Minnesota Native News - Feb 7, 2018
Description
Vocal Characteristics
Language
EnglishVoice Age
Young Adult (18-35)Accents
North American (General)Transcript
Note: Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and may contain errors.
This is Minnesota Native News. I'm Marie Rock. This week on Minnesota Native News, we hear about researchers using wild rice to predict the health of Minnesota's lakes and streams and get an inside look at a native artist performance at the Cedar Cultural Center. Here's reporter Coal Primo. A team of researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered that wild race conserves a sort of canary in a coal mine, giving warning signs as to the health of lakes and streams. For over 1/2 century, it's been known that wild rice does not grow well in high sulphate Minnesota lakes. But what was missing was the why. Until now the sulphate is the problem with wild rice. It's not sulfate directly, but sulfate when it gets into the into the mud at the bottoms of lakes is converted to sulfide. Amy Mirbeau, Ph. D. Is a research associate involved with these studies at the U. Of M and has researched wild rice since 2009. In short, microbes in the soil convert sulphate into toxic levels of sulfide. That soil is the same place where wild rice germinates and roots. The sulphide is like that rotten egg smell but that you might smell when you're walking in certain kinds of swamps, and that's, Ah, it's a toxic gas. Mirbeau says The same process releases a bunch of other chemicals that could be problems for ecosystems like phosphorous, nitrogen and methylmercury, the only form of mercury that contaminates fish. Therefore, wild rice has shown researchers that increases in sulphate Teoh ecosystems can have negative consequences, even though the compound itself is relatively benign. It's an important discovery involving a food source that is struggling in the Midwest. Mirbeau describes the current condition of wild rice. So we think we've lost a lot across the state. But we don't really have a great inventory besides the traditional knowledge people, people saying You know, my granny used to right here now there's no rice anymore. Mirbeau says that in the shinobi knowledge of wild race, Orman OMON has been crucial in this research. I mean, it's absolutely critical. It's, I think, that you can't do wild rice research, um, without having native investigators really leading the project. Dr. Mark Belcourt is a senior academic advisor and teacher of indigenous environmental knowledge of the U of M. He is also a member of the Waiters Nation, he says. There's been a disconnect between researchers and tribal members when it comes to wild rice research. Tribal members want to preserve the natural stands of wild rice. They are looking forward to this kind of research. They want this type of research to go on. They want the expertise of the university. Have they just want to be a part of it? Among other native investigators, Belcourt serves as a native cultural liaison, bridging the gap between scientists and tribal nations. It's really just the beginning of the research. But Mirbeau hopes the collaborative work between researchers and tribal nations can be used to make good public policy that balances economic needs of this state with food, sovereignty and protecting the environment. Mirbeau and university colleagues, including Belcourt, have received a $720,000 Grand Challenges Research award. It will be used for new research using wild race as a flagship for assuring clean water and equitable communities. We've lost a lot of the wild rice resource. Once it goes away, it's gone. More information on the research and much more can be found on the University of Minnesota's website In other news, Minnesota musician and relax man allegedly member Liel M. Has received a prestigious commission to make original music in full disclosure. Leah is my sister and also contributor to Minnesota Native News. Leo was one of six artists ordered the Cedar Commissions, a unique opportunity for emerging artists to make 1/2 hour of original music and performance at the Cedar Cultural Center. It's made possible with the grand from the Drone Foundation. Leah says her project, called Ruins, was inspired by a conversation she's been having inter masters of fine arts program at the Institute of American Indian Arts, the conversation being that we as indigenous people, have already experienced a sort of apocalypse or our own end of days. I like to think that it makes us extra strong, extra resilient. So Ruins is about survival, finding hope among destruction. While the composition creates a cohesive half our project, each song within stands on its own. The performance space will be set up for a surround experience with sound design, creating an immersive environment. The performance is slated for Saturday, February 10th at 7 p.m. The second night of the commission performances. If you missed the performance. Never fear. She plans on recording an album of the original music that will be available for download in the coming months. More about Leland can be found on a website, molecular machine dot media or on Facebook for Minnesota Native News. I'm Cool. Primo, Minnesota Native News is produced by Amber's diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.