1. Gikinoo’wizhiwe Onji Waaban (Guiding for Tomorrow)
or “G-WOW” Changing Climate, Changing Culture Initiative
A New Model for Climate Change Literacy
Cathy Techtmann- Environmental Outreach State Specialist
Professor-Community Resource Development, University of Wisconsin-Extension
NOAA Climate Steward

2. On behalf of G-WOW Project Partners
Funding Provided by:

3. PROJECT LOCATION In the heart of the Ojibwe Ceded Territory,
on the shores of Lake Superior
Based out of the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center
in Ashland, Wisconsin
** Applicable to other locations, cultures **

4. G-WOW Roots (2008-ish)
Increasing evidence that climate change is affecting the sustainability of Lake Superior coastal resources, communities, and cultures
Concern about climate change impacts to Ojibwe treaty rights and traditional cultural practices within the Ceded Territory
“Traditional” climate literacy models were not resonating with audiences
Diverse project partners came together as the G-WOW Team to develop a new climate change educational outreach strategy

5. Research basis for the G-WOW Model
“…local, place-based evidence of climate change gained through experiential learning is as, or more effective than, simply studying analytical climate change data to increasing climate change literacy.”
“The Psychology of Climate Change Communication”, Columbia University 2009

6. The Lake Superior Ojibwe have relied on the sustainability of key plant and animal species for generations to support subsistence, cultural, and spiritual practices or “lifeways”
Tribes have traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) of natural systems that provides place-based indicators of climate change impacts for people of all cultures

7. Place-based Evidence
Unprecedented cancellations of tribal wild rice harvests and poor harvest years ( )
Lake Superior ice cover at Bayfield, Wisconsin has decreased approximately 3 days/decade or 45 days over the past 150 years
Lake Superior reached near record lows by 2013, at record highs in 2015.

8. Scientific evidence- HISTORIC
From
+1ºF over all temperature increase
ºF increase in NW Wisconsin.

9. WHAT’S IN THE FUTURE? OVERALL WARMING WARMER WINTERS
CLIMATE PROJECTIONS ( )
Based on A1B “middle of the road” scenario
OVERALL WARMING
Change in Average Annual Temps +4-9ºF
WARMER WINTERS
Decrease in Frequency of Cold Nights- esp. Northern Wisconsin
MORE EXTREME WEATHER
Up to 4.5 inch annual mean increase in precip
25% increase in the frequency of 2-inch or greater rainfall events

10. Place-based evidence of climate change
Our Goal through G-WOW
Increase awareness of climate change impacts on the sustainability of resources, cultures, and communities by integrating:
Place-based evidence of climate change
Climate change scientific research.
Create an e-z to understand climate literacy model that is transferable to other cultures & locations
Fight climate change with change through service learning

11. Projected change in Wisconsin’s annual average temperatures
G-WOW Key Principles
Climate change is real
Humans contribute to climate change
Weather and climate are different
Climate affects culture
We can make a difference!
Harvesting birch bark- a boreal species that relies on a cool climate
Projected change in Wisconsin’s annual average temperatures
in ºF,

12. Why Is the G-WOW Model Unique?
It is based understanding climate change through its impact on the sustainability of key plant or animal species that
support a cultural practice.
Creates a culturally relevant climate change perspective
Links place-based evidence with scientific climate change research
Makes the model transferrable across different cultures
Promotes action through service learning
G-WOW uses impacts on Ojibwe cultural practices as
an indicator of a changing climate for all cultures

13. Applying the G-WOW model: Wild Ricing
The Ojibwe lifeway of wild rice harvesting depends on the sustainability of manoomin
(wild rice)
Manoomin is an important species to the Ojibwe for subsistence, spiritual, and ceremonial purposes
The sustainability of manoomin depends on habitats with shallow water, moderate water level fluctuations, and cool growing season temperatures

14. Do Culture and Science Agree?
Place-based evidence of climate change affecting the sustainability of manoomin?
: Significant changes observed in wild rice harvests and yields based on TEK
Scientific evidence of climate change affecting the sustainability of manoomin?
HEAT
DROUGHT
GUSHERS
Annual average temperatures in ºF,
Frequency of 90-degree days
Change in frequency of 2” + precip
Do Culture and Science Agree?

15. G-WOW model template Cultural Practice
What cultural practice do you enjoy?
What species is needed to
support this practice?
What changes are you seeing in the key species or in the habitats it needs?
What changes in environmental variables critical to supporting these habitat conditions are projected by climate science? Variables may include: temperature, precipitation, drought, intense rain/ storms, humidity, etc.
What habitat conditions does the species need to survive and thrive?
Do culture and science agree that climate change may affect the key species and the cultural practice?
What implications does this have for your community?

16. Applying the G-WOW Model
Cultural Practice
Key Species
Place-based & Scientific Evidence
Requires shallow water, moderate water level changes, cool growing season
Projected frequency of 2”+ rain events,
What does this mean for sustainability of maoomin?
What does this mean for cultural practices that rely on manoomin?

17. What does this mean for sustainability of sugar maple,
Cultural Practice
Key Species
Place-based & Scientific Evidence
Requires cool moist forest habitats, cold winters for sugar production
Projected frequency of days over 90-degrees F,
What does this mean for sustainability of sugar maple,
the businesses the rely on sugar maple?

18. Requires cold water habitats with high oxygen levels
Cultural Practice
Key Species
Place-based and Scientific Evidence
Requires cold water habitats with high oxygen levels
Projected change in Wisconsin’s annual average summer temperatures in ºF,
Climate models predict up to 95% of Wisconsin’s brook trout habitat across could be lost if the average annual summer air temperature increased just over 5 º F.

19. Key “species”/habitat
Cultural Practice
Key “species”/habitat
Place-based and Scientific Evidence
Projected change in Wisconsin’s winter average temperatures in ºF,
What do these changes mean for species, cultural practices, and businesses that depend on winter cold and snow?

20. The G-WOW model guides investigation…
Do culture and science agree… is climate change affecting the sustainability of the key species that supports an Ojibwe lifeway?
What is the future for this cultural practice based on place-based evidence and scientific climate change projections?
What do these changes mean for the cultural practices you enjoy , the environment, community, economy?
… then engages learners to act through service learning
What can we do to mitigate or adapt to climate change impacts?

21. Taking action through climate service learning projects
Culture informing Science
The G-WOW MODEL
Ojibwe Lifeways
Place-based evidence of climate impacts on 4-seasonal Ojibwe cultural practices
Talking Circle
Sharing service learning projects via an interactive blog
Investigate the Science
Climate science from federal, state, and tribal sources
What Can We Do?
Taking action through climate service learning projects

22. Climate Change Discovery Center Educator Training Institutes
G-WOW OUTREACH TOOLS
Experiential learning
Ojibwe language, TEK, and cultural elements infused
Multi-cultural perspectives
Web Curriculum
Climate Change Discovery Center
Educator Training Institutes

23. TARGET AUDIENCES Learners (middle school & above) Teachers-Educators
General Public