Abstract
The college classroom at a tribal college offers a dynamic perspective on the discussion of traditional ecological knowledge. It provides a unique view because it is one of the very few settings in higher education where the majority of students in the class are American Indian. It is here where traditional ecological knowledge should become tangible, practical, and embraced. It is evident when students talk about their culture and spiritual practices. It is shown when they relate stories that their grandparents have passed down to them over the years. It is evident when they share their experiences of spending time in the forest and interacting with the land as if it was their best friend. My experience as a non-native instructor at the College of Menominee Nation in northern Wisconsin over the past 10 years has provided me with not only an appreciation for traditional ecological knowledge, but actually an understanding for how it is essential in the global study of environmental sustainability. This paper will detail the basis for making such an assertion.
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Notes
The Global Perspective Institute Inc. was established in 2008 to study and promote global holistic human development, especially among college students. We live in a global world, in which multiple perspectives about knowing, sense of identity, and relationships with others serve as powerful influences in our society. More information on the assessment can be found at http://gpi.central.edu.
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Van Lopik, W. Traditional ecological knowledge in the tribal college classroom. J Environ Stud Sci 2, 341–345 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-012-0095-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-012-0095-7