TEK

The Traditional Ecological Knowledge course was co-developed with Walpole Island First Nation to introduce students to different ways of knowing and to present an Indigenous environmental perspective. Led by the University of Windsor’s first Indigenous scholar Clint Jacobs, the course is a week long exploration of the incredible floral and faunal diversity of Bkejwanong (Walpole Island Territory) when the tall grass prairies, savannas, grasses, and wildflowers were at their peak.

“This is a grounded and mindful journey for the students, where they are able to learn how to be aware of and appreciate their place in nature. My wish is for the students to be able to come away from this course connecting to the land with their heart.”

— Clint Jacobs

Fostering trust-based relationships and finding ways to work together with Bkejwanong (Walpole Island) is critical to restoring the vitality of the Great Lakes, and this course is a wonderful representation of that relationship.

Course Modules:

• Habitats and Species

• Field Mapping

• Birds and Grasslands

• Water and Fishing

Field Activities Include:

• Identifying plant species

• Mapping both species at risk and invasive species

• Studying the ecology of multiple Walpole Island ecosystems

• Capturing and banding birds

• Performing aquatic wildlife surveys

Read Clint Jacobs x HHL’s paper on the course here:

Jacobs, Clint; Donaldson, Candy; Ives, Jessica T.; Keeshig, Katrina; and Febria, Catherine. (2022). Weaving Indigenous and Western Science Knowledges Through a Land-Based Field Course at Bkejwanong Territory (Laurentian Great Lakes). Case Studies in the Environment, 5 (1), 1-11. https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/glierpub/252

Experience the TEK course through one student participant’s final project:

Miigwech P. Marval for the video!
You can also read the UWindsor Daily News article about the course here.