Tribal Perspectives on Biological Indicators

Charlie Lippert, Air Quality TechnicianMille Lacs Band of Ojibwe

National Tribal ForumLas Vegas, NV June 3–5, 2008

Our Relationship andOur 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

DefinitionBiological 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 Chippewaidentity linked to homeland but woodlands are becoming prairie

Change in our understanding of seasons– Iskigamizige-giizis

(Sapsugar-making Moon) = Aprilsap-flow times changing; seasonal activities now must adjust

Change in our understanding of geography– Oshkibagi-ziibi

(New Leaf-growth River) = Minnesota Rivertoponym 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 mishkodeni-niigaanaajimowinan (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) (birds)

– manidoons – awesiinyag (bugs/insects) (animals)

a’aw nibiing (aquatics)– ataagibiin/washkoon – zhiibshiibag (aquatic plants/reeds) (waterfowls)

– manidoosh – giigoonyag (bugs/insects) (fishes)

Endaayang (Our home)

wiigwaasaatig (birch)

– mide-wiigwaasabakoog (sacred birchscrolls)

giizhikaandag (white cedar)

– nookwezigan (smudge)

zhingwaakwaatig (pine)

– mitigoon (lumber)

ininaatig (red maple)

– ziinzibaakwad (sugar)

emikwaanaatig (ash)

– aabajichiganan (utensils)

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

ConcludingThoughts

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 ReferencesBooks• 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), 1555-5267 (online)

• Noss, Reed (1990). “Indicators for monitoring biodiversity. A hierachical approach”, Conservation Biology 4: 355-364

Phone: 320-532-4704 / 800-709-6445 ext. 4704Home: 320-629-2126 / 651-271-4391e-mail: charliel@millelacsojibwe.nsn.us Fax: 320-532-7514

MILLE LACS BAND OF OJIBWE INDIANS

Executive Branch of Tribal Government

CHARLES JIRÔ LIPPERTAir Quality Technician

Department of Natural Resources and Environment

43408 Oodena Drive

Onamia, MN 56359-2236