in the heart of manitoba, a prairie province in canada, there exists community filled with the narratives and wisdom of its indigenous elders. this narrative explores the experiences of four elders from distinct communities, each offering a brief narrative on coexisting peacefully with mother earth. their stories serve not only as a representation of a vibrant cultural legacy but also as an essential lesson in caring for the environment and demonstrating resilience.

joe zaste: a lifetime on the water

at 88 years old, joe zaste carries the legacy of both his cree heritage and french-canadian roots from his father, a fisheries entrepreneur in red deer lake, manitoba. growing up, joe’s life was deeply entwined with the community, where cree and saulteaux languages filled the air, and his family’s home was a hub of local celebrations. after a stint in the army and years working on power dams across manitoba, joe now spends his retirement in winnipeg, surrounded by a large family that spans generations. his story is a testament to the blend of traditional indigenous lifestyles and modern canadian life, encapsulating the spirit of resilience and cultural fusion.

geraldine shingoose: a survivor’s advocacy for healing and justice

geraldine shingoose, a 67-year-old saulteaux elder, grew up in the bush near hudson bay, shaped by the land and the harsh realities of the muscowequan residential school. her early experiences of cultural suppression and personal resilience have driven her lifelong advocacy for indigenous rights and healing. now a grassroots grandmother, geraldine is a vocal member of her community in winnipeg, actively engaging in dialogues to heal and empower through sharing her story and supporting others. her journey from the traumas of residential school to influential advocacy highlights a profound transformation, making her a beacon of hope and change.

fred boucher: life’s work in harmony with nature

fred boucher’s early life in barrows, manitoba, was rooted in the rich traditions of the cree, learning from his grandparents the essential skills of living off the land. at 68, he reflects on a life guided by the principles of sustainability and respect for nature, which he now passes on through his work with the sapotaweyak cree nation. his narrative captures the essence of a man who has seen the evolution of his land and community and strives to maintain the balance between progress and preservation. fred’s dedication to his community and environment is evident as he continues to serve, ensuring medical and essential supplies reach those in need across the province.

helen settee: education and empowerment through indigenous knowledge

at 62, helen settee, an anishinaabe elder and educator from winnipeg, has dedicated her life to bridging the gap between indigenous knowledge and mainstream education. her career has been marked by significant strides in integrating indigenous perspectives into educational curriculums, advocating for a more inclusive approach that respects and honours her heritage. helen’s journey from a dental assistant to a key figure in education administration exemplifies her commitment to empowering future generations through education. as a cancer survivor, her resilience extends beyond personal challenges, influencing her advocacy work and her role as a grandmother, continuously nurturing her family and community.

the stories of joe, geraldine, fred, and helen are a testament to the resilience and wisdom of our indigenous elders. their lives and teachings are crucial narratives that contribute to our understanding of and reflection of how to live in harmony with nature, as well as with one another. through their voices, we learn the importance of community, resilience, and the enduring wisdom that guides us toward a more sustainable and just world.

wildland fires have long been both a friend and foe to indigenous communities. while fires can bring destruction, they also play a crucial role in maintaining the health of ecosystems. as someone who grew up on an indian reservation, i have witnessed firsthand the delicate balance between these forces and the resilience of my community in the face of modern challenges.

this story explores the intersection of traditional fire management practices and contemporary innovations to address wildland fires, drawing on insights from community elders, fire management professionals, and local activists.

preserving tradition: the wisdom of controlled burns

for generations, indigenous communities have practiced controlled burns, or prescribed fires, to manage the land and prevent catastrophic wildfires. these burns help reduce fuel loads, promote new growth, and maintain the health of ecosystems.

i had the privilege of speaking with elder gerald banashley, a respected leader in our community, about the significance of these practices.

“controlled burns have always been a part of our way of life,” elder banashley said. “they help us live in harmony with the land and ensure the survival of both the people and the environment.”

elder banashley recounted stories of how controlled burns were traditionally conducted with great care and respect for the land. these practices were not only about fire management but also about preserving cultural heritage and fostering a deep connection with nature that has many connections. 

modern challenges: the impact of climate change

while traditional fire management practices remain vital, the reality of climate change has introduced new challenges. increased temperatures, prolonged droughts, and changing weather patterns have led to more frequent and intense wildland fires. to better understand these modern challenges, i spoke with laramie higgins, a fire management professional who works with the bureau of indian affairs (bia).

“climate change is exacerbating the conditions that lead to wildfires,” higgins said. “we’re seeing longer fire seasons and more extreme fire behavior, which makes it crucial to integrate traditional knowledge with modern technology.”

higgins emphasized the need for collaboration between indigenous communities and governmental agencies to develop effective fire management strategies. this includes incorporating traditional practices, like controlled burns, with advanced technologies such as remote sensing and predictive modeling.

community resilience: adapting and innovating

growing up on the reservation, i witnessed the strength and resilience of my community in the face of wildland fires such as the rodeo-chediski and wallow fires. despite the challenges posed by climate change, we have adapted and innovated to protect our land and people. local activist randall burnette, who leads a youth fire management program, shared his perspective on the importance of community-driven initiatives.

“our community has always been proactive in addressing fire management,” burnette said. “we’re educating the younger generation about both traditional practices and modern techniques to ensure that our knowledge is passed down and adapted to current conditions.”

burnette’s program combines classroom education with hands-on training in controlled burns, fire suppression techniques, and the use of modern firefighting equipment. the goal is to empower the youth to become future leaders in fire management and environmental stewardship.

a balanced approach to fire management

the story of wildland fire management on indian reservations is one of balance — honoring traditional practices while embracing modern innovations. by combining the wisdom of our ancestors with innovative technology, indigenous communities can continue to protect and preserve their land for future generations.

as elder banashley wisely said, “fire is a powerful force, but it is also a tool. when used with respect and knowledge, it can sustain us and the land we call home.”

in conclusion, the integration of traditional knowledge and modern innovations offers a promising path forward for wildland fire management on indian reservations. by fostering collaboration, educating the youth, and adapting to new challenges, we can ensure a resilient and sustainable future for our communities and the environment for generations to come. 

east of the anacostia river in washington, d.c., residents have only one grocery store to feed themselves and their families. but just a short walk from the congress heights metro station lies an effort to alleviate food insecurity in the area. thearc farm, one out of a network of farms owned by nonprofit building bridges across the river, produces nearly 60 crops to give out to community members for free.

powered by grants, collaboration with other organizations and a team of two farmers, thearc farm is entering its fifteenth year of serving ward 8. in this story, meet carrie vaughn, the farm’s director, as she walks through how the organization feeds, teaches, and uplifts the community.

click on the presentation below to read the full story!

biting back documents the efforts of an interdisciplinary team of scientists working at rutgers university (new brunswick, nj) to study the catnip plant’s usage as an insect repellent that could prevent the spread of disease. the team uses and develops approaches in disciplines including chemistry, genetics, and agriculture to harness the plant’s potential.

the film traces their scientific research and personal, human journeys as scientists. we seek to interest the broad public, and students in particular, in learning about who scientists are, what they do, and what drives them to dedicate years of their lives to a research project.

the disused buildings of our past can be a way of preserving culture while simultaneously following sustainable initiatives of our present day. it’s up to us to harness the potential of these buildings and preserve our beautiful, one-of-a-kind, planet. 

in this video, i discuss how giving building stock a second chance allows for communities to grow without the unnecessary use of undeveloped land. using these buildings can also allow for local economic stability by hiring locally and keeping the resources of the buildings within the community. we can build a better future together.

which dorm on the george washington university campus is the most sustainable? in this video, the residents of thurston hall are quizzed on their knowledge of the building’s water saving and energy conscious features. from the 4,000 sq. ft. of green roof to the 40% water savings, how well do they know their dorm? watch their reactions and see who passed.

solvay processes, now known as honeywell, spent decades polluting onondaga lake in syracuse, new york in the production of soda ash – integral for many industries in the area – as well as mercury. in 1970, a fishing ban was put into place; the us attorney general estimated 25 pounds of mercury were being dumped in the lake everyday. as a result, onondaga lake was designated as a federal superfund site in 1994. the superfund site includes the lake bottom and subsites around the lake and along tributaries. in 2005, honeywell agreed with new york state to begin partial cleanup of the lake 

continue reading the full story by clicking the presentation below!

a long standing presence of the us military on the island of vieques, puerto rico has left its warm, turquoise waters and sandy, beach getaways tainted by ammunition waste and chemical contamination leaving spirited residents and restoration task forces to pick up the shrapnel.

in 1941, the u.s. navy purchased 27,000 of the 33,000 acres that comprise the island of vieques. for nearly 60 years, the viequenses people “coexisted” in the crossfire between the divided training areas on the 50.8 sq mile island, roughly the same area as the city of las vegas.

following the death of a civilian navy employee, david sanes in 1999, civil unrest ensued, eventually leading to the departure of the us navy presence in 2003. however, the navy left the island peppered with remnants of undetonated bombs, pfas chemicals, uranium, mercury, napalm and more. all of which are toxic materials known to have serious effects on human health along with generational impacts on the health of island youth.

caught in a crossfire: life on the island

the navy’s departure followed years of persistent displays of civil disobedience by viequenses. before that, residents on the island lived an alarmingly close 8.7 miles from the “live impact area” where military jets, traveling between 500 and 1,300 miles per hour, trained for high altitude bombing on the easternmost part of the island. according to author katherine t. mccaffrey, an error in four seconds of fire from a ship could land up to 14 or 20 miles from the target, while a four second error from an aircraft pilot could drop a bomb up to 50 miles from a target. 

local vieques resident, elda guadalupe carrasquillo, grew up during the navy’s occupation and recalls the windows of her grade school classroom shaking during active munitions trainings. carraqquillo was raised on various army bases before settling in vieques with her family around age 10. “when i was in a real military base, even though i saw a lot of military things, there were no actual live practices like here in vieques,” she said.

despite carrasquillo’s familiarity with the events that occur on a military base, she affirms these training sessions were “too close” for the safety and comfort of residents. today, carrasquillo works with an agro-ecological farm on the island, la colmena cimarrona, and is a middle school teacher. in addition to the violent nature of living so close to these “live impact areas”, residents also suffered from legacy pollution due to the chemical and material shrapnel. 

rates of cancer amongst viequenses are 31% above that of the rates of cancer on the main island along with 4 times the rate of hypertension amongst residents. coupled with this, pollutants like agent orange, depleted uranium, and pfas have leached into the island’s soil, groundwater, and air leaving residents vulnerable to exposure through a variety of mediums.

“we don’t know how contaminated our underground water sources are,” carrasquillo said. she also noted that a large majority of students on the island require individualized educational plans due to learning disabilities which recent studies have found links between cognitive development and pfas exposure.

uxos and remediated sites: successful strides in clean-up efforts

in 2005, the island was placed on the national priorities list, as a “superfund” site — one that requires investigation and clean-up by the u.s. government. today, several locations around the island have been successfully remediated to become recreational spaces for islanders and tourists.

a notable site from the eastern sect of the superfund sites, the puerto ferro lighthouse was constructed in 1896 by spanish colonizers. the lighthouse lies within the 535 acres that comprise uxo area 15, an unfortunate title that refers to the presence of unexploded ordnance like bombs and bullets on the land. despite the contamination, the scenic area on the southern coast of vieques overlooks a bright blue coastline and slopes upward as you move inland.

the area around the abandoned structure is home to a thin forest of mangrove trees, lagoons, and salt and sand flats. but in just one year, over 23,000 explosive bombs were dropped on these coastal hills. in 2013, the us navy initiated priority action to facilitate public access and to encourage recreational and commercial activities at puerto ferro and the surrounding beach areas.

the area was investigated for munitions and explosives of concern anywhere from 1 to 4 ft below ground surface level. the area was ultimately remediated seven years ahead of schedule, and upon completion provided public access to formerly restricted areas as well as educational kiosks and monuments for visitors to interact with.

moving to the western sect of the superfund sites, former open burn/open detonation sites (swmu 4 and uxo 16) were also successfully remediated ahead of schedule to provide further public access to recreational spaces like the beaches around the island. several pieces of munitions were removed from the site, however, not all were recollected. despite this, a 2018 remedial investigation report found the likelihood that these munitions were still physically present in the area was improbable.

balancing the health of the land and the people

a large part of the uxo sites on the island have been remediated, and are in the concluding or monitoring stages of the clean-up process. while numerous sites still remain around the island, within the next decade, most of the entire island is expected to be remediated.

nonetheless, carrasquillo expects challenges and uncertainty ahead. “we know it’s never going to be completely clean and maybe it’s not going to be usable for what the viequenses need,” she said.

still, carrasquillo characterizes viequenses as “resistant,” embodied in the peoples’ continued advocacy for their own health and the island’s environment. following the clean up of munitions around the island, she hopes to see the island begin to restore its emotional and mental wellness through strengthening their relationship with the land stating, “if we can heal our land little piece by little piece so we can also be healthy, maybe we can help vieques recover.”

did you know that 20% of wastewater pollution originates from the fashion industry? according to the world bank, fashion industries use about 93 billion cubic meters of water, and that 20% of wastewater comes from fabric dye and treatment. chemicals raise a lot of environmental and health concerns for industry workers, forcing us to rethink fast fashion by advocating for more sustainable practices. 

mikki taylor, professor at howard university, instructs in the fashion design program at the chadwick a. boseman college of fine arts. she uses her love of design to emphasize environmental responsibility through eco-fashion.

taylor has developed numerous projects that have increased student engagement such as the washington wizards project, in which she taught students about designing digital pieces and upcycling by creating garments using old wizards jerseys. although she understands that everyone wants to have the designer look for less, taylor encourages thrift shopping instead. “with fast fashion, the cost outweighs the benefits. you aren’t looking at the massive water consumption, toxic dyes being used that are deposited in our soil, or the workforce and the electricity being used,” taylor said.

not only has she created digital fashion shows during the covid-19 pandemic, but she has also created fashionable designs that have been displayed on red carpets at big events such as the bet awards, and black girls rock, an award show that honors and promotes black women’s achievements.

listen to my full conversation with mikki taylor above!

tucked away in the basement of a brick building on george washington university’s mount vernon campus, lives the loop, a free clothing exchange that opened this semester.  

the loop, run by sustainable gw, is open weekly on fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in academic building room 122. the exchange includes clothing, shoes, and accessories donated by gw community members, and free to the community. sofia tjia, an intern at sustainable gw, said the loop’s goal is to make sure students on campus have access to clothes they need and to teach students to be more mindful about their consumption habits.  

tjia said the loop started as a “random room” but was turned into a store by another intern who thrifted furniture and other decorations to create a space. besides the clothes, the addition of comfortable couches and trendy music playing in the background makes the clothing exchange a hang-out space.

“we wanted it to be a fun place people can get the clothes they need,” tjia said. 

accessing the loop

the loop is located on gw’s mount vernon campus, a 15-minute shuttle ride away from the main foggy bottom campus. tjia said she has spoken with customers who live on the foggy bottom campus who make the journey over to mount vernon simply for the loop. 

“it’s so cute people plan to go to the vern just to come to the loop,” tjia said. “it’s really heartwarming.”

tjia said the loop’s grand opening day held on aug. 30 was “very busy,” but what keeps the “momentum” of community members coming back to the loop is making it clear the clothes available change “very often” since they get new donations every week. 

in the two weeks leading up to halloween, tjia said the loop also created specific racks with customers so community members could get affordable and sustainable costumes.

limiting over-consumption

even though everything at the loop is free, customers are not required to exchange clothes but tjia said they “encourage” an exchange. tjia said she tells community members to be “mindful” about overconsuming even second-hand clothes. 

“the hype of everything being free at the loop can sometimes overshadow the fact we still do not want you to overconsume,” tjia said. 

she also said the loop is trying to draft a “policy” that discourages the over-consumption of clothes. she said the main goal of the loop is for community members to find clothes that make them happy and that they will bring back to their wardrobe and wear consistently. 

keeping clothes out of the landfill

since the opening of the loop, tjia said she has helped divert almost 2,000 items from landfills.

according to gw’s office of sustainability, they receive more than 25,000 pounds worth of clothing donations per year. before the loop, these went only to their community partners. 

these community partners include bread for the city, which provides clothing and other services to low-income residents in the district, and love and light, which helps veteran and military families in woodstock, va., among others. 

engagement associate at the office for sustainability juliana carvalho manages the loop along with other programs related to engagement and outreach on gw’s campus. 

according to carvalho, she helped create the loop thanks to several students who had the idea of creating a permanent thrift store rather than occasional pop-ups, and receiving a “surplus” of donations through bins located around gw’s campus. 

she said the loop receives clothes their community partners do not want, such as bulk sorority shirts. carvalho said the more “interesting” items they have received are a canvas tote bag with approximately 55 plushies sewn onto it, which was adopted by a patron in the first few minutes after the loop’s grand opening, and tall platform neon gym shoes which are still looking for a home. 

affordable clothing

besides the sustainability aspect, she said the loop is also addressing the needs of the gw community by providing affordable clothes students might need.

“there are certain kinds of clothing that college students might be looking for that are particularly expensive, like business casual clothing, for example, clothing for their internships and summer jobs,” carvalho said. 

she said the loop makes sure students in need are also aware of other resources available for them on campus, such as the store, which is a student-run food pantry providing resources for students experiencing food insecurity. 

“the students who come to the store know that the loop exists,” carvalho said. “we’re just cross-promoting the resources.” 

besides being open every friday, carvalho said they open the loop at different times to specific student groups who would benefit from having extra time to look around for clothes they need. 

“we really wanted to create an experience where students would feel excited about coming in and getting their clothes,” carvalho said.