Are integral to the process of sustainable development.
The Menominee Nation has a firm experiential basis for their understandingof this process. They know first hand the horror of termination, and the struggle
for restoration of their status as a federally recognized Indian tribe. While
political restoration has been accomplished, other aspects of restoration
are yet unattended. Central to our research and extension mission is the commitment
to those topics and activities that re-affirm tribal sovereignty and preserves
the tribal estate.
Human Perception , Activity & Behavior
A priority for research lies in projects which assure access
to safe and reliable food and water resources. To that end, we anticipate
complimenting research efforts in sustainable forestry with new initiatives
in permaculture, ethnobotany, and preliminary investigation of the feasibility
of aquaculture and hydroponics production.
Natural Environment
The long and successful Menominee experience in sustained yield forestry is the cornerstone of its community's sustainable development. SDI has prioritized forest products, forest ecology, enhanced commerce of timber products, and value added forest products as immediate topics relevant to its scholarship and research and extension mission.
Institutions
In aiding in the development and maturation of the institutional life of the rural and reservation communities which we serve, we ensure the longevity of our efforts, maximize the impact of our initiatives, and position our own institution firmly within the community context which has chartered our mission.
Technology
SDI works collaboratively with the Menominee Telecommunications Design Team to enable a multi-media telecommunications infrastructure capable of serving our rural and reservation community institutions. The Design Team includes the College, the Tribal and County governments, and the Menominee Tribal Enterprises. We believe rural and reservation communities are dependent on the foresight of their institutions to assure access to the new wave of information technology. We are committed to forwarding the development of information infrastructure. We are attuned to the potential of electronic commerce, medicine, and judicial practice, advancing local access to technological innovations, and complementing our academic goal of advancing technological literacy.
The Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) is dedicated to examining sustainability issues and applying them to the Menominee model of sustainable development. This Web Site is devoted to explorations of questions like, what is sustainable development? Answers are offered through multimedia presentations, essays, and conversations on the Menominee, their Forest, and their spirit. Please enter our virtual environment and help us look at ways to sustain our nation, forest and spirit.
Economics
Initial entry into extension services to forward this dimension are in nascent development, with an initial emphasis on cooperating with the local business incubator, offering workshops for potential entrepreneurs and service as a research resource for tribal enterprise. We anticipate the local regions designation as an enterprise community will provide additional training opportunities.
Decision Making
Today we remain dependent on this land and water to sustain
us. Therefore, we must make the necessary decisions to sustain it for future
generations. We believe Menominee Autochthony is the centerpiece by which
decision making must take place for successful sustenance of this nation and
land.
Autochthony - n. from the land itself;
nativeness by virtue or originating or occurring naturally as in a particular
place. (Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913).
Please visit our International Conference website: Sharing Indigenous Wisdom: An International Dialogue on Sustainable Development @ www.SharingIndigenousWisdom.org
