Call for Papers

Distinguished conference participants will be asked to present current research and position papers regarding their work in sustainable development. SDI will compile all papers presented for publication in a conference proceedings book. Conference participants will also have an opportunity to visit the Menominee Forest on one day to witness first-hand a model of sustainable forestry in practice.

The Menominee model of sustainable development is based upon the interactive dynamics between humans and the natural environment. This interactive process contains six inter-related dimensions:

the natural environment
land and sovereignty
economics
technology
institutions
human perception, activity, and behavior

This theoretical model conceptualizes sustainable development as being the process of maintaining balance and reconciling the tensions between these dimensions. This model presupposes that change within one dimension will impact other dimensions in an ever-unfolding diffusion of responses to change.

The major topic theme of this conference is to share research and well-grounded examples that reflect the interface of any two or more dimensions of this model of sustainability.

Papers/Posters/Proposals

If you wish to present a paper, give a poster presentation, or organize a workshop session, send your proposal, abstract or description, (not more than 500 words single spaced) postmarked no later than January 31, 2003 to:

Delia Kundin
Institutional Advancement Specialist
College of Menominee Nation
P.O. Box 1179
Keshena, WI. 54135

Or attach to e-mail in a word processing file (.doc), Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) or plain text format to:

dkundin@menominee.edu

Acceptance letters will be mailed no later than March 3, 2003.

LAND & SOVEREIGNTY

Are integral to the process of sustainable development. The Menominee Nation has a firm experiential basis for their understanding of 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.

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.

ECONOMY

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.

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.

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).