Transcript Tribal Perspectives on Biological Indicators_CJLippert_WedAM_3c

Tribal Perspectives on
Biological Indicators
Charlie Lippert, Air Quality Technician
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
National Tribal Forum
Las Vegas, NV June 3–5, 2008
Our Relationship and
Our Understanding
Environmental quality changes and
climate changes alter our relationship with
and understanding of the life around us
that we use to define
– our culture,
– our homeland and homes,
– our foods and medicines, and
– ourselves
Definition
Biological Indicators (Bioindicators)
• species or chemicals used to monitor the health of an
environment or ecosystem through observing their function,
population, or status to determine ecosystem or
environmental integrity, and monitored for changes
(chemical, physiological, or behavioral) that may indicate a
problem within their ecosystem.
Primary Indicator
• species used as an indicator that directly exhibit chemical,
physiological, or behavioral changes due to direct changes
in health of an environment or ecosystem
Secondary Indicator
• Similar to “Primary Indicator” but have indirect
relationship
Gidizhitwaawiminaan
(Our Culture)
Change in our understanding of self
– Zagaakwaandagowininiwag
(Men of the Thick/Dense Brush) = Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
identity linked to homeland but woodlands are becoming prairie
Change in our understanding of seasons
– Iskigamizige-giizis
(Sapsugar-making Moon) = April
sap-flow times changing; seasonal activities now must adjust
Change in our understanding of geography
– Oshkibagi-ziibi
(New Leaf-growth River) = Minnesota River
toponym  land function; toponyms must now change
Gidakiiminaan
(Our Homeland)
Gichigamiing, Mitigwaakiing ashi
Omashkodeng (Coastal, Woodlands and Plains)
Anishinaabeg have transitioned from Coastal to
Woodlands and Plains due to:
√ Niizhwaaswayagaan mishkodeniniigaanaajimowinan (Seven Fires Prophecy)
√ Bagamaadiziwin (the Arrival)
√ Wezhibii’igaazowinikaang (Treaty Area)
? Shift in Daawakiing (Ecological zone)
Ecological zones defined by
a’aw akiing (terrestrials)
– gitigaanan
– binesiwag/bineshiinyag
(plants)
– manidoons
(bugs/insects)
(birds)
– awesiinyag
(animals)
a’aw nibiing (aquatics)
– ataagibiin/washkoon
(aquatic plants/reeds)
– manidoosh
(bugs/insects)
– zhiibshiibag
(waterfowls)
– giigoonyag
(fishes)
Endaayang (Our home)
wiigwaasaatig (birch)
– mide-wiigwaasabakoog
giizhikaandag (white cedar)
– nookwezigan (smudge)
zhingwaakwaatig (pine)
– mitigoon (lumber)
ininaatig (red maple)
– ziinzibaakwad (sugar)
emikwaanaatig (ash)
– aabajichiganan (utensils)
(sacred birchscrolls)
Miijiman gaye Mashkikiiwan
(Foods and Medicines)
odoonibiig (tullibee)
– ↑temperature,
↓tullibee
ogaawag (walleye pike/pickerel)
– ↑organophosphorus insecticide spray drifts,
↓larval walleye growth
moozoog (moose)
– ↑temperature, ↑pests,
↓moose
Miijiman gaye Mashkikiiwan
(Foods and Medicines)
waakonishag (lichens)
– ↑SOX and ↑PM2.5 in the air,
↓lichens as medicine
mashkodiisiminibagoon
(bean leaves)
– leaves susceptible to O3 and NOX damage
↑ injured bean plants,
↓ bean nutritive quality/yield
maniwegoonsan
(bristly buttercup)
– thrives in mild NH4+ enriched atmosphere
↑ growth along roads
↓ medicinal use due to herbicide applications
Mino-ayaawin (Health)
Ultimately, we ourselves are also biological
indicators, aakoziwin (disease) can manifest
– E-giishkanaamoshkaawaad (COPD)
Asthma and other breathing difficulties from SOX,
NOX, PM2.5 and O3 in the air
– Miskwiwaaboo-niisaakonaan (blood chemistry)
Changes in food/medicine chemistry and
atmospheric chemistry affects our blood chemistry
and our body function
Concluding
Thoughts
Man did not weave the
web of life – he is merely
a strand in it. Whatever
he does to the web, he
does to himself.
– Chief Seattle, 1854
Miigwech. Mii sa go i’iw.
(Thank you. That is all for now.)
Sample References
Books
• Carson, Rachel (1962). Silent Spring. ISBN 0-618-24906-0
• Farr, Daniel (2002). “Indicator Species”, in Encyclopedia of
Environmetrics. ISBN 978-0-471-89997-6
• Lagler, Richard B. (editor)(1998). Recognition of Air Pollution Injury to
Vegetation: A Pictorial Atlas. ISBN 0-923204-14-8
• Shrivastava, Rahul (2007). “Indicator Species”, in Encyclopedia of
Environment and Society. ISBN 1412927617
Websites
• http://biomarkers.pnl.gov/
• http://www.biobasics.gc.ca/english/View.asp?x=740
Journals and Journal articles:
• Environmental Bioindicators – An Official Journal of the International
Society of Environmental Bioindicators. ISSN 1555-5275 (print), 15555267 (online)
• Noss, Reed (1990). “Indicators for monitoring biodiversity. A
hierachical approach”, Conservation Biology 4: 355-364
MILLE LACS BAND OF OJIBWE INDIANS
Executive Branch of Tribal Government
CHARLES JIRÔ LIPPERT
Air Quality Technician
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
43408 Oodena Drive
Onamia, MN 56359-2236
Phone: 320-532-4704 / 800-709-6445 ext. 4704
Home: 320-629-2126 / 651-271-4391
e-mail: [email protected]
Fax: 320-532-7514