Find photos and readings from this summer's Indigenous Arts and Sciences institutes!

Summer 2019 Institute Resources

Click for the course syllabus

Scroll to the bottom of this page for links to IAS institute readings.

Looking for accurate and authentic resources to teach about Native history, culture, and communities? Beverly Slapin and Rachel Byington have compiled a curated list of recommended books for various age groups, from early learners through high school and beyond. Happy reading!

Miigwech, Wa’įnįįgįnapšąną, Thank You for a beautiful summer!

Check out highlights from this summer’s institutes in partnership with the Bad River/Red Cliff, Lac du Flambeau, and Ho-Chunk Nations – and the first-ever Urban Indigenous Arts and Sciences institute in Madison!

Bad River/Red Cliff IAS (June 18-20, 2019)

Bad River and Red Cliff, WI

Participants gathered on gravel road listening to speaker, with water and woods in background — at Carolyn Lake, the headwaters of the Bad River, learning about the threats of mining to water quality and wild rice.

five participants gather in circle, discussing groundlayer vegetation of forest floor, with Lake Superior in the background — Ecosystem Comparisons on the north shore of Madeline Island.

Beautiful Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) graces the forest floor.

A "Scientific Story" from Bad River/Red Cliff IAS

three participants stand by tree, in front rocky river — at Tyler Forks, "following the drop" down from Carolyn Lake.

Raised garden beds in hoop house — Demonstration of food sovereignty at Bad River high tunnels (also known as hoop houses), learning about foraging, cooking classes, making tea, and medicines.

Plant label reads "zhigaagawanzh" and "onion" — Signs indicate what food plants are growing in Ojibwe language (with English translations)

Six people stand on sandy shoreline of Lake Superior, smiling. — Marvin Defoe, Red Cliff Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, met us along the Lake Superior shoreline in Frog Bay Tribal National Park, to share about the archeological dig he is leading in collaboration with the U of M.

Ho-Chunk IAS (June 25-27, 2019)

Black River Falls, WI

Three men huddle around quadrat, examining vegetation on groundlayer, in sunny open woodland setting — Examining vegetation and soil characteristics in the beautiful remnant prairie in the Mission, Black River Falls

A black hoop sits on the ground, with red, yellow, and white wildflowers growing within and without of the circle. — The group encountered many beautiful plants right on the side of the road, including the beautiful puccoon (Lithospermum sp.).

Two people stand outside, each examining a sample of the same prairie plants species — Getting to know the plants, getting to know one another.

Woman stands in grassy area, bends to use power drill with digging attachment. — The institute finished with preparing and planting an addition to the native pollinator habitat begun last year by the Goja Howaite Hi youth program and teacher institute. Digging holes goes more quickly with a power drill!

Scientific Story from Ho-Chunk IAS

Two women smile at camera — Ona Garvin [L] was invited by Ho-Chunk IAS partner Michelle Cloud [R] to share some of her extensive knowledge of medicinal plant uses.

Six people stand or bend while planting into grassy area — The group planted 100 plants!

Two people crouch, planting plants into landscape fabric with branch tunnel in background. — This year's Goja Howaite Hi students will continue to expand the planting area, increasing habitat and food sources for native pollinators.

The flags of the United States of America, the Ho-Chunk Nation, and the state of Wisconsin all fly in front of the District One Community Center. — Participants doing "Noting Notable Features" site analysis look for clues to wind speed and direction. The flags of the United States of America, the Ho-Chunk Nation, and the state of Wisconsin all fly in front of the District One Community Center.

Two people gesture in front of whiteboard, with map of site drawn behind them — Topography/slope, soil and water, vegetation, wildlife, and cultural land uses teams all share their findings on a composite base map of the site.

Two men smile at camera — Paul Dutton [L], a teacher in Black River Falls, reunites with former student Dr. Marcus Lewis [R]. Dr. Lewis presented to the educators on Ho-Chunk kinship systems.

Lac du Flambeau IAS (July 9-11, 2019)

Lac du Flambeau, WI

Two people hold and examine a plant species — Educators from the Menominee Indian School District and the Madison Metropolitan School District work together as they observe plant characteristics and develop unique plant names in "Botany Bouquet."

Three participants kneel and stand around an infiltrometer can in soil, underneath pine trees — Testing infiltration, the rate at which water passes through the soil.

Four people stand facing camera smiling — Earth Partnership staff connects with new and returning participants.

A Waterdrop Journey in LDF

Man stands, leaning on stern of boat. — Lac du Flambeau educator Leon Valliere teaches about the history and significance of the waterways in the community.

Three women sit at table around large piece of paper, look up at photographer — Collaborative design, imagining native plant restorations on the LDF Tribal Natural Resources grounds.

Woman stands on dock with long handled net, dipping into water below — Water quality monitoring, by netting and identifying macroinvertebrates, on Lac du Flambeau

Three people stand in front of lake holding soil probe and key — Keying out soil type by using a soil texture feel test key.

Urban IAS (July 23-25, 2019)

Madison, WI

Four people walk in line through tall grasses. — Exploring the new interpretive trail developed by youth at the Teejop Hocira center in Madison.

Two women look at waterdrop journeys game card in library — Michelle Cloud [R], from the Ho-Chunk Nation Department of Education, assists educators with pronunciation of Ho-Chunk language during "Waterdrop Journeys in the Watershed."

Three people stand at hilltop. — Participants discuss interpretive trail and opportunities for native plantings at the community center.

A group of educators stands outside the Teejop Hocira building — The first-ever Urban Indigenous Arts and Sciences cohort! Participants met at Edgewood Campus School, Wingra School, and Teejop Hocira to look at different educational, ecological, and cultural sites across the Madison area.

People stand looking at prairie with their backs to camera — EP intern and Stanford senior Gab Saiz [center] discusses prairie ecology with participants. Gabi has been participating in EP-IAS since middle school, and he taught at multiple youth and educator institutes this summer.

Base map of Teejop Hocira site — Composite base map constructed by teams examining topography and slope, microclimate, vegetation, wildlife, and traffic patterns and cultural uses in the "Noting Notable Features" site analysis activity.

IAS Institute Readings