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Anishinaabek Land Trust

Revitalizing our Inherited Stewardship of Species at Risk (RIS) 2023

American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia), Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra), Bluehearts (Buchnera americana), Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus), Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata), Dwarf Hackberry (Celtis tenuifolia), Eastern Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), Eastern Foxsnake (Pantherophis gloydi), Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos), Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus), Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus), Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus), Pitcher’s Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri), Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata)

Project Details

Project Title: Revitalizing our Inherited Stewardship of Species at Risk (RIS) 2023
Funding Recipient: Anishinaabek Land Trust
Funding Awarded: $67,000
Project Partners:  The Land Between
Targeted Species at Risk:
American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia), Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra), Bluehearts (Buchnera americana), Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus), Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata), Dwarf Hackberry (Celtis tenuifolia), Eastern Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), Eastern Foxsnake (Pantherophis gloydi), Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos), Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus), Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus), Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus), Pitcher’s Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri), Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata)

Project Status: Completed (2023)

Project Summary

The Anishinaabek Land Trust successfully completed the second year of funding for the Revitalizing our Inherited Stewardship for Species at Risk project. This initiative, functioning as a pilot, achieved significant goals, including the development of a template for long-term services to Indigenous communities and the formulation of a strategy for land acquisition. The three-to-five-year Revitalizing Inherited Stewardship (RIS) project, designed to transfer to other Indigenous communities, focuses on preserving wildlife, rebuilding Indigenous Ecological Knowledge, and fostering community relationships.

The Holistic Land and Life Strategy (HLLS) supports land acquisition efforts for cultural and ecological preservation, aligning with the ‘Land Back’ movement. The report outlines Phase 2 goals for Stony Point in 2023, emphasizing community education, involvement, Wet Meadows, Bluehearts, invasive species removal, and turtle nesting sites. Challenges, such as the delicate nature of environmental projects in Indigenous communities, are acknowledged, highlighting the importance of honesty, love, respect, truth, humility, bravery, and wisdom.

Looking ahead to 2024, the Anishinaabek Land Trust plans to implement Phase 3 of the RIS project, focusing on creating, revitalizing, and conserving Species at Risk habitat features, mitigating threats, and promoting ecological education. The report concludes by recognizing the impact of colonization on the project community and advocating for a cautious approach to accessing and integrating Indigenous Knowledge tailored to each community’s unique history and challenges.

Further Details

For more information about the ‘Revitalizing our Inherited Stewardship of Species at Risk (RIS) 2023’, please visit the links below.

Anishinaabek Land Trust Website

The Land Between Website

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