Leech lake tribal college (LLTC) mentors students in indigenous science and supports forest research projects within leech lake nation and the chippewa national forest, in partnership with agencies…

Leech lake tribal college (LLTC) mentors students in indigenous science and supports forest research projects within leech lake nation and the chippewa national forest, in partnership with agencies including the leech lake division of resource management (DRM), the united states forest service (USFS), the minnesota department of natural resources (MNDNR), and the nature conservancy (TNC). LLTC's forest ecology program will collaborate on projects in forest ecology and restoration, wildlife management, fire science and restoration, aquatic ecology, invasive species management, wild rice production, data science and ojibwe language and culture. These projects provide faculty and students with opportunities for professional development, research experience, and networking with local natural resource managers. Considered together, these projects help to unify and strengthen forest management within leech lake nation and among partners in a multiple-management landscape. New research efforts include managing eurasion milfoil within wild rice beds, data science and modeling using long-term climate data, and permaculture of native foods. Ongoing research includes monitoring PR escribed fire effects on culturally significant resources such as miinan (blueberries, or vaccinium SPP.), cataloging native ataagib (freshwater green algae, or chara SPP.), monitoring and removing invasive starry stonewort (nitellopsis obtusa), and monitoring native species of amoog (bumble bees, or bombus SPP.). These projects will directly support the operations of research projects among our partners here at leech lake nation. The results of our research will improve management of culturally relevant resources including miinan, manoomin (wild rice, or zizania palustris), bapakwanagemag (red pine, or pinus resinosa), and numerous woodland plant species used for medicine. Improving the management of ecologically functioning forests and culturally relevant resources supports the 2019 memorandum of understanding between the leech lake band of ojibwe and the USFS, which outlines managing the forest in closer alignment with indigenous values.