SESSION E:

Title: Native Science Education: Watersheds as Life Sources Who Connect Culture and Place

Authors: Angie Reed¹, Lee Francis², Dan Kusnierz³, Jan Paul⁴, Jason Mitchell⁵, Rhonda Daigle⁶, and James Francis⁷.

¹Penobscot Indian Nation, Department of Natural Resources, Water Resources Program, 12 Wabanaki Way, Indian Island, ME, 04468, 207-817-7360, areed@penobscotnation.org
²Indian Island School, 10 Wabanaki Way, Indian Island, ME, 04468, 207-827-4285, Lee_Francis@umit.maine.edu
³Penobscot Indian Nation, Department of Natural Resources, Water Resources Program, 12 Wabanaki Way, Indian Island, ME, 04468, 207-817-7361, pinwater@penobscotnation.org
⁴Penobscot Indian Nation, Department of Natural Resources, Water Resources Program, 12 Wabanaki Way, Indian Island, ME, 04468, 207-817-7382, janpaul@penobscotnation.org
⁵Penobscot Indian Nation, Department of Natural Resources, Water Resources Program, 12 Wabanaki Way, Indian Island, ME, 04468, 207-817-7381, jmitchell@penobscotnation.org
⁶Penobscot Indian Nation, Department of Natural Resources, Water Resources Program, 12 Wabanaki Way, Indian Island, ME, 04468, 207-817-7326, h2olab@penobscotnation.org
⁷Penobscot Indian Nation, Cultural and Historic Preservation Program, 12 Wabanaki Way, Indian Island, ME, 04468, 207-817-7472, jfrancis@penobscotnation.org

Abstract:

Integrating information about watersheds, sources of pollution and water quality monitoring with culture is one of the most logical ways to engage both Native and non-Native children. The Indian Island School has joined with the Penobscot Indian Nation’s Water Resources Program to develop curriculum units for the 5th-8th grade Native Studies classes. The first unit to be tested was focused on point-sources of pollution, especially paper mills and wastewater treatment plants. Developing an understanding of watersheds drew upon previous lessons about the various ways that the Penobscot River provided life sources to Penobscot people. These life sources are currently compromised by pollution sources. Students got hands-on experience in the field and laboratory learning about some of the parameters for which the Water Resources Program takes samples and analyzes. Future units will include non-point source pollution and benthic macroinvertebrates, including the buffer zone Velcro hill and dunk tank. Some combination and form of the information, maps, and activities used in these units will be incorporated into the next set of curriculum being developed by the Penobscot Indian Nation to help teachers with LD291, which requires the teaching of Native history in all schools in the state. It will be possible to tailor the LD291 curriculum according to whether or not the school is near one of the five reservations in the state. Presenters will describe these units, the associated assessment techniques, and assessments that have been developed for the current LD291 curriculum.