Boozhoo ozhoo (Hel ello) lo) Gikinoo’wizhiwe Onji Waaban (Guiding for Tomorrow) or “G - WOW” Changing Climate, Changing Culture Initiative A New Model for Climate Change Literacy & Action Cathy Techtmann- Environmental Outreach State Specialist University of Wisconsin-Extension NOAA Climate Steward on behalf of G-WOW Team
G-WOW Project Partners Funding Provided by :
Additional technical support and resources Wisconsin climate science research, climate maps, interactive climate mapping tools Assessments of climate change for northern Wisconsin forests and habitats Multi-cultural examples of climate change impacts
Project Location: Located in the heart of the Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe) Indian Country. This area includes 11 Ojibwe Tribes living within the “Ceded Territory” Based at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center Ashland, WI Applicable to other locations & cultures
G-WOW Roots Increasing evidence that climate change is affecting the sustainability of • Lake Superior coastal resources, communities, and cultures Concern about climate change impacts to Ojibwe treaty rights and • traditional cultural practices within the Ceded Territory “Traditional” climate literacy models were not resonating with audiences • Diverse project partners came together as the G-WOW Team to develop a new climate change educational outreach strategy
Research basis for the G-WOW Model “…l ocal, place-based evidence of climate change gained through experiential learning is as, or more effective than, simply studying analytical climate change data to increasing climate change literacy.” “The Psychology of Climate Change Communication”, Columbia University 2009
The Lake Superior Ojibwe have relied on the sustainability of key plant and animal species for generations to support subsistence, cultural, and spiritual practices or “lifeways” Tribes have traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) of natural systems that provides place-based indicators of climate change impacts for people of all cultures
Place-based Evidence Unprecedented cancellations of tribal wild rice harvests and poor harvest years (2007-2012) Lake Superior ice cover at Bayfield, Wisconsin has decreased approximately 3 days/decade or 45 days over the past 150 years Lake Superior reached near record lows by 2013
Scientific evidence of a Changing Climate WI has gotten warmer & wetter over the past 60 years From 1950-2006: • +1ºF over all temperature increase • +2 - 2.5ºF increase in NW Wisconsin.
Projected (1980-2055) Historic (1950-2006) A1B Scenario OVERALL WARMING Change in Average Annual Temps +4-9ºF Average +12 days growing season Drought WARMER WINTERS Decrease in Frequency of Cold Nights (70% decrease in northern WI) Less ice cover on lakes, more evaporation More precip as rain, not snow EXTREME WEATHER Up to 4.5 inch annual mean increase in precip, but a projected 25% increase in the frequency of 2-inch or greater rainfall events
2015 ?? You had to ask… what about 2014? 2015 2014 Record cold & snowfall for eastern cities Record or near-record cold for the Midwest Alaska: 40-degrees above average, record high temps for February Alaska warmest since records began in 1918 (National Weather Service) Second hottest January on record (NOAA). Oceans at 3 rd warmest Globally the hottest year on record (NOAA) Warmest March on record. Highest CO2 level ever at 400 parts per million 9 out of the past 10 years have been the warmest on record
Our Goal through G-WOW Increase awareness of climate change impacts on the sustainability of resources, cultures, and communities by integrating: - Place-based evidence of climate change Climate change scientific research . - Create an e-z to understand climate literacy model , transferable to other cultures & locations Fight climate change with change through service learning
G-WOW Key Principles • Climate change is real Harvesting birch bark- a boreal species that relies on a cool climate • Humans contribute to climate change • Weather and climate are different • Climate affects culture • We can make a difference! Projected change in Wisconsin’ s annual average temperatures in ºF , 1980-2055
Why Is the G-WOW Model Unique? It based on understanding how climate change affects habitat conditions needed for the sustainability of plant or animal species that supports a cultural practice. • Creates a culturally relevant climate change perspective • Links cultural, place-based evidence with scientific climate research • Makes the model transferrable across different cultures • Promotes action through service learning G-WOW uses impacts on Ojibwe cultural practices as an indicator of a changing climate for all cultures
Appling G-WOW model: Wild Ricing Manoomin (wild rice) is an important species to the Ojibwe for subsistence, spiritual, and ceremonial purposes. The Ojibwe lifeway of wild rice harvesting depends on the sustainability of manoomin. The sustainability of manoomin depends on habitats with: • shallow water • moderate water level fluctuations • cool growing season temperatures
Place-based evidence of climate change affecting the sustainability of manoomin? 2007 - 2012: Significant changes observed in wild rice harvests and yields based on TEK due to drought, fungal disease, storms Scientific evidence of climate change affecting the sustainability of manoomin? HEAT DROUGHT GUSHERS Frequency of 90-degree days Change in frequency of 2” + precip Annual average temperatures in ºF , Do Culture and Science Agree?
Example: G-WOW application Cultural Practice Key Species Place-based & Scientific Evidence Requires cool moist forest habitats, cold winters for sugar production Projected frequency of days over 90-degrees F , 1980-2055 What does this mean for sustainability of sugar maple, the businesses the rely on sugar maple?
Example: G-WOW application Cultural Practice Key Species Place-based and Scientific Evidence Requires cold water habitats with high oxygen levels Projected change in Wisconsin’ s annual average summer temperatures in ºF , 1980-2055 Climate models predict up to 95% of Wisconsin’s brook trout habitat across could be lost if the average annual summer air temperature increased just over 5 º F.
Example: G-WOW application, South Milwaukee HS, WI Cultural Practice Perch fish fry Requires cool water. Warmer water also favors invasives that Credit: GLERL. compete with Yellow Perch How could the G-WOW model engage students in the issue of climate change?
Example: G-WOW application, Southern Florida Cultural Practice Large circles = 50 or more pythons captured Hiking in the Everglades Invasive Burmese python: requires very warm, moist “tropical” habitats Increase in 95+- degree day/year, What does a changing climate mean for the sustainability of 2041-2070. this invasive species? How could this affect recreation, nature-based tourism economies?
Example: applying the G-WOW model to a “non - species” dependent cultural practice Cultural Practice Key “condition” Place-based and Scientific Evidence What do these changes mean for species and cultural practices that depend on Projected change in Wisconsin’ s cold and snow? winter average temperatures in ºF , 1980-2055
Your Turn--Create Your Own G-WOW model Cultural Practice What species is What changes are you seeing in What cultural needed to practice do you the key species or in the habitats support this enjoy? it needs? practice? What changes in environmental variables critical to supporting these habitat conditions are projected by climate What habitat conditions science? Variables may does the species need to include: temperature, survive and thrive? precipitation, drought, intense rain/ storms, humidity, etc. Do culture and science agree? What implications does this have for your community?
Culture informing Science The G-WOW MODEL COMPONENTS Ojibwe Lifeways Place-based evidence of climate impacts on 4-seasonal Ojibwe cultural practices Talking Circle Sharing service learning projects Investigate the Science via an interactive Climate science from blog federal, state, and tribal sources What Can We Do? Taking action through climate service learning projects
The G- WOW model guides investigation… Do culture and science agree… is climate change affecting the sustainability of the key species that supports an Ojibwe lifeway? What is the future for this cultural practice based on place-based evidence and scientific climate change projections? What do these changes mean for the cultural practices you enjoy, the environment, community, economy? … then engages learners to act through service learning What can we do to mitigate or adapt to climate change impacts?
G-WOW Curriculum Outreach Tools Experiential learning Web Curriculum www.g-wow.org Ojibwe language, TEK, and cultural elements infused Climate Change Discovery Center Educator Training Institutes Multi-cultural perspectives
TARGET AUDIENCES Learners (middle school & above) Teachers-Educators General Public
G-WOW Website and Curriculum www.g-wow.org On-line climate change service learning curriculum
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