U-M & Native Nation Collaborations
Heritage Seeds for Sustainable Lifeways:
The University of Michigan stewards one of the largest Indigenous Seed collections in North America (related reference: https://www.press.umich.edu/11395926/ethnobotanical_laboratory_at_the_university_of_michigan). Reconnection of Seeds with their Communities of origin, and the potential for these to be restored as living kin for sustainable lifeways has to be done with Tribal leadership. A series of engagements began in 2015. Very little of this is presented in the public arena – that is intentional for the projection of the Seeds, their information, and relationships they have: their Communities of Origin have agency in determining communication. Two foundational grants for $10K each were funded by the Graham Sustainability Institute. https://graham.umich.edu/.
The Indigenous Collaborative Garden:
The Indigenous Collaborative Garden is an outgrowth of this engagement above in a secured garden area.Initiated in 2017, the Indigenous Collaborative Garden was planted and continues to be harvested annually at the UM Matthaei Botanical Gardens (secured site) with Native Nation Representatives. In 2022 and 2023 this work became a collaboration with Ziibimijiwang (https://ltbbodawa-nsn.gov/business-and-community/ziibimijwang-inc/) and its food sovereignty work. In March, 2023 an hour-long public discussion of this garden in context of Rematriation was done with the United States Botanic Garden (Washington, DC) Rematriating Seed Relatives to their Communities of Origin (Online Discussion) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYUbSWqb7pc.
Mnomen / Wild Rice Restoration:
Mnomen, Manoomin, Wild Rice: all refer to the same culturally-essential plant. Mnomen was once fairly common in SE Michigan – before the Removal and Indigenous Peoples and the ecological devastation of clearcutting, river-damming, and industrialization that changed the habitat so much that this plant is locally extinct to rare. Being an annual plant and very sensitive to water quality dynamics, a question arises if Mnomen can be restored? The only ethical way forward is with Tribal leadership.
Meeting the Mnomen: Restoration of wild rice populations for environmental and social justice:
This project explores wild rice restoration in the Matthaei Botanical Gardens’ Willow Pond at the University of Michigan. The team will evaluate water, sediment, and biodiversity by examining the Mnomen plant. The project will be an inclusive partnership with Michigan’s Tribal communities, as the Mnomen is an at-risk native plant and traditional food for the Anishinaabek community.
Izhi-Minoging Mashkikiwan // Place Where Medicines Grow Well:
Izhi-Minoging Mashkikiwan, translated in English to “Place Where Medicines Grow Well”, is a landscape design proposal for 3062 Indian Road, the headquarters of the Cheboiganing Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. This healing garden tells the story of traditional Anishinaabeg principles and teachings encoded in the Medicine Wheel and symbolized through plant choices and placement.
For questions or more information on any of the above projects, please contact mbgna.curator@umich.edu .
Wiidanokiindiwag (They Work with Each Other), September 2021:
The exhibition’s title, Wiidanokiindiwag (They Work With Each Other), has two meanings: the first refers to the Anishinaabek basketmakers, who worked with each other and with native materials, including black ash, sweetgrass, elm and birch bark, and porcupine quills. The second meaning refers to the collaboration of the people of the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways and the University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology, who worked together to bring about this exhibition. The collaboration between the groups began many years ago, with efforts to implement the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Since then, hundreds of Anishinaabek ancestors and their burial belongings have been returned to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan and many other Great Lakes tribes.
U-M Additional Resources
U-M Office of Research (or Office of the Vice President for Research)
U-M Museum of Anthropological Archaeology NAGPRA webpage
External Resources
National NAGPRA Office
The NAGPRA Act
NAGPRA Regulations and Guidelines
U.S. Department of the Interior—Bureau of Reclamation
Cultural Resources Management
Native American Affairs Office and Program
NAGPRA Consultation Resources
Journeys to Complete the Work. NAGPRA Comics 1
