FINALREPORTEducation,ProtectionandManagement

ofezhibiigaadekasin(SanilacPetroglyphSite)

March12,2016

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ResearchTeam

Co-PrincipalInvestigators

SonyaAtalayDepartmentofAnthropology,UniversityofMassachusetts,Amherst202MachmerHall,UniversityofMassachusetts,Amherst,MA01003

satalay@anthro.umass.edu 413-545-2652ShannonMartin,Director

ZiibiwingCenterofAnishinabeCulture&Lifeways,TheSaginawChippewaIndianTribeofMichigan,

6650E.Broadway,Mt.Pleasant,MI48858 smartin@sagchip.org 989-775-4750WilliamJohnson,Curator

ZiibiwingCenterofAnishinabeCulture&Lifeways,TheSaginawChippewaIndianTribeofMichigan,

6650E.Broadway,Mt.Pleasant,MI48858 wjohnson@sagchip.org 989-775-4750GraduateStudentResearchAssistants

StacyTchorzynski,Ph.D.student,StateUniversityofNewYork,Binghamton,NewYork

stchorz1@binghamton.eduFrankRaslich,Ph.D.student,

MichiganStateUniversity,EastLansing,Michiganraslichf@msu.edu

NicoleRaslich,Ph.D.student,

MichiganStateUniversity,EastLansing,Michigannicoleraslich@att.net

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Thisresearchispartofacollaborativecommunity-basedparticipatoryresearchprojectdevelopedinpartnershipbetweentheSaginawChippewaIndianTribeofMichigan’sZiibiwingCenterofAnishinabeCulture&LifewaysandtheUniversityofMassachusettsAmherst.

AttributionandCopyrightNotice

ThenarrativeportionsofthisreportcanbemadeavailableonlineusingtheCCBY-NC-NDcreativecommonslicense.However,theappendicesofthisreportcontainsensitiveinformationandarenottobemadepublicoravailableonlineandshouldonlybeaccessedandreadonlybytheIPinCHSteeringCommittee.

www.sfu.ca/IPinCH Thisresearchwasmadepossible,inpart,throughthesupportoftheIntellectualPropertyIssuesinCulturalHeritage(IPinCH)project,aMajorCollaborativeResearchInitiativefundedbytheSocialSciencesandHumanitiesResearchCouncilofCanada.IPinCHexplorestherights,values,andresponsibilitiesassociatedwithmaterialculture,culturalknowledgeandthepracticeofheritageresearch.

Coverimage:RevisedSignagetobedisplayedattheSanilacPetroglyphsHistoricStateParkatthelocationofezhibiigaadekasin

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TableofContents

Acknowledgements......................................................................................................5

ANoteaboutCulturallySensitiveInformation.............................................................6

ContextforourWorkatEzhibiigaadekAsin(SanilacPetroglyphs)................................7

ProjectDevelopment,InitialGoals,andEvolvingApproachtotheWork......................9

InitialResearchQuestionsandObjectives..................................................................11ProtectionfromExploitationandCommodification...........................................................11RehabilitatingtheSitethroughRe-etching.........................................................................12

NeedforFlexibilityinResearchGoalsandQuestions.................................................12

ChallengesEncountered,DelayedStart......................................................................13

GrantActivities..........................................................................................................15ParticipatoryPlanning–October28,2011.........................................................................15MeetingwithEldersandSpiritualLeaders–June23–24,2014...........................................18PrioritizingWorktoReconnectYouthtotheSitethroughCeremonies...............................20FormingaCentralMichiganChapteroftheMichiganArchaeologicalSociety.....................20OpportunitiesforCulturalEducation:SummerSolsticeGatherings....................................21ReviewofStateDocentTrainingMaterials........................................................................21Signageatezhibiigaadekasin.............................................................................................22ResearchonAppropriateCareandPreservation................................................................22Peterborough–SanilacTrip,September15-19,2014.........................................................24

EducationalEfforts.....................................................................................................30

SharingResearchwithAcademicAudiences...............................................................30

KeyLessonstoShare..................................................................................................31

FutureDirections.......................................................................................................34

ReflectiveQuestions..................................................................................................35

Appendices................................................................................................................37A.MaterialsfromConferencePresentationsB.ParticipatoryStrategicPlanPacketC.EventFlyersforLittlePeopleGatheringsandSummerSolsticeEventsD.MaterialfromPeterboroughTripE.TribalMembershipSurveyF.TribalObserverandotherNewsStoriesG.EzhibiigaadekasinNewSignageText

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Acknowledgements

Ourteamwishestothankthemanyindividualswhocontributedtoourworkandeffortsandwhoprovidedsupportalongtheway.Weofferparticularacknowledgementandmiigwechtothefollowingindividualsandgroups…

ZiibiwingCenterTeammemberswhoassistedandprovidedsupportforthegrantapplication,administration,travelandresearch.

TheIPinCHTeamforinvitingustoparticipateinthegrantandforassistancewiththechallengingadministrativetasksalongtheway.

BonnieEkdahl,formerDirectorattheZiibiwingCenter,whoinitiatedtheproject.

Elders,spiritualleadersandadvisorswhoparticipatedoverthecourseofmanyyears:BonnieEkdahl,CharmaineShawana,SydneyMartin,GeorgeMartin,EddieBenton-Banaise,BrianCorbiere,StevenPego,LornaKahgegab,andMicheleStanley.

VisionMakersforfacilitatingaproductiveandveryusefulparticipatoryplanningsessionforourproject.

SnowbirdSingers,whosangandhostedusatezhibiigaadekasinforthe2014summersolstice.

StateofMichiganDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandStateHistoricPreservationOfficeforworkingcollaborativelywiththeSaginawChippewaIndianTribeofMichiganandourIPinCHTeamtorestoreaccesstoezhibiigaadekasinandworktowardmeaningfulco-managementofthesite.

CranbrookInstituteofScienceforprovidingarchivalinformationrelatedtoezhibiigaadekasin.

CurveLakeFirstNationforhostingourteamintheiraboriginallandwhilewevisitedKinoomaagewaabkong(“TheTeachingRocks”)andParksCanadaforassistingwithourvisittothePetroglyphsProvincialParkinSeptember2014.

Dr.NealFerrisandthestaffofSustainableArchaeologyforhostingusandprovidingatourforourteamduringourvisitinSeptember2014.

AmyRobertsandIsobelleCampbellforsharinginsightsandlessonslearnedontheirworkatNgautNgaut,SouthernAustralia.Welearnedagreatdealandfoundinspirationintheirwork.

Allparticipantsandattendeesofour2015SocietyforAmericanArchaeologysession“CaringforKnowledgeonStone:RockArtCo-ManagementwithIndigenousandLocalCommunities.”

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ANoteaboutCulturallySensitiveInformation

Certainportionsofthisreportreferto,ormentionculturaltopicsthataresensitive.Inwritingthisreport,wehavemadecarefulchoicesaboutwhatwefeelisculturallyappropriatetodiscussandshare.Assuch,wenotethesensitivityofcertaininformation/topicsastheyoccurinthereportwithoutprovidinganyfurtherdetails.

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ContextforourWorkatEzhibiigaadekAsin(SanilacPetroglyphs)InwhatistodayknownastheStateofMichigan,withintheAboriginalLandoftheSaginawChippewaIndianTribe(SCIT)ofMichigan,isaplaceoftraditionalteachingandlearningfortheAnishinabek—theAnishinabepeople.FortheAnishinabek,thisplace,locatedintheeasternthumbregionofMichigan(Figure1),holdsimportanceasatraditionalculturalproperty—Anishinabepeoplecallitezhibiigaadekasin(“writingsonstone”).ArchaeologistsknowthisplaceastheSanilacPetroglyphSite#20SL01.

Figure1.MapofMichigan.ezhibiigaadekasinisindicatedwithastarandtheZiibiwingCenterisindicatedwithacircle.TheZiibiwingCenteris90mileswestofezhibiigaadekasin.

Priortocolonization,theAnishinabekhadtheabilitytomanageoursacredsitesandlandscapesaswesawfit.Wewerethesolekeepersofknowledgeabouttheseplacesandtheteachingstheywerecreatedtohold.Theresponsibilitythatcomeswithholdingthisknowledgewassecurelyinourhands,aswemaintainedsovereigntyovertheproductionandreproductionofknowledgeaboutourpast,andthewayitwasbestpreservedandsharedforthoseinthefuture.

Theconcernforrecordingknowledgeandpreservingthisknowledgeforfuturegenerationsisattestedtointheteachingsatezhibiigaadekasin.OneofthepetroglyphsattheSanilacsitedepictsashkabewis,aspiritualhelperorteacher.Oraltraditionstellusthatthisshkabewisimage,whichresemblesanarcherwithdrawnbowandarrow,

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(Figure2),depictsourancestorsshootingknowledgeintothefutureforlatergenerationstobenefit.

Figure2.Oneofthepetroglyphteachingsatezhibiigaadekasindepictingtheshkabewis,aspiritualhelperorteacher.

Suchimageswererecordedonstonebecauseourancestorsknewatimewouldcomewhenourlanguage,traditions,andpracticeswouldbethreatenedbycolonization—carvingknowledgeonstoneensuredpermanence.Caringforthisplaceandfortheknowledgeheldtherearebothpartoftraditionalknowledgestewardshippractices.

Today,theSanilacPetroglyphsiteisnotunderthecontroloftheSaginawChippewaIndianTribeofMichigan—itisdeededtotheStateofMichiganandadministeredbytheMichiganDepartmentofNaturalResources(DNR).However,theZiibiwingCenter,amuseumandculturalcenterbuiltbytheTribetoshareitshistorywiththerestoftheworld,hasapositiveworkingrelationshipwiththeDNR,andhasbeengivenpermissiontohostregularceremoniesatthesitethatfocusonmultipleformsofculturalknowledgeeducationandpreservation.TheZiibiwingCenterassistedindevelopingnewsignageforthesite,andisalsointerestedinproducingfurthereducationalmaterialsthatsharetraditionalknowledgeaboutthisplacewithvisitors.Theaudienceforthesematerialsisadiverseone,includingSCITTribalMembers,Anishinabepeoplefromthewiderregion,visitorstotheregion,andstudentsofAnishinabehistoryandculture,aswellaslocalresidentsintheareawherethesiteislocated.ezhibiigaadekasinstronglyattractsbothNativeandnon-NativeAmericans.

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InourIPinCHcommunity-basedinitiative—“Education,ProtectionandManagementofezhibiigaadekasin(SanilacPetroglyphs)”—thecentralquestionguidingourworkhasbeen:whataretheculturallyrelevantwaysofprovidingeducationalinformationaboutezhibiigaadekasintodiversepublicaudienceswhileprotectingtheknowledgeandimagesfrombeingco-optedandappropriated?ThisisanimportantquestionbecausewefoundtheretobeadesireonthepartofmanytraditionalAnishinabeculturekeeperstoshareaspectsoftraditionalculturalknowledge(whenappropriate)withawiderpublic,yettherehasbeenlimitedunderstandingand,attimes,evencompletedisregardbysomeoutsideofAnishinabecommunitiesfortheculturalconnectionsthatAnishinabepeopleshavewiththisandothersacredsitesintheregion.Findingculturallyappropriatewaystoshareknowledgewhileatthatsametimeensuringitisprotectedfromexploitationbecamecentral.

ProjectDevelopment,InitialGoals,andEvolvingApproachtotheWorkIn2001and2002,underthedirectorshipofSaginawChippewaTribalMember,BonnieEkdahl,theTribe’sZiibiwingCulturalSociety(whichlatergrewtoincludetheZiibiwingCenterofAnishinabeCulture&Lifeways)startedactivelyprioritizingthecareandprotectionoftheezhibiigaadekasinsite.Thiswasprecipitatedbyalackofstatefundingtoprovideoverallmanagementofthesite,docents,andinterpretation,andtokeepthesiteopentothepublic.Thepreservationofezhibiigaadekasinwasalsoanimportantconcern.In2002,Ziibiwinghostedafour-dayfireatezhibiigaadekasininanefforttoreestablishtheAnishinabek’sconnectiontothatsacredsite.Atthattime,Ziibiwingstaffworkeddiligentlytoputfilestogetherandgatherasmuchinformationastheycouldaboutthearchaeologicalandanthropologicalworkthathadalreadybeendoneonthesite.Inhostingthefour-dayfire,Ziibiwingwantedtoproperlyacknowledgethegrandfatherstoneatezhibiigaadekasininthewaythatwasmostculturallyappropriate.ForAnishinabepeople,thestonethatholdsthepetroglyphsisconsideredarelative,agrandfather.Asanhonoredrelative,thereareculturalprotocolsandappropriatemeansofcaringforandrespectingboththestoneandtheplacewherehe(it)resides.

Atthatsametimethecareofezhibiigaadekasinwasbeingprioritized,Ziibiwing’spermanentexhibit,“DibaJimooyung:TellingOurStory,”wasbeingplanned.Ezhibiigaadekasinhasaprominentplaceintheexhibit,attheopeningto“OurStory.”Thisworkrequiredseveralsitevisitstoezhibiigaadekasin.Asateam,theZiibiwingstaffagreedthattheyneededtorestoretheirspiritualconnectiontothesite.Ziibiwingplannedafour-dayfireforcommunitymemberstocomeoutandengagewiththesite.Thisincludedafeast,anofferingoffoodtograndfatherstoneandtotheland.Therewasalsoasweatlodgeceremony.Firekeepersstayedatthesiteforfourdaysandfournights.

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Strengtheningthecommunityconnectiontothissitewastheprimarygoal.Soonafter,SonyaAtalay,anOjibwe-Anishinabearchaeologistandco-investigatorontheIPinCH-fundedinitiative,approachedBonnieEkdahltodiscusstheideaofpartneringoncommunity-basedresearchendeavorsthatwereofinteresttotheTribeandtotheZiibiwingCenter.Bonnieimmediatelybroughtforwardtheezhibiigaadekasinsiteandsharedtheimportanceofreconnectingwiththesiteandhowcriticalitwastoprioritizeculturallyappropriatecareandprotectionofthegrandfatherstone,theteachingsitcontains,andthesurroundingculturallandscape.SonyainformedBonnieabouttheIPinCHProjectandaskedBonnieifZiibiwingwouldbeinterestedinbecominginvolvedwithIPinCH,withtheeventualgoalofco-developingaproposalforfundingasanIPinCHcommunity-basedinitiative.

AfterseveralroundsofgrantproposalapplicationstotheSocialSciencesandHumanitiesResearchCouncilofCanada,theIPinCHProjectwasfundedinApril20081;thesubmissionphaseforcommunity-basedinitiativeswithinIPinCHfollowedsoonafter.JustastheapplicationprocessforIPinCHcommunity-basedinitiativeswasgettingstarted,BonnieEkdahlsteppeddownfromherleadershiproleatZiibiwingandanewDirector,ShannonMartin,tookover.Asmanyscholarswhodocommunity-engagedscholarshipknow,leadershipchangescanposechallengesforcommunity–universityresearchpartnerships.Thankfully,thiswasnotthecaseatZiibiwing.AsamemberoftheZiibiwingstaffpriortobeinghiredasDirector,ShannonMartinhadbeeninvolvedintheearlyplanningdiscussionsbetweenBonnieEkdahlandSonyaAtalay.ShannonwasinfullsupportofapplyingforIPinCHfundingtodevelopacommunity-basedinitiativefocusedontheprotectionandmanagementofezhibiigaadekasin.ShannondiscussedtheprojectwiththestaffandgainedTribalCouncilapprovaltomoveaheadwiththegrantproposaltoIPinCH.

Wesharethishistoryinthisfinalreportbecausewefeelitdemonstratesthewaythisprojectdevelopedinatrulycommunity-basedfashion.TheissuesweexaminedaspartofourIPinCHfundedcommunity-basedinitiativewerenotnewtotheSaginawChippewaIndianTribeofMichiganortoitsZiibiwingCulturalSociety.Thesewereconcernsthathaddevelopedoverseveralyears,aspartofconversationsandoccurrencesinvolvingmultiplegroups,including:Stateauthoritieswhomanagetheezhibiigaadekasinsite,theMichiganArchaeologicalSociety(MAS)—anamateurarchaeologyorganizationthatpreviouslyownedthelandwherethesiteislocated—andTribalMemberswhohadaninterestinusingoneofthepetroglyphsimagesfromthesiteinanewbusinessventure.

Fortunatelyforeveryoneinvolved,thetiming,researchfocus,andcommunity-basedmethodologicalapproachoftheIPinCHprojectparalleledwellwiththeemergingneedsoftheAnishinabecommunityinrelationtotheprotectionandmanagementofthisimportanttraditionalculturalproperty.

1Beginningin2004,fourproposalsweredevelopedandsubmittedtoSSHRC’sMajorCollaborativeResearchInitiativeprogram.Thefinalproposalwassuccessful.

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InitialResearchQuestionsandObjectives

Workingtogether,thethreeofus—ShannonMartin,DirectoroftheZiibiwingCenterofAnishinabeCulture&Lifeways;WilliamJohnson,Ziibiwing’sCurator;andSonyaAtalay,anOjibwearchaeologistandUniversityofMassachusettsAmherstfacultymember—developedaseriesofresearchobjectivesandaplantocarryouttheseobjectivesandsubmittedittoIPinCHrequestingprojectfunding.Ourinitialobjectiveswereto:1)developandadministeracommunitysurveytoassesstheimportanceofandinterestintheSanilacsite;2)engagewithAnishinabespiritualleaderslivinginboththeUnitedStatesandCanadaregardingappropriateknowledgetoshareandtherelevantmethodsfordoingso;3)developandputforthaproposaltotheDNRforjointmanagementoftheSanilacsite;and4)workcollaborativelytocreateaculturallyappropriatesitemanagementplanthatincludesfundingprojectionsforthelong-termprotectionofthesite.

OurproposaladdressedthreecentralIPinCHThemesandWorkingGroupareas,specifically(1)commodificationandappropriationofimagesandothertraditionalknowledge,(2)culturalheritagetourismanddevelopment,andprotectionand(3)collaborativemanagementoftraditionalculturalproperties.WhatwedidnotknowatthetimewasthatourprojectwouldalsointersectinkeywayswiththeIPinCHResearchEthicsWorkingGroup(asdescribedbelow)andhowfundamentaltheseissuesofethicsandresearchprotocolsandprotectionswouldbewithinourproject.

ProtectionfromExploitationandCommodification

Fromtheoutsetakeyconcerninthisprojecthasbeenhowtobestprotectthepetroglyphsengravedinthestoneatezhibiigaadekasinfromappropriationandexploitationormisuse.Thispointofconcernisnotonlydirectedatnon-Nativepeoplewhomayvisitthesite,butalsoatTribalMembersandotherNativecommunities.Visitorstothisandotherrockartsiteshavebeenknowntodraw,photograph,orevenutilizetheimagestheyseeatthesesacredplacesforeconomicpursuits,suchasont-shirtsandothermerchandise.

Asdescribedingreaterdetaillaterinthisreport,theZiibiwingCenterwasinthepositionofneedingtoprovideculturalinstructiontoaTribalbusinessentitythatplannedtoutilizetheshkabewis(“spiritualhelper”or“teacher”)imagefromtheSanilacsiteasthelogoforasportinggoodsstore.2Asfurtherdevelopmentofthesitecontinues,bringingagreaternumberofvisitors,thesignageandothereducationalmaterialsmustaddressthisissue.Ourteamhopedtobringsomeunderstandingabouthowwecanbestshareknowledgeaboutezhibiigaadekasin,aswe’vebeeninstructedtodosobyourspiritualleaders,whileatthesametimeensuringthatsuchinformationisappropriatelyprotected.

2Thisisdiscussedfurtheronp.19.

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ClearlythisconcernreflectstopicsofcentralimportancefortheoverallIPinCHproject,asissuesofculturalappropriationandcommodificationcrosscutmanycommunity-basedinitiativesandarethefocusofseveralIPinCHworkinggroupsandotherprojectinitiatives.

RehabilitatingtheSitethroughRe-etching

Akeyquestionweidentifiedasaresearchteam,andoneweinitiallythoughtwewouldspendsubstantialtimeinvestigatingaspartofourcasestudywork,iswhetheritwouldbeappropriateto“rehabilitate”thesite.Wenotedthattherewereanumberofinscriptionsonthestonefromrecentactsofvandalismandwewereconcernedthatsomeoftheinitialcarvingshadbeguntowearaway.

Weplannedtousegrantfundingtoengagewithspiritualleaderstolearnwhetherre-etchingisculturallyappropriate.WeanticipatedthatthiswouldbeacontroversialissueforarchaeologistsandperhapsalsofortheMichiganArchaeologicalSociety(thelanddonors)andtheStateagencieschargedwithmanagingthesite.Yetwefeltitwascrucialtoask:Wouldre-etchingbearesponsibilityforpresent-dayAnishinabek,aspartofourroleasstewardsofthisknowledge?Ordoesitgoagainstourtraditionalteachingsandappropriateculturalpractices?Ifre-etchingisappropriateandnecessary,thenwewantedtoconsiderhowwemightbestworkwiththeDNRtofacilitatethis.

Wethusanticipatedthatthebulkofoureffortsonthisprojectwouldneedtofocusinthreeareas:1)understandinghowtobestkeepthepetroglyphimagesfrombeingappropriatedandmisused;2)gatheringguidancefromspiritualleadersandTribalMembersinrelationtotheissueofre-etchingthepetroglyphs;and3)buildingrelationshipswiththeDNRinanefforttolaythegroundworkfordevelopingaco-managementplan.OurinitialproposalfocusedondevelopingandadministeringacommunitysurveytohelpusaddressGoals1and2,coordinatingaseriesofconsultationmeetingsandinterviewswithspiritualleaders,andholdingconversationswithDNRpersonnel.

NeedforFlexibilityinResearchGoalsandQuestions

Asdetailedinthesectionsbelow,weencounteredseveralbureaucraticchallengesthatkeptusfromhavingatimelystarttothiswork,whichheldupourprogresssignificantly.Asaresultofthesedelays,whenwewereabletofinallymoveforwardwithsubstantiveaspectsofourresearchinJune2014,wefoundthatsomeoftheterrainhadchanged;ourinitialquestionsandgoalsneededtobereworked,andourresearchprioritiesandactivitiesshiftedaccordingly.Whilethesesetbackswerefrustratingatthetime,itturnedoutthatthedelayedstarttoourworkallowedtimeforrelationshipsbetweentheTribe,Stateagencies,andtheoriginallandownerofthesitetoimprove,andsignificantlyso(Goal3,above).

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Althoughourguidingquestionsandresearchdesignneededtoshiftsomewhatoverthecourseofthiscollaborativeresearchproject,wefoundthatourcentralquestionsandareasofconcernremainedthesamethroughout:issuesofprotectionfromexploitation,theneedforco-managementofandaccesstothesite,andthedevelopmentofculturallyappropriateapproachestoeducation.Similarly,manyofthefinalworkproducts(e.g.,conferencereports/presentations)arethesameasweanticipated,yetsomehavechanged.Aswillbeclearfromthedetailsbelow,flexibilityinprocessandtheabilitytoadjustandevolvewiththeproject,allowingitto“breathe”abitandguideusontherightpathhasbeentheabsolutekeytosuccessandapositiveoutcome.

ChallengesEncountered,DelayedStart

Unfortunately,weexperiencedseveralchallengesthatdelayedourprogressandkeptusfrommakinganysubstantialprogressonthisprojectuntilmuchlaterthanwehadanticipated.Wedetailthesechallengesherebecausewefeeltheyshedlightonimportantissuesrelatedtoethicsreviewwithinuniversitiesand,ironically,thelimitationsandrigidrestrictionsthatuniversitieshaveinrelationtohowtheyviewtheintellectualpropertyrightsofIndigenouspeoples.

UponhavingourproposalacceptedbytheIPinCHsteeringcommittee,ourfirststepwastoundergohumansubjects/ethicsreview.OurresearchdesignincludedholdingmeetingswithTribalEldersandspiritualleaderstogaintheirinsightsandadviceandadministeringasurveytoTribalMembers.ItwasrequiredthattheresearchundergoethicsreviewatbothSimonFraserUniversity(SFU)andIndianaUniversity(IU),whereCo-PrincipalInvestigator(PI)SonyaAtalaywas,atthetime,anAssistantProfessorbecausetheresearchinvolvedwhatuniversitiesconsidertobe“humansubjects.”

Itshouldbenotedherethat,incontrasttotheviewofacademicinstitutions,asCo-PIsonthisproject,wedon’tviewthosewhoareengagedinthisworkwithus(e.g.,Elders,spiritualleaders,orTribalMembers)as“humansubjects.”Weseetheseindividualsascommunitypartnerswhoareactivelyengagedintheresearch,notasresourcesorsubjectsfromwhomweintendtoextractknowledge,informationor“data.”

SFUandIUrequiredthat,priortostartinganyresearch,ourteamdevelopahumansubjectsprotocolandpreparethenecessarydocumentsforourproposedresearchtoundergoreviewbytheInstitutionalReviewBoard(IRB)atIndianaUniversityandtheResearchEthicsBoard(REB)atSFU.However,ourresearchteamfeltitcrucialthattheprojectundergoTribalreviewfirst,sothatourfirststepwasforCo-PIShannonMartintopresenttheprojecttotheTribalCounciloftheSaginawChippewaIndianTribeofMichiganandreceiveapprovaltomoveforward.

AftertheresearchdesignwasapprovedbyIPinCH,Co-PISonyaAtalaypreparedtheethicsreviewmaterialsforbothSFUandIU.ThisposedamajorchallengebecausetheIRBatIndianaUniversityandtheREBatSimonFraserUniversityhaddifferentexpectationsintermsofacceptablewaystodeveloptheprotocolandthetypesof

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verbiageandapproachthatwasacceptabletocarryouttheresearchwehadproposed.Inotherwords,wecouldn’tsimplyprepareoneethicsprotocolandsubmitittobothinstitutions;weneededtoformatourprotocolverydifferentlyforeachofthetwouniversities.Furthermore,evenincaseswherethequestionsfromthetwoReviewBoardsweresimilar,whatwasconsidered“acceptablepractices”wasdifferent.

ThisprocessofreworkingethicsprotocolsandmovingdocumentsthroughtheIRB/REBprocessultimatelytookseveralyears.Eventually,wewereabletofindverbiageandaprotocolprocessthatwasagreeabletobothinstitutions.However,thistooksubstantialtime,effort,andsomethingofanemotionaltoll.Ourresearchteamstartedtoloseconfidencethattheprocesswouldeverberesolved;meanwhile,Eldersandspiritualleadersontheprojectbecamefrustratedaboutourdelayedstart.Theyhadsetasidetimetoworkonthisprojectandfeltitwascriticalthatwemakeprogressinatimelymanner.

Finally,in2012,IUandSFUbothgaveethicsreviewclearancefortheprojecttomoveahead.Unfortunately,newchallengesemergedwhen,inthatsameyear,Co-PISonyaAtalayacceptedanewfacultypositionattheUniversityofMassachusettsAmherst.BecausethecurrentsystemofIRBprocessrequiresethicsreviewstobetiedtoafacultymember’sinstitution,thismeantthattheprojectwouldneedtogothroughyetanotherIRBreviewforUMassAmherst.OnceAtalaywassettledoncampus,insummer2012,sheinquiredabouttheIRBreviewprocessandwhatwouldberequired.Fortunately,UMassAmherstagreedtoaccepttheethicsreviewapprovalsfrombothSFUandIU,andonlyamodified,streamlinedversionofreviewwouldberequired.Thiswaswonderfulnewsforourresearchteammembers,whoweretrulywearyatthispoint.

Theprocessofgettingourprojectunderwaybroughtaboutyetanothercomplication;onethatprovedtobeinsurmountableforthecurrentwaywe’dconfiguredtheadministrationofourgrantfundsvis-a-visIPinCHandUMass.WhileworkingthroughthecomplicationsofIRBreview,ourresearchteamgaveseveralconferencepresentationsaboutthechallengeswewereencountering(seeAppendixA).WealsoattendedseveralIPinCH-sponsoredmeetingsandconferencesessions.ThroughtheseengagementswithfellowIPinCHmembers,welearnedoftwocomplicationsfacedbythePenobscotNationastheyworkedtoconsiderhowtobestadministerfundsfortheirIPinCHcommunity-basedinitiative.3Thefirstrelatedtointellectualproperty:iffundsfortheprojectwentthroughUMass(fromSFUtoUMassadministeringthefunds),thenUMasswouldretaintherightstotheintellectualpropertyderivedfromtheresearch.

3SeeDevelopingPoliciesandProtocolsfortheCulturallySensitiveIntellectualPropertiesofthePenobscotNationofMaine,byBonnieNewsometal.(2014).ThereportandotherinformationonthePenobscotinitiativeavailableat:http://www.sfu.ca/ipinch/project-components/community-based-initiatives/developing-policies-and-protocols-culturally-sensitiv

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ThesecondcomplicationwasthatitwasdifficulttohavegrantfundsdirectlyadministeredbythePenobscotNation,ratherthanbyUMass.

Inlearningofthesecomplications,ourteambecameconcernedaboutthelossofintellectualpropertyrightsoverthedatawewouldproduceaspartofthisproject.Co-PIAtalayimmediatelyinvestigatedthesituationatUMassandfoundthat,indeed,theuniversitywasnotatalllikelytogiveupintellectualproperty(IP)rightstotheknowledge/dataproducedthroughourwork.Ourteamfoundthisunacceptable,andwechosetomoveforwardasthePenobscotNationhad—wepushedtohavethefundsadministeredbytheSaginawChippewaIndianTribeofMichiganthroughitsZiibiwingCenter.ThisarrangementactuallymadethemostsensesinceZiibiwingalreadyhadacloseworkingrelationshipwithTribalEldersandspiritualleaderswithwhomwewouldbeworking.Itwouldbemucheasiertohandletravel,reimbursements,honorariapayments,andotherexpensesifZiibiwingadministeredthefunds.Unfortunately,afteralongperiodofnegotiationbetweentheSaginawChippewaIndianTribeofMichiganandSimonFraserUniversity,itbecameclearthatthisarrangementwasnotpossibleforseveralreasons.Despiteconcertedeffort,SFUandtheTribecouldnotcometoanagreementthatwasacceptabletobothentitiesconcerningrightsofintellectualpropertyandprocessintheeventofabreachofcontract.

Thiswasincrediblyfrustratinganddisappointing,particularlysincethelegalfeesincurredbytheTribewerequitesubstantial—morethantheamountofthefundsweweretoreceiveforthegrant.OurteamwasdeterminedtoconductthisresearchandknewthatwewoulddosoevenwithouttheIPinCHfunding.However,IPinCHDirectorGeorgeNicholaswasverysupportiveandworkedcloselywithourteamtofindanagreeablesolution.Withoutadoubt,thisprojectwouldnothavebeencarriedoutaspartofIPinCHwithoutthecare,attention,andoverwhelmingeffortofDr.NicholasandProjectManagerBrianEgan.Finally,inJune2014,afteraseriesofmultiple,complexdelaysandrestructuring,wewereabletoofficiallybeginourworkontheezhibiigaadekasinproject.

GrantActivities

ParticipatoryPlanning–October28,2011

InOctober2011,ourteamwasattheendofthefinalroundofethicsreviewsthroughIUandSFU.Wefeltconfidentatthatpointthatbothinstitutionswouldquicklyapproveourethicsapplications.Wedidn’tyethavefundstransferredtoIUfortheproject,and,asitturnedout,thegrantwouldnotbeadministeredthroughIUbecauseofCo-PIAtalay’smovetoUMass.Ourteambecameconcernedthatithadbeensomanyyearssincewefirstconceivedoftheprojectandwrotethegrantproposal.Wedecideditwasimportantforustorevisitthegoalsofourprojectandconsiderthebestwaytomoveforwardoncetheethicsreviewwasfinal.InOctober2011,weheldaparticipatory

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strategicplanningsessionattheZiibiwingCenterinMt.Pleasant,MichiganthatincludedallthreeCo-PIs,aswellasElders,spiritualleaders,andTribalMembers.

ThestrategicplanningsessionwasfacilitatedbyVisionMAKERS,aninternalentitywithintheSaginawChippewaIndianTribeofMichiganconsistingoffacilitatorswhohavereceivedextensivetraininginconductingstrategicplanningeffortsinaparticipatoryway.Wespenttwodaystogetherreviewingourresearchdesignandgrantproposal(Figure3)andworkedcollaborativelytodevelopaclearplanforwardthatwouldallowustocompleteourprojectgoalswithinabouttwoyears.The“IPinCHStrategicPlan:SCITConservationandManagementoftheEzhibiigaadekAsin”ispresentedasAppendixBofthisreport.WefeltthiswouldprovideuswithadequatetimetoconducttheresearchandensuresufficienttimepriortotheendofIPinCHfundingtoreflectonourwork,shareourprogresswithintheTribalcommunityandwithStateagenciesandotherstakeholders,presentourworkatacademicconferences,andwritethefinalreport.

Figure3.SydneyMartindiscussingprojectgoalsduringtheOctober2011strategicplanningsessionheldattheZiibiwingCenter.

Workingtogethertodevelopthatstrategicplaninatrulycommunity-basedandcollaborativewaywascriticallyimportanttothesuccessofthisIPinCH-fundedstudy.

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Co-PIShannonMartinrecognizedtheimportanceofmovingtheprojectforwardandmakingprogress,ifonlythroughmeetingtogetherandplanningasateam.Thiswasacrucialstepinhelpingusovercometheadministrativesetbacksandfrustrationsthatwefacedfromtheverystartofourproject.

Oneofthemosthelpfulaspectsofthestrategicplanthatwedevelopedwasthatitprovidedourteamwithnon-researchtasksandgoalsthatwecoulddotomoveourworkforward.TheseincludedcontinuedcommunicationwithTribalCouncil,sharingourworkwiththeTribalnewspaperTribalObserver,encouragingeachotherandacknowledgingouraccomplishments,andidentifyingwaystoincreaseengagementofTribalyouthwiththesite.Itwasalsoveryimportantforusculturallytobuildspiritualengagementwiththesiteintoourplan—thisisanimportantacknowledgementthatspiritualpracticeisembeddedwithinandnotdistinctfromintellectualorresearch-relatedpractices.

Thestrategicplandocumentedourlong-termgoalsandvisionforthesiteandreinforcedournon-endingcommitmenttocareforthissacredplace.Inessence,thestrategicplanningsessionreinforcedthatthisworkrequireslong-termeffortthatwillnotbecompleteattheendofthisgrant.WeunderstandasAnishinabepeoplethatwehaveanenduringresponsibilitytocareforsuchplacesandtoallowthemtocareforus.It’sclearinthestrategicplanthattheresearchwesetouttoaccomplishaspartofIPinCHwasonlyaverysmallpartofwhatweenvisionandwantforthesite(Figure4).IPinCHwasthesparkthatgotthingsmoving,butwerecognizedthatourworkwouldprogresswithorwithoutourinvolvementwiththeIPinCHproject.Inhindsight,themoney,time,effort,andenergyputintomovingtheprojectforwardthroughacademicchannelscouldhavebeenmuchbetterspentbysimplydoingtheresearch.Whilewellintentioned,theuniversityrelationshipshaddramaticallyheldupoureffortsandputunnecessarybarriersinthewayofusconductingimportantandwell-conceivedresearch.

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Figure4.OrganizingandlabelinggoalsforourworkduringtheOctober2011StrategicPlanningsessionattheZiibiwingCenter.

MeetingwithEldersandSpiritualLeaders–June23–24,2014

Afterweworkedouttheadministrativeandfinancialissuesoffundingourproject,wewereabletobeginresearch.WhenwefirstdraftedtheIPinCHproposalforthisproject,weidentifiedtwograduatestudentswhowouldassistuswiththisresearch:FrankRaslichandhiswife,NicoleRaslich.FrankisaSaginawChippewaTribalMember.HeandhiswifearebothAnthropologyPh.D.studentsstudyingarchaeologyatMichiganStateUniversity.AttheSocietyforAmericanArchaeologyinMemphisinApril2012,Co-PIsSonyaAtalayandShannonMartinmetStacyTchorzynski.StacyisaPh.D.studentatSUNYBinghamtonwhoatthattimehadjustbeenhiredbytheMichiganStateArchaeologist’soffice.Stacyhadheardaboutourworkatezhibiigaadekasinandwasenthusiastictolearnmore.

Overthetwoyearsthatfollowed,Co-PIsShannonMartinandWilliamJohnsonmetwithStacytodiscussthesiteandourprojectgoals.StacyhasbeeninstrumentalinhelpingtobuildandstrengthentherelationshipsoftheSaginawChippewaIndianTribeofMichiganandZiibiwingStaffwiththeStateArchaeologist’sOffice,theMichiganDepartmentofNaturalResources,andtheMichiganArchaeologicalSociety.AswebeganworkontheprojectinJune2014,itwasclearthatStacywouldbeanidealresearchassistant.AsaPh.D.studentshecouldlendherresearchskillstotheproject.Herinsights,experience,andconnectionswiththeStateArchaeologistandlong-

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standingrelationshipswiththoseinvolvedwithMidwesternarchaeologywerebothenormousassets.Stacywasalreadyuptospeedonourproject,andsoitwasasmoothtransitionforhertojoinourresearchteam.InherroleasanemployeeoftheStateArchaeologist,StacyhadalreadyworkedwithCo-PIMartintoauthorandpresentseveralpresentationsabouttheezhibiigaadekasinproject,soshewasverywell-versedintheresearchquestionsandwhatwehopedtoaccomplishwithIPinCHfunding.4

OurprojectteamofthreeCo-PIs(Sonya,Shannon,andWilliam)andthreegraduateresearchassistants(FrankRaslich,NicoleRaslich,andStacyTchorzynski),togetherwithagroupofTribalEldersandspiritualleaders,metfortwodaysinJune2014todiscusstheappropriatecareandmanagementofezhibiigaadekasin.Usingthestrategicplanwe’ddevelopedinOctober2011asastartingpoint,webegantotalkaboutkeyissuesandpointsofconcernwithregardtothesite.

Primarypointsofdiscussionfocusedonaspectsofculturalappropriationthathadalreadytakenplaceatezhibiigaadekasinandhowwemightprotectthesite—particularlypetroglyphsonthestone—frombeingfurtherappropriatedandusedinappropriatelyinthefuture.ShannonandWilliamrelatedtothegroupthataTribalemployeehadinquiredaboutusingtheshkabewisimagefromtheezhibiigaadekasinsite(Figure1)forthelogoofthesportinggoodsstorehewaspreparingtoopen.ThisissuehadraisedconcernforShannonandWilliambecausethepetroglyphsatthesitearespiritualinnature,anditisinappropriatetousetheminacommercialway.Inparticular,theshkabewisimagedepictsaspiritualmessageanddoesnotrelatetohuntingorsport.

Thispromptedthegrouptodiscusstheimportanceofeducation,notonlyforvisitorsandnon-Nativeornon-Anishinabepeople,buteducationamongTribalMembers.Thegrouplookedcloselyatapproachestoeducationandwaysofprotectingthesitefromfurtherappropriation.Onekeypointwashowwemightconsiderrestrictingphotographyatthesiteinordertolessenthechancesofsomeonemisusingtheimages.Ofcourse,imagesalreadyexistofthepetroglyphsonlineandinarchivalrecordsheldbytheStateArchaeologist’sofficeandtheCranbrookInstituteofScience,tonameafew—howcouldwecontrolorlimittheuseofthoseimages?Ourgroupdiscussedthisindetail.AquickGooglesearchturnedupseveralimagesofezhibiigaadekasinonline,mostnotablyphotosoftheshkabewispetroglyph.

Oneimageinparticularcaughttheattentionofourteam.WenoticedthattheMichiganArchaeologicalSocietynotonlyhadanimageoftheshkabewispostedontheirwebsitebutthattheimagewascopyrighted.ThiscreatedgreatconcernforusaswewantedtoknowifcopyrightingthephotographmeantthatMAShad,infact,copyrightedtheshkabewisimageitself.Ourgroupalsolearnedthatagroupofarchaeologistshadinappropriatelyusedtheshkabewisimageontheprogrammaterialfortheirconference.Atthe2012MidwestArchaeologicalConference,heldinLansing,Michigan,animageof

4StacysoonafterbecameanAssociatememberofIPinCH.

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theshkabewisappearednotonlyonthemeetingprogramcover,butalsoonabagandwaterbottlegiventoeachconferenceparticipant.

Elders,spiritualleaders,TribalCouncilMembers,andTribalMemberswhowerepresentatourJunemeetingallvoicedconcernovertheinappropriateuseofthisimage.WealsodeterminedthatweneededtolooktootherTribalNationswhohavefacedsimilarissuesandconsultthemtolearnhowtheyhandledtheproblem.WethereforebeganplanningatriptoPeterborough,OntarioforourgrouptomeetwithCurveLakeFirstNationMemberswhocareforpetroglyphsthere.Wefeltthatthiswouldgiveourgroupinsightsintoconcernsoverappropriationofimagesandinappropriatetreatmentanduseofsacredplaces,andthatwemightalsogaininsightsintoco-managementstrategiesandhowtobestdevelopsuchaplanwithStateagencies.

PrioritizingWorktoReconnectYouthtotheSitethroughCeremonies

AnotherkeypointthatemergedfromthisgroupmeetingwasthecriticalimportanceofconnectingYouthtoezhibiigaadekasin.EldersandspiritualleaderstoldusthatweneededtoprioritizeworkthatwouldconnectYouthtothesiteaspartofourgrant.ThisincludedactssuchasholdingfastingcampsatthesiteandensuringthatLittlePeoplebundlesandspiritualceremoniesoccurredatleasttwiceannually.LittlePeopleholdanimportantplacewithinAnishinabeculturalteachings,andduetothesensitivenatureoftheinformationrelatedtothem,wehavechosentolimittheinformationsharedabouttheminthisreport.

Asaresultoftheguidancewereceivedatthismeeting,theZiibiwingteamfocusedenergyonputtingtogetheraspringandfallLittlePeoplebundleandaspringfastingcampforNativeyouth.OnNovember14,2014,ZiibiwingbroughttogetherTribalYouthandadultstoplaceaLittlePeoplebundleatthesite.PreparationofthebundleoccurredoverseveralweeksandagrouptraveledtothesitetoplacethebundleandconducttheneededceremonyfortheLittlePeople.Plansareunderwaytohavethistakeplaceregularlyatthesite,eachspringandfall.ThismarksanimportantstepforwardtowardencouragingYouthtore-engageandstrengthentheirconnectionstothisplace.

FormingaCentralMichiganChapteroftheMichiganArchaeologicalSociety

DuringourstrategicplanningsessioninJune2014,theideaofengagingmoredirectlywiththeMichiganArchaeologicalSociety(MAS)wasamajorpointofdiscussion.Theimportanceofrelationshipbuildinginthisprojectcannotbeoverstated.ThisincludesdevelopingstrongertieswithStateagenciesthatarecurrentlyinvolvedinthecareofezhibiigaadekasin,aswellasimprovingourrelationshipandlinesofregularcommunicationwithMAS.ThediscussionofhowtoimproverelationswithMAScontinuedatthisgathering.AlthoughtheStateofMichiganholdsthedeedtothelandwherethesiteislocated,MASdeededthelandtothemwiththerestrictionthatthesitebeprotectedandpreserved.AsAnishinabek,wehaveculturalunderstandingsaboutwhatitmeanstoprotectandpreserveezhibiigaadekasin.Unfortunately,some

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membersofMASholdviewsaboutprotectionandpreservationthatconflictwithTribalunderstandings.

WedeterminedthatthebestwaytodothiswastostartacentralMichiganchapterofMAS.Ourresearchteamtookactiononthisandbeganresearchingthestepsneeded.Wefoundthattheprocessisstraightforwardandrequiresustodraftandsubmitby-lawsalongwiththeproposalforanewchapter.Progressisongoinginthisarea,andweanticipatehavinganewMASchapterbeforetheendof2016.

OpportunitiesforCulturalEducation:SummerSolsticeGatherings

Ateverymeetingandinalldiscussionsaboutezhibiigaadekasintheneedforongoingandincreasedengagementwithezhibiigaadekasinisdiscussed.Areviewofthestrategicplanmakesthatclear,andthatsamesentimentresoundedthroughoutthisgroupmeeting.Summersolsticegatheringsatthesitewereafocalpoint,andwetalkedatlengthabouthowwemightusethosegatheringsasopportunitiesforeducationtoTribalMembers,Youth,andnon-Nativevisitorsaswell.Someoftheideasweexploredinclude:

• NewsarticlesinTribalnewspaper• PresentationstoTribalCouncil• InvitingTribalYouthtodevelopshortfilmsaboutthesite• DevelopingaglossaryofAnishinabetermsrelatedtothesiteanditsteachings• Workwithsitedocentstoshareculturallyappropriateinformationtheycan

shareduringtours• Educationalteachingsduringsummersolsticegatherings

Tothisend,Ziibiwingstafforganizedandheldeducationalteachingsatezhibiigaadekasinonthesummersolsticein2014and2015.

ReviewofStateDocentTrainingMaterials

Whilethesetbacksthatdelayedourworkforsomanyyearswerefrustrating,theyalsohadpositiveaspects.OnemajorunanticipatedbenefitofthedelaywasthatitallowedtimefortherelationshipsoftheTribewiththeStateagenciesthatmanageezhibiigaadekasinandwithMAStodevelopinverypositiveways.Asaresult,therearenowstrongandproductivecollaborationstakingplacebetweenthesegroups.ThishasallowedtheTribetohavesubstantiveandmeaningfulinputinmultiplestate-fundedprojectsrelatedtoezhibiigaadekasin.OneexamplerelatestothetrainingmanualusedbyDNRtotraindocentswhogivetoursatthesite.AsaresultofourconversationsandtheworktheTribehasdoneinpartnershipwithDNR,ZiibiwingisnowintheprocessofreviewingthedocenttrainingmaterialsandprovidingDNRwithcommentsandsuggestionsforhowthematerialsmightbestberevisedandupdatedwithregardstotheinformationandinterpretationofthesitethatdocentssharewiththepublicduringsitevisits.

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Signageatezhibiigaadekasin

Thequestionofwhogetstotellthestoryofezhibiigaadekasinandhowtoexplainthisinaculturallyappropriatewaytovisitorswasakeyconcerninourinitialgrantproposal.ThisthemewasalwaysfrontandcenteratboththestrategicplanningsessionheldbyourCo-PIsin2011andattheJune2014meetingofEldersandspiritualleaders.OneofthemostcriticalandimmediatewaystoaddressthispointwasforZiibiwingtoconsidertheeducationalsignagethatispresentatthesite.Aswewerelayingthegroundworkforthisproject,andagainwhenourIPinCHworkfinallystartedinfullforce,theissueofsitesignagewasraised.

Fortunately,therelationshipoftheTribewiththeDNRandtheStateArchaeologistwassuchthattwoofourCo-PIs(ShannonandWilliam)wereabletohavedirectinputonthecollaborativeprocessofre-designingthesignageatthesite,andnewcollaborativelydevelopedsignagewasinstalledatthesiteinspring2016.ThismarksacriticalstepforwardintermsofhavingAnishinabeunderstandingsofthesitenotonlycentrallypresentatthesite,butalsopresentedinrespectfulandsensitiveways.CollaborativeoutcomessuchasthisareakeyhighlightofthisIPinCHproject.Atthestartofthiswork,noneofusinvolvedinthisinitiativecouldhaveanticipatedtheverypositiveprogressmadeinthisarea.Ourworkatezhibiigaadekasinshowssoclearlythatrelationshipsarecentralindoingtheworkofcaringforandmanagingsacredplacesandtraditionalculturalproperties.Oncecollaborativerelationshipswereestablishedandallowedtogrow,wehavefoundthatthecareofsacredplacesimprovestoo.

ResearchonAppropriateCareandPreservation

Akeypointofdepartureattheoutsetofourworkonthisprojectrelatestothequestionofwhatconstitutes“preservation”andwhataretheappropriatemethodsof“care”atezhibiigaadekasin.Whenthefour-dayfirein2002(mentionedabove)tookplace,itmarkedthestartofanannualcycleofcleansingatezhibiigaadekasin.Elderscameforwardatthattimeandexplainedthatthefour-dayfireshouldnotbeaone-timeculturalspiritualevent.Theyinformedthegroupthatsuchspiritualandphysicalcareforthesiteneededtocontinue.Itwascriticaltocontinuehonoringthesiteandtohaveaspiritualpresencethereeveryyear.

OneElderwomancameforwardandexpressedtootherwomenattendingtheeventthatthestoneneededtobecleansedtocareforandprotecttheplace.Sheinstructedthatwaterneededtobeusedtogivethegrandfather(stone)adrink,somethingithadnotbeengivensincethecoveringwasplacedoverthesitein1981.Suchactionsareimportantbecausetheyallowustore-establishourconnectiontothisplaceandletthespiritofthestoneknowthatAnishinabearehereagain.Theseactivitiesallowourbloodmemoriestoconnectagaintoezhibiigaadekasin.Indeed,thisteachingfromElderswasthecatalystforcedarbathingthattookplaceatthesite.Sincethen,everyyearithasbeenimportanttoreconnectandspirituallyopentheteachingsonthestonesothatourbloodmemoriescouldhearandseethemagain.

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Overtheyears,thisprocesshaschangedbecauseofrestrictionsfromMASandDNR.Theybecameconcernedabouttheamountofcontactwithezhibiigaadekasin,andtheuseofwaterandcedarbroomsatannualsolsticecleansings.Oncethoseconcernswerevoiced,Ziibiwingreducedcontactwithezhibiigaadekasin.Ithassincebeenlimitedtoafewpeoplewalkingbarefootonezhibiigaadekasin,wipingoffbirddungandbatdroppings5,andcleaningthestonewithcedarwater.

ThequestionofhowtoaddressthisdifferenceinapproachtocarewasraisedatourJunegathering,whereourresearchteamposedthesequestionstoEldersandspiritualleaders.Thisdiscussionledtoalargerinquiry:Howquicklyisthestoneeroding?Arethepetroglyphsindangerofbeinglost?Whatcanwedo(orshouldwedo)abouttheerosion?Howmightwebestpreservethepetroglyphs?Thisdiscussionprovidedourresearchteamwithsomeguidanceonwheretofocusresearchtimeandeffort.OurgraduatestudentresearchersinvestigatedmultiplemethodsofpreservingrockartandexaminedpossibilitiesforusingLiDAR(aremotesensingmethodformapping)andvariousformsofphotographytocreateadigitalarchiveofthepetroglyphs.Theresultsofthisworkwerepresentedanddiscussedwiththegroupduringfollow-upmeetings.

Wehopedtohaveguidancefromthisprojectonwhetherornottechnologicalapproachescouldtelluswhetherthesepetroglyphshadbeenpreviouslyre-etchedinthepast.Thisbroughtourgroupbacktoarecurringconversationthathasbeenpresentfromtheearliestformationsandstartofthisproject:Shouldweengageinre-etchingthesepetroglyphsasameansofpreservingthemandpassingontheknowledgetheycarry?Duetothesensitivenatureofthetopicofre-etching,wehavechosennottoreportthedetailsofthisconversation.Whatwearewillingtoshareisthattheseconversationswereincrediblyfruitfulandprovidedourteamwithguidanceonwhatisculturallyandspirituallyappropriateatezhibiigaadekasin.

OurconversationsduringthisJune2014gatheringbroughtintoclearviewhowimportantitistohavecomparativeideastoconsideranddrawupon.SpiritualleadersandElderswantedtoknowhowotherrockartsites,sacredsitesmoregenerally,culturallandscapesofallsorts,andtraditionalculturalpropertieswerebeingcaredforbyotherIndigenouspeoples.Howwereothercommunitiesfacingthechallengesofco-management?HadtheyenteredintoMemorandaofUnderstandingsorMemorandaofAgreementswithStateagenciesand/orlandowners?Hadtheyinsistedontheirownculturalprotocolsofcare,eveninsituationswherethoseconflicteddramaticallywitharchaeologicalnotionsofcare?Insuchcases,howdidIndigenouscommunitiesnavigatethosedifficulties?Afterall,aren’ttheseclearchallengestoTribalsovereignty?

Toaddressthesequestions,ourresearchteamdividedupaspectsofthisresearchandbeganlookingforcomparativecases.Wecollectedpublicationsandgreyliteratureonthetopic,creatingasmallknowledgebaseofsortsviaDropbox,anonlinedatastorage

5BirdsandbatsroostintheraftersoftheshelterbuiltbytheMichiganDNRoverezhibiigaadekasin.

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system.Thisresearchcontinuedoverthecourseofthenextsixmonths,whileourteammetregularlyviaconferencecalltosharewhatwe’dfoundandupdateeachotheronourprogress.WemadeuseofasharedDropboxwhereweplacedarticlesandlinkstoonlinematerials,andweusedasharedtasklisttokeepeachotheruptodateonourworkeffortsandprogress.OneofthenextstepsforourresearchbeyondIPinCHwillbetoprovideacommunityreportinwhichwesharetheresultsofthiswork.Thereisstillmuchtobedoneonthisfront.OurIPinCH-fundedworkatezhibiigaadekasinwasacatalystforthiseffort,buttheworkhasmuchwiderimplicationsanduses.Wethereforeneedtothinkcarefullyabouthowtobestreportonandsharetheinformation.6

Asisclearfromtheabovesummary,ourJune2014meetingwithEldersandspiritualleaderswasincrediblyproductiveandprovideduswithcleardirectionstofocusourresearchefforts.ItwasevidentthatthemostcriticalnextstepwastoplanandcarryoutatriptoPeterborough,Ontario(Canada)tomeetwithanotherAnishinabecommunity,theCurveLakeFirstNation,andlearnfromtheirexperiencesprotectingandco-managingthepetroglyphsiteintheirterritory.

AsourworkprogressedontheIPinCHinitiative,wefounditincrediblyvaluabletobeinconversationwithDr.AmyRoberts(FlindersUniversity)andIsobelleCampbell(MannumAboriginalCommunityAssociationInc.),whoareCo-PIsontheIPinCH-sponsoredNgautNgautcasestudyinSouthAustralia.7ThroughregularconversationswithAmyandIsobelle,werealizedthatwehadatremendousamounttolearnfromtalkingwithotherIndigenouscommunitiesinvolvedinthecareandmanagementoftheirsacredsitesandtraditionalculturalproperties,particularlythosefacingsimilarchallengeswithrockart.Thisemergedquiteclearlyduringourstrategicplanningaswell.SoitwasreallynosurprisethatourmeetingwithEldersandspiritualleadersinJuneledustothesameconclusionsandhighlightedtheneedforustovisitPeterborough.

Peterborough–SanilacTrip,September15-19,2014

In2014,ourteamsetasideoneweekinSeptembertomeetinperson,hostanothermeetingofEldersandspiritualleaders,traveltoPeterborough,Ontario,andmakeasitevisittoezhibiigaadekasin.OnSeptember15th,ourteammetwithElders,spiritualleaders,SCITTribalMembers,andmembersoftheSCITTribalCouncil.Wediscussedourprogresstodateandupdatedthegrouponourresearchefforts.WehadmadesubstantialprogresssinceourlastmeetinginJuneanditwasveryusefultogetfurtherfeedbackonourwork.

6Forthisreason,wehavechosennottomaketheappendicestothisreportpublicallyavailable.7TolearnmoreaboutNgautNgautandtheIPinCH-relatedworkcarriedoutthere,gotohttp://www.sfu.ca/ipinch/project-components/community-based-initiatives/ngaut-ngaut-interpretive-project-providing-culturally

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Theentiregroupof12thentraveledtoPeterboroughwherewewerejoinedbyThreeFiresMidewiwinGrandChiefBawdwaywidunBanaiseandthenspentonedaymeetingwithElders,Youth,spiritualleaders,andTriballeadershipoftheCurveLakeFirstNation.DuringthisvisitwewereabletoviewthepetroglyphsatKinoomaagewaabkong(“TheTeachingRocks”)atthePetroglyphsProvincialPark(Figure5).WewitnessedtheconnectionsbetweenthetwositesintermsoftheAnishinabesacredknowledgeeachcarriesandsharedourpracticesandchallengesofprotectingandcaringforthesesacredplaces.

Figure5.MaryDeleary,SonyaAtalay,andShannonMartin(lefttoright)discussingtheteachingsatKinoomaagewaabkong/PetroglyphsProvincialPark(Peterborough,Ontario)

duringourSeptember2014visittothesite.

Theimportanceofthisvisit,bothforourIPinCHprojectandtheworkwewilldoatezhibiigaadekasinandothersacredsitesandculturallandscapescannotbeoverstated(Figure6).Thisconnectionwascriticalandsetthestageforwhatwillbealong-lastingcollaborativerelationship.WeareverygratefultotheCurveLakeFirstNationforsharingtheirexperiencessoopenly.Itgaveusmuchtoconsiderintermsofhowwemoveforwardandworktowardco-management.

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Figure6.SignagepostedatKinoomaagewaabkong/PetroglyphsProvincialPark(Peterborough,Ontario).

FollowingthevisittoPeterborough,ourgroupwenttoezhibiigaadekasinandheldameetingatthesite(Figures7and8).WereflectedonwhatwehadlearnedfromCurveLakeTribalMembersandconsideredhowwemightbestmoveforwardatezhibiigaadekasin.WeconsideredquestionsabouttheuseofAnishinabelanguageatthesite,issuesofre-etching,whetherandhowwemightrestrictphotographyatthesite,andhowtobestenactourAnishinabeprotocolsofcarewhilebalancingthedesiretopreserveandprotectthepetroglyphsforthefuture.

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Figure7.DiscussiongroupheldatezhibiigaadekasininSeptember2014todiscussappropriatecare,managementandprotectionofthesite.(Picturedfromlefttoright:JohnGraveratte,CharmaineShawana,NicoleRaslich,FrankRaslich,StacyTchorzynski,SydneyMartin,BonnieEkdahl,ShannonMartin,AlexisBunten,SonyaAtalay,WilliamJohnson,

GeorgeMartin,andEddieBenton-Banaise.

TheprimarymessagethatcamefromthatfinalgatheringofourgroupatezhibiigaadekasinwasthatthewaytomovetheseteachingsforwardandensuretheknowledgeispassedonisbyusingthesiteandconnectingourYouthtotheteachingsthere.Withallthehightechoptionsavailablewithwhichtocaptureimages,preservethem,orevenre-etchthem,themostcriticalactionwemusttakeatthistimeisalow-techapproach.Thisis:BringYouthtoezhibiigaadekasin.Allowthemtimetoreconnectwiththeirgrandfather/grandmother.Givethemopportunitiestolearnfromezhibiigaadekasinandwithezhibiigaadekasin.Theworkwillflowfromthere.

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Figure8.ParticipantsofthediscussiongroupheldatezhibiigaadekasininSeptember2014picturedinsidethegateatthesite.(Picturedfromlefttoright:SonyaAtalay,Stacy

Tchorzynski,JohnGraveratte,SydneyMartin,BrianCorbiere,ShannonMartin,CharmaineShawana,FrankRaslich,GeorgeMartin,WilliamJohnson,BonnieEkdahl,NicoleRaslich,and

MarcellaHadden.

Thisbringsustoapointthatwehaveheardfromthestartwithregardstoezhibiigaadekasinandoureffortstoproperlyeducate,preserve,andmanagethelandandteachingsthere.Thisworkmustalwaysandwithoutfailbespirit-driven.Whileourmethodiscommunity-basedandfirmlygroundedatalltimesincoreTribalvalues,itmustbespirit-driven.Withthisinmind,wecanandalwaysdoattempttoanticipatethedirectionourresearchwilltakeaswedraftandcarryoutgrantproposalsandresearchdesigns.

Overthecourseofthisprojectwesawseveralexamplesoftheimportanceofallowingtheworktobespirit-driven.OurElderandoneofourspiritualleaders,SydneyMartin,sharedwithusattheIPinCHmidtermconferencein2011thatIPinCHhasaspirit.Thisremindsusthat,indeed,allofthisworkwecarryoutdoeshaveaspirit.TheincrediblypossibleandproductiveworkingrelationshipsthatnowexistbetweentheTribeandthe

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DNR,aswellasthesteadilyimprovingrelationshipwiththeMAS,wouldlikelynothavehappenedifwehadnothadthemanyadministrativesetbacksweexperiencedgettingthroughethicsreviewandwiththeadministrativehold-upsonthisgrant.Inourinitialgrantproposal,weplannedtodevelopandcarryoutasurveyoftheSaginawChippewaTribalMembershiptoassesstheirknowledgeandlevelofinterestinezhibiigaadekasin.Wedevelopedthequestionnaireforthesurvey,andsetuptimestoadministerthesurveytotheTribalMembership.Yeteachtimetherewereholdupsorcircumstancesthatkeptthesurveyfromgoingout.

Atourfinalmeetings,itbecameclearthatpeoplecancarryagreatdealofembarrassmentorshamerelatedtonotknowingornotcarryingknowledgeaboutthesesacredplaces.Issuesofwhoholdsorhasaccesstosacredknowledgearesoverysensitive.Thus,theveryactofsurveyingpeopleabouttheirknowledgepoints,oftenglaringlyso,towhathasbeenlost,andonthisprojectthisrecognitionbroughtusalltothequestionofwhorightfullyshouldhaveaccesstothesacredknowledgecarriedbyezhibiigaadekasin?Whilewedon’tpretendtohaveansweredthatcomplexanddifficultquestion,wedofeelthatbyfollowingaspirit-drivenprocessthatallowsustobeflexibleandadjustourprojectgoalstofittheneedsastheyarise,wehavecomesomewhatclosertotheanswer.Ifnothingelse,wearemuchbetteroffforfindingwaystoevenposesuchquestionsasweworktoreclaimanddecolonize.

TheimportanceofsharingexperiencesandknowledgewithotherIndigenouspeopleisakeytake-awayforusfromthisresearch.Itissomethingweknowandhaveexperiencedinotherareasofculturalpreservationandrevitalizationaswell,yetwasn’tclearlyadefinedpriorityinourresearchagendawhenwefirstproposedthisproject.Atthecloseofourfinalmeetingin2014,afterourvisittoPeterboroughandSanilac,ourteamsharedamealwithElders,Youth,andspiritualleaders.WediscussedatthattimehowcriticalithasbeenforustolearnfromeachotherandshareexperiencesandchallengeswithTribalMembersfromCurveLakeFirstNation,withourcolleaguesworkingatNgautNgaut,andwiththecaseswereadaboutthroughourliteratureresearch.

Itwasduringthatconversationthatwehatchedplansforournextcollaborativeproject.WearelookingforfundingtotravelandtohosttalkingcircleswithourIPinCHcolleaguesworkingatNgautNgaut,withtheMoriori8whoareworkingtopreservetheirrākaumomori(memorialtrees),andotherIndigenouscommunitiesinAustraliaandNewZealand.Thegoalistoshareexperiencesandknowledgeaboutco-managementofthesesacredplacesandtoconsiderandshareethicspracticesandresearchguidelinesthatweeachusetoguideourwork.WehadtheopportunitytodiscussthisprojectandtakesomenextstepsduringaconsultationmeetingwithAmyRobertsandIsobelleCampbellattheNovember2014IPinCHmeetinginVancouver.

8TolearnmoreabouttheMorioriIPinCHcommunity-basedinitiative,gotohttp://www.sfu.ca/ipinch/sites/default/files/resources/reports/moriori_final_report_2014.pdf

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EducationalEfforts

Anotherkeycomponentofourworkonthisprojecthasbeeneducation.WefounditcriticaltoraiseawarenessabouttherolethatezhibiigaadekasinhasasasacredsiteandtraditionalculturalpropertyforAnishinabepeople.TheeducationalcomponentofourworkwasclearattheOctober2011strategicplanningsessionweheld,whichplacedgreatimportanceoneducatingnon-TribalMembersandnon-Nativepeopleabouttheezhibiigaadekasinsite.However,wealsoidentifiedtheneedtokeepTribalMembersinformedaboutandinvolvedwiththecontinuingeffortsatezhibiigaadekasin.WealsofeltitwascrucialtohaveanongoingandrichflowofinformationtotheZiibiwingCenterBoardofDirectorsandtheSCITTribalCouncil.

Tothisend,Co-PIShannonMartinprovidedregularreportsonourprogresstoboththeZiibiwingCenterBoardofDirectorsandtheSCITTribalCouncil.ThiswasimportantintermsoftheethicalresponsibilitywehavetoinformtheseTribalentitiesandleadershipaboutourefforts,butitalsoraisedawarenessaboutthechallengestheTribefacesinprotectingthesitefromphysicaldamageanddeterioration,howthesitemaybe(orhasbeen)appropriatedinthepast,andaboutthekeyIPissuesandoptionsforfutureprotection.Co-PIMartindraftedseveralarticlesabouttheIPissuesinvolvedatthesiteandourworkonthisprojectfortheTribalnewspaper(TribalObserver)andZiibiwingCenter’selectronicnewsletter(E-Noodaagan).BothCo-PIMartinandCo-PIJohnsondiscussedtheezhibiigaadekasinsiteandtheIPconcernsrelatedtothesiteinverbalreportsatTribalcommunityevents.ThisreportingtookplaceoverthecourseoftheprojectandwillcontinueafterIPinCHprojectfundingisspent.

SharingResearchwithAcademicAudiences

AspartofworkduringboththestrategicplanningandtheJune2014groupgathering,wecametorecognizehowusefulitwouldbetohaveaninternationalrockartsymposiumtodiscussissuesofco-managementofrockart.Afterresearchingthebudgetandtimerequiredtohostaninternationalsymposium,wedecidedthatitwasmorepracticalandaverysolidfirststeptoplanandorganizeaSocietyforAmericanArchaeology(SAA)conferencesessiononthistopic.Oursessionentitled,“CaringforKnowledgeonStone:RockArtCo-ManagementwithIndigenousandLocalCommunities”tookplaceonaSaturdaymorninginSanFranciscoatthe2015SAAannualmeeting.Wevideorecordedthesessionandhaveaddedittoourprojectresourcearchive.

Wehavealsopresentedourworkonthisprojectatnumerousscholarlyconferences,mostnotablyatmeetingsoftheSocietyforAmericanArchaeology(April2012),CentralStatesAnthropologicalSociety(2012),AmericanAnthropologicalAssociation(2008),Inter-CongressoftheWorldArchaeologicalCongressatIndianaUniversity-Bloomington(June2011),andtheOhioStateUniversityWorldHeritagesymposium(May2011).Inaddition,Co-PIMartinco-authoredseveralpresentationswithStacyTchorzynskiand

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MichiganStateArchaeologistDeanAndersonontopicsrelatedtoezhibiigaadekasin,mostrecentlyonMarch13,2015attheHistoricalSocietyofMichigan’sLocalHistoryConference.Co-PIAtalayhasalsogivennumerouspresentationsaboutthiswork,includingduringinvitedlecturesatOhioStateUniversityinFebruary2014andUniversityofWisconsininMarch2015.

AsaresultofoureffortsontheezhibiigaadekasinprojectandourinvolvementwithIPinCH,wehavedevelopedmanyresearchconnectionsandprofessionalnetworkswithotherIPinCHmembers,particularlythoseinvolvedinexaminingIPissuesonaglobalscale(suchasJaneAndersonandKimChristenWithey)andtheEthicsWorkingGroup(AlisonWylie).Co-PIs(AtalayandMartin)werepartofapanelattheNativeAmericanandIndigenousStudiesAssociation(NAISA)conferenceinJune2015,wherewediscussedissuesofresearchethicsandthekeycomponentsofresearchdesign,output,dataownership,andsimilartopicsthatshouldbediscussedindevelopingpartnershipsorMOUandMOAdocumentsaspartofcommunity-basedresearchendeavors.OneofthekeyoutcomesofthisdiscussionisthatNAISAisnowmovingforwardondevelopingasetofresearchethicsguidelinesforscholarsworkingintheareaofNativeAmericanandIndigenousStudies.

KeyLessonstoShare

MuchusefuldatahavecomefromthisIPinCHproject.Inthefinalanalysisofourresearchwehaveidentifiedsixfundamentaltake-awaylessonsfromthiswork.

ThefirstisthatasAnishinabepeoplewemustensurethatourcoreTribalvaluesarecentraltotheresearchatalltimes.Theplanningandimplementationoftheworkflowsfromthatcentralsetofvalues.ForAnishinabek,theSevenGrandfatherTeachingsarefundamental:aakodewin(“bravery”),gwekowaadiziwin(honesty”),maanadiitowaawin(“respect”),diibadendizowin(“humility”),debwewin(“truth”),nibwaakaawin(“wisdom”),andzaagidiwin(“love”).Wemadeeveryefforttorelyontheseteachingsinmakingdecisionsabouttheworkprocessandresearchdirection.

Second,inconductingtheresearch,ourteamrecognizedfromthestartthekeyrolethatEldersmustplayinguidingtheresearchprocess.Theirguidanceprovedtobeessentialforthesuccessoftheproject.WeheardseveraltimesfromEldersandspiritualleadersthatthiswork,becauseitrelatestoasitethatisverysacredtoAnishinabepeople,neededtobeinformedandguidedbyspirit.Ziibiwing’sformerdirector,BonnieEkdahlprovidedclearguidanceonthisduringourfinalgroupmeetinginSeptember2014.Shenotedthatweoftenbecomeconsumedinresearchprojectsandgrantworkwithprotocols,procedures,budgets,etc.Sheremindedusthatwhatisneededistostripallofthatawaysothatthesiteanditsspiritwillleadus.Wedoneedtoaddressmorepracticalconcernsandthoseanswerswillcomeintime,butifwehopetoseethisprojectthroughtocompletion,themostfundamentalthingwecandoistohavethesite—thespiritofthesite—leadus.Wefoundthatpracticalandproceduralanswers

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cameintime;forothers,wearestillworkingtofindanswers.Itisthroughouradherencetoaspirit-drivenprocessthatwefurtherbuildandstrengthenourspiritualconnectiontothesite.

AthirdkeylessonfromourIPinCHworkistheimportanceofconnectingTribalYouthtoezhibiigaadekasin.Ourancestorschosethisplacetotransferknowledgeintothefutureforus,andwefound,timeandtimeagain,thatwemustcontinuetouseezhibiigaadekasininasimilarwaytoday—asaplacetopassonculturalknowledgeandteachingstoTribalYouth.TherekindlingofregularceremoniesandritesofpassagethatinvolveYouththroughfastingcampsandofferingofLittlePeoplebundlesareofthehighestpriority.ThisisbecausethesearethefundamentalsofAnishinabeapproachestocareandpreservationofthisplace.

Afourthlessonisthatthemostusefulandmeaningfulmodelsforco-managementofasacredsitesuchasthisonecomefromotherIndigenouscommunities.TheIPinCHfundingwereceivedgaveusmuchmorethanjustprovidingmonetarysupporttoconductthisresearch.ItalsogaveourresearchteamrichopportunitiestoshareideasandlearnfromthecollaborativeIPinCHresearchteamworkingatNgautNgautinAustralia.Fromthiswewereabletoconsiderwhatworksinco-managementandwheresomeofthestumblingblocksmightbe.ThegrantfundingalsoallowedustoestablisharelationshipwiththeCurveLakeFirstNationsothatwecouldalsolearnthroughtheirexperiencesofworkingwithParksCanada.TheCurveLakeFirstNationalsohasdirectexperiencewithbalancingtheneedtoprotectsacredinformationwiththedesiretosharethesitewithlargeraudiencesthroughculturaltourism.Theserelationshipsandlearning/sharingopportunitieswillcontinueyearsaftertheIPinCHfundingisspent.

ThefifthkeylessontosharerelatestoethicsreviewandtheIRBprocess.OneofthemostfrustratingaspectsofthisprocessofethicsreviewwasthatthewholepointofhavinganIRB/REBissupposedtobetoprotectthosecommunitymemberswhoare“subjects”oftheresearch.ItseemedincrediblycontradictorythattheTribalCouncilreviewwasnotsufficienttoallowtheprojecttomoveforward.Itisludicrous,presumptuous,andarrogantforanyuniversitytopresumetobeinabetterpositiontoprotectTribalMembersfromexploitationthanaTribalcommunitythathasitsownTribalcitizens’needsandwell-beingattheforefront.

Althoughfullyunanticipated,thiscasestudyinformedusandotherIPinCHmembersinimportantwaysabouttheethicsofresearchandsomeoftheshortcomingsoftheIRBprocess.Therearetwokeyareaswherethisisparticularlysignificant.ItisproblematicthatIRB/REBsdonotplacethehighestpriority,trust,andauthorityinTribalentitiesandgovernmentswhoarereviewingresearchandcapableofmakingtheirowndeterminationsaboutwhatisexploitativeandhowtobestprotectTribalcitizens.TribalIRBshouldbethemostcriticalandfirstpointofreview,whenapplicable.OnlyinsituationswhenaTribeorcommunitydoesn’thaveit’sownethicsreviewprocessshouldtheuniversitybecometheprimaryauthoritytodeemwhatresearchisallowedandthewayitshouldbecarriedout.Asitcurrentlystands,universitiesareviolating

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TribalsovereigntybyputtingthemselvesinapositionofauthoritytodeterminehowTribalgovernmentsprotectitsowncitizensandhowTribalcommunitiesallow,safeguardorcondemnresearchthataimstotakeplacewithintheirTribalterritory/land.

Furthermore,inourexperience,IRBsarenotwellequippedtohandlesituationsinwhichtwoormoreinstitutionsareinvolvedinaresearchproject(suchasbetweenSFUandIU).Thismayhavebeenfurtherexacerbatedbythefactthatthesetwoinstitutionswereworkingwithinuniversitysystemsoftwodifferentcountries.Insuchsituations,itmakesmostsensetorequireonlyoneethicsreview,andtohavetheotherinstitution(s)agreetoallowtheworktocontinueundertheIRBreviewofthatsingleinstitution.Seriousreworkingoftheseethicsreviewsystemsisrequiredtoaddresstheproblemsweencounteredinourcasestudy.

Finally,oneofthemoreunexpectedkeylessonstosharefromourworkatezhibiigaadekasinrelatestotheissueofaccess.Wecametothisprojectknowingthatquestionsrelatedtoaccessanduseofthesitewouldbefundamental.Wedidn’tanticipatehowimportantitwouldbeforustoconsiderquestionsofknowledgeaccessamongAnishinabepeople.Wefoundthatdiscussionsaboutwhohasknowledgeaboutthesite,whatisappropriatetoshareandwithwhom,whodetermineswhatisappropriatetosharewhenitcomestosacredknowledgeandculturalteachingsaredifficultbutessentialquestions.Theanswerscan’tbedeterminedbydiscussionsofpolicy,butrathertheyrequireongoingconversations.Thequestionsthatareaskedandhowtheyareansweredmayevolveovertime.

IPinCHfundsprovideduswiththeopportunitytoinvestigateaspectsofeachofthesixpointsabove.Mostimportantly,we’vefoundthatmanyquestionsandareasofinvestigationremainunansweredorunclear.Thesuccessofourprojecthasbeenthatitallowedusthetimetoconsiderthesequestionscarefully,theresourcestocometogethertodiscussthesequestionsandtoaskmorequestions,andopportunitiestobuildrelationshipswithscholarsandotherIndigenouspeoplewhowecanrelyupontohelpusfindwaysforward.

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FutureDirections

Aswe’venotedthroughoutthisreport,wehaveaccomplishedagreatdealinarelativelyshorttime.IPinCHprovideduswiththefundstobuildastrongfoundationforwhat’stocomeatezhibiigaadekasin.Butourworkcontinues,andweanticipateaddingtothissolidstartinthecomingyearsinanumberofways:

• ezhibiigaadekasin-basedCurriculumdevelopmentforTribalYouth;• FurtherrelationshipbuildingwithStateandMASaswedraftthefirstco-

managementplan;• DevelopingadraftMOUforspecialusepermitthatwillremainonfilewithDNR.

Thisincludesasetofkeystothegatesurroundingezhibiigaadekasin;• Developingasetofprotocolsonappropriatebehaviortoassistvisitorsin

respectingsacrednatureandsignificanceofezhibiigaadekasin;and• FinalizingplansforTribalYouthsummertrainingprogram(summer2015)sothat

Youthcanparticipateintheinternshipprogramandserveasdocentsatezhibiigaadekasin

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ReflectiveQuestions

ReflectionsonEzhibiigaadekAsinProjectbySonyaAtalay

1.Whatwouldyousayarethemostimportantreasonsforprotectingorsafeguardingculturalheritage?SA:Aspectsofculturalheritageplayacriticalroleincommunityhealing.Knowledgeandpracticesassociatedwithtangibleandintangibleheritage(andtheprocessesofreclaimingsuch)helppeopletoreturntoaplaceofbalance.2.Whatchallengesfacecommunitieswhowishtobecaretakersoftheirculturalheritage?SA:Havingrecognizedandenforceabledecisionmakingauthority.3.What,inyourexperience,seemstoworkbestasastrategy(orstrategies)forprotectingculturalheritage?Alternatively,whatdoyouseeasthemainpathinacommunity’sjourneytoprotectculturalheritage?SA:Constantlyworkingtoasserttherighttocareforplacesanditemsofculturalheritageascommunitiesseefit.4.Whatdoyouthinkareimportantguidelinesorstrategiesforconductingcommunity-basedculturalheritageresearch(inyourcommunity,ingeneral,orboth)?SA:Respectisprimary,butalongwiththatmustbeanunderstandingofwhatRESPECTmeans.5.Whatarekeyingredientsforgoodresearchrelationshipsandresearchoutcomes?Also,what,inyourexperience,causestheserelationshipsorprojectstobreakdown?SA:Regularandconsistentface-to-facecommunication.Themostimportantpartofallofthisworkisrelationshipbuilding.

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6.Whatfundamentalvaluesshouldguidearesearcherworkingonheritageissueswithinacommunity-basedcontext?SA:Respect,humility,honesty,sincerity.Onemustlearntobetrulyhonestwithoneselfaboutwhyyouarethere,whatyou(personallyandprofessionally)hope/plantogetoutofthework.7.Whatskillsorcapacitiesdoresearchersfromoutsideacommunityneedtobemoreeffectiveintheirresearchrelationships?Whatskillsorcapacitiesdocommunitiesorotherorganizationswithwhichyouworkneedtobemoreeffectiveindoingcommunity-basedresearch?SA.Learningtolistenandunderstandingthattherearerealandsubstantiallimitstowhatthey(researchers)shouldknow/ask/expect.Learnnottoconfusefriendlinessandhospitalityinaprofessionalcontextwithfriendship.8.Whatlegalframeworks,policies,protocolsorothertoolshaveyouturnedtohelpyouinyourculturalheritagework?Whatapproacheshavebeenusefulandwhichhavenot?Doesyourcommunityoranyofthecommunitiesororganizationsyouworkwithhavelaws,practices,expectations,protocol(s)orguidelinesforresearchthatmaybesharedwithothers?Ifso,pleaseprovidecopiesoftheseintheappendicesofyourreportifitisappropriatefortheIPinCHprojecttohavethem.Whatadvicedoyouhaveforcommunitiesregardingdevelopingorusingresearchguidelinesorprotocols?9.What,ifany,governmentorotherinstitutionsorauthoritieshaveoversightoveryourworkinthisproject?Howhasthisaffectedplanning,implementation,benefits,accesstoresults,consequences,etc.SA:Theuniversitythatemploysmelikelyfeelstheyhavesomeauthorityofoversightgenerallyformyworkasaresearcher.Ithasn’taffectedmyworkanymoreorlessonthisprojectthanithasforothersI’veworkedon.10.Whatwouldthecommunityyouworkedwithliketoseeinplacethatwouldcontinuetohelpsupportitsfutureeffortsinregardtosimilarissuesorresearchinitiatives?11.Whatotherexperiencesandperspectivescanyousharethatillustrateexamplesofgood(orpoor)practices,policiesandlessonslearnedconcerningcommunity-basedstudiesofculturalheritage?

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Appendices

Attherequestofthereportauthors,thesearenotincludedinthepublicversionofthisreport.