CMN-SDI phenology learning path

The College of Menominee Nation's Sustainable Development Institute is currently in the process of "morphing" the campus "Learning Path" into a new and improved "Phenology Learning Path". The reason for this metamorphosis is so that anyone and everyone may follow the phenological stages of various plants and trees along the path as they respond to climate change.

Why are phenological observations important to the Menominee Nation?

The Menominee have used nature's calendar for hundreds of years due to the fact that many cultural practices, ceremonies and rituals have been centered around such phenological events as the change of seasons, ripening of berries, and bird/animal/fish migrations or spawning times. One example is when black ash bark is harvested for basket making which usually coincides with the ripening of wild strawberries. A change in this phenological event has already been observed by the black ash bark harvesters. ​

The Menominee have also named the monthly full moon cycles after certain phenological events. For example, April is the Sugar Making Moon, May is the Budding Moon, June is the Strawberry Moon, August is the Blueberry Moon, September is the Rice Threshing Moon and October is the Falling Leaves Moon.

History of CMN SDI phenology learning path

From Fall 2015 - Summer 2016, Cathy Munson, SDI Intern (funded by the NE CASC), coordinated the journey to develop the CMN "Learning Path". This journey included:

  • Researching a plethora of phenological organizations to see how they do it. 
  • Discovering that the Wisconsin Phenological Society was the first phenological organization in the U.S.
  • Researching Aldo Leopold's contribution towards phenological research which includes links to guides for starting your own phenology project at your house, as well as a helpful photo gallery to identify various plants and animals. 
  • Starting monthly plant identification hikes with various plant knowledge holders and botanists (Bonnie Mckiernan, Jennifer Gauthier, Dale Kakkak, Dean Fellman, Jeff Grignon, Richard Annamitta, Ron Bowan, Jr.) on the CMN-SDI Learning Path in February 2016 in order to find out what is actually growing along the path and to find out what plants have started to bloom.  Started an excel spreadsheet with identified plants.  
  • Started a picture gallery of Learning Path plants in various phenophases. 
  • Attended the CMN-SDI Pollination Ecology workshop series with Professor Retha Meier.
  • Helped SDI plan a mini-Bioblitz in April 2016 which included 10 trees and 10 plants growing along the future Phenological Learning Path.  Several representatives had been invited to assist in the Bioblitz tour which included the Menominee Tribe Environmental Services, Menominee Tribal Enterprises (MTE), United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service

What are other indigenous PEOPLES doing in regards to phenological research?

Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas has been conducting collaborative work with the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (NC CASC) and the USA National Phenology Network and the Indigenous Phenology Working Group in the development of Haskell's Phenological Trail. The process has included following the "Guidelines for Considering Traditional Knowledges in Climate Change Initiatives".