CHUNK NATION
Michelle Cloud, Bethany Redbird
Earth Partnership previously received a University-Community Partnership award for woodland restoration education in partnership with Georgia Gomez-Ibañez (Cambridge School Forest).
About Earth Partnership: Indigenous Art & Sciences
UW-Madison’s Earth Partnership Indigenous Arts and Sciences initiative collaborates with the Bad River, Red Cliff, Lac Courte Oreilles, Lac du Flambeau, and Ho-Chunk Nations to bring Native communities and educators together around environmental science and land and water stewardship. By expanding culturally-relevant instruction within communities, the initiative is engaging Native youth through service-learning, career training and enhanced environmental education.
INDIGENOUS ARTS AND SCIENCES IS A JOINT INITIATIVE BETWEEN THE BAD RIVER, HO-CHUNK, LAC COURTE OREILLES, LAC DU FLAMBEAU, AND RED CLIFF NATIONS AND EARTH PARTNERSHIP
Indigenous Arts and Sciences (IAS) is a collaboration with Native Nations throughout Wisconsin, rooted in the widely-held Native values of respect, relationship, reciprocity, and responsibility. Through work with youth, families, communities, and teachers, IAS addresses the need for culturally relevant learning experiences and career exploration in the context of environmental education. Read more about the 2019 IAS Summer Institutes.
IAS emphasizes community, place, and culture in approaches to ecological restoration, with the goal of “indigenizing” science education (a phrase used by IAS advisor Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer). Indigenized restoration education involves connections to traditional cultural wisdom, seasonal practices, and emphasizes learning from tribal elders. In addition to professional development for teachers, IAS involves youth programs that support family-school-community connections and seasonal community education events that highlight cultural traditions and environmental practices. IAS Coordinators in each partnering community coordinate with Education, Natural Resources, and other tribal departments to deliver educational opportunities year-round.
Indigenous Arts and Sciences is honored to work with the guidance of an esteemed Advisory Board. These Advisors are:
- Dr. Megan Bang (Northwestern University, School of Education and Social Policy)
- Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer (SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry; Center for Native Peoples and the Environment)
- RunningHorse Livingston (Mathematize, Inc.)
- Dr. Patty Loew (Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism; Center for Native American and Indigenous Research)
- David O’Connor (WI Department of Public Instruction, American Indian Studies Program)