Young Leaders in the Environmental Justice Movement

By: India-Bleu Niehoff, Water Library Student Assistant

Earth Day, which takes place on April 22 of every year, started in the spring of 1970. It was invented by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, as a way of establishing environmentalism as an important national cause. 54 years later, it is celebrated not only nationally but internationally. To celebrate Earth Day this year, the Wisconsin Water Library is choosing to focus on the young activists and leaders who are currently continuing the fight for climate and environmental justice. Around the world, these young voices are speaking up and using their voice to positively make a difference. 

Here are a select few of the many leaders:

Autumn Peltier is an Anishinaabekwe from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. Born in 2004, Peltier has been an outspoken advocate for clean water from a young age, and currently serves as the Anishinabek Nation Chief Water Commissioner.

Mari Copeny is a 16-year old activist who started her journey bringing attention to the Flint Water Crisis. She has since expanded her activist and philanthropic efforts to advocate for communities in need of clean water across the United States.

Licypriya Kangujam is a 12-year old climate and environmental activist from India, who has advocated for laws to curb India’s high pollution levels, as well as to make climate-change literacy mandatory in schools.

Every time Lesein Mutunkei scores a goal, he plants 11 trees. The (now) 20-year old footballer created the organization Trees4Goals to help combat Kenya’s mass-deforestation. Mutunkei’s actions, as well as larger national movements has resulted in Kenya’s forest coverage increasing from just 6% in 2018 to 9% in 2022.

Xiye Bastida, is a 21-year old climate justice activist from the Otomi-Toltec Indigenous community. Dedicated to advocating for all voices in the environmental/climate justice movement, Bastida has won numerous notable awards for her work.

To learn about even more youth activists explore these resources.

Learn about 16 more youth activists from Unity Environmental University. 16 Young Environmentalists Changing the World. 

In this article from National Geographic, learn about even more youth leaders. Greta wasn’t the first to demand climate action. 

In this article from Britt Hawthorne, they specifically highlight young black climate activists. 10 Young Black Climate Activists to Watch.

Read this article from Vox that underscores the contributions of young activists of color in the environmental movement. Meet the young activists of color who are leading the charge against climate disaster.

Explore this article from MCE that looks at specific organizations for youth activists. Youth Activism in your Community. 

In this article from UNDP, the authors discuss the importance of youth voices in the movement. Tapping into the power of young people for climate action.

This article from UNICEF, looks at even more youth activist, and even has short videos talking to them, allowing you to hear their own words. Young climate activists demand action and inspire hope.

Read this article from Do Something, where they look at 7 activists who are addressing both climate and racial justice. 7 Young Activists working at the Intersection of Environmental and Racial Justice.

The actions of these young leaders are amazing, but everyone can be a leader in the environmental justice movement. There are small steps we can all take that ultimately have a large impact. Here are a few resources that can provide guidance on where to start.

Explore this article from Imperial that looks at 9 things we can all do about climate change. 9 things you can do about climate change. 

Read this article from the United Nations which discusses the small (and large) things one can do to make a difference. Actions for a Health Planet. 

By: India-Bleu Niehoff, Water Library Student Assistant

Introduction 

Despite the small numbers of Indigenous women in STEM, they are present and making foundational contributions to the field. While there has been a recent push to encourage more Indigenous women into STEM, it would be disrespectful to ignore the historical figures who paved the way for the newer generation(s). Learning their names, their fields and their impacts is incredibly powerful. Here are just a few compiled lists of both historical and present-day Indigenous women in STEM. Learn about them, follow them and support them. 

Resources 

Read this article from Cultural Survival that documents 12 Indigenous women scientists from around that globe. 12 Indigenous Women Scientists to Follow 

This article from Medium, while not focused exclusively on Indigenous women, does have interviews with 18 Indigenous people in STEM discussing the challenges they’ve faced as well as accomplishments they are proud of. Just 18 Really Awesome Native Folks in STEM

This article from news station WDSU from New Orleans, Louisiana, discusses Mary Golda Ross, one of the first known Indigenous female engineers, and the statue dedicated to her. Mary Golda Ross

In this PBS video learn about Susan La Flesche Picotte, the first (known) Indigenous physician and the first to establish a private hospital on an American Indian reservation. PBS 

From this Chemical & Engineering News article learn about Dawn Pratt, a “Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation chemist turned educator,” who is trying to be the mentor for young Indigenous women interested in STEM that she didn’t have. C&EN

From Medicine Hat News, learn about Keziah Lesko-Gosselin  and her experience as an Indigenous woman in STEM. Miywasin Moment

In this ABC News Australia article, learn about Greta Stephensen, a Wide Bay Indigenous student, and the CSIRO Indigenous STEM Student Award she won. Wide Bay Indigenous student recognized

Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology introduces you to seven Indigenous people in STEM. 7 Indigenous People in STEM You Should Know

Learn about Michelle Hobbs, a PhD candidate and associate lecturer at Griffith University in Australia, who was the recipient of the 2023 Australian Academy of Science Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Award. Emerging 

While not exclusively focusing on women, this article from the Canadian Encyclopedia looks at nine Indigenous scientists and their contributions. Remarkable Indigenous Scientists and Researchers in Canada 

Read this article from SAY Magazine about Chevaun Toulouse of Sagamok First Nation, a conservationist and a reptiles and amphibians expert. From the Swamp to the Great Lakes

Listen (or read the transcript) to this podcast that interviews Robin Wall Kimmerer, the author of the New York Times bestseller Braiding Sweetgrass. On Being

Learn about Debra Haaland, one of the first Indigenous women elected to congress and the current secretary of the interior, in this article from We R Native. Who is?

By: India-Bleu Niehoff, Water Library Student Assistant

Introduction 

With the numbers of Indigenous women in STEM historically low, and discrimination, stereotypes and prejudice against Indigenous women in STEM remaining a constant, it is important for Indigenous women who wish to go into STEM to have a support system. This can take the form of financial support through scholarships and funding or personal and/or professional support of other Indigenous women in STEM. The following list is of organizations throughout the Americas and Australia working to create those support systems. This is only a small sampling, and there are certainly many more. 

Resources

Learn about Warmi STEM, a group promoting the Indigenous women of Ecuador in STEM, in this blog post. Indigenous Women in STEM Are in a Unique Position to Stop Climate Change

Read a short article discussing the MentorSTEP program at the University of Saskatchewan. MentorSTEP is an organization focused on increasing the number of Indigenous women in STEM fields. A World of Difference: Shining a Light on Indigenous Women in Science

     The MentorSTEP Program

The Indigenous Girls’ STEM Academy is a national investment program in Australia for high-achieving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls, supporting them in pursuing higher education in STEM fields. Indigenous Girls’ STEM Academy

The Canadian Sistering Indigenous and Western Science Program is a paid mentorship program that pairs female-identifying students to work on a research project. The goal of the program is to increase the representation and participation of Indigenous (and non-Indigenous) women in the STEM field. Sistering Indigenous and Western Science Program

While not exclusive to Indigenous women, Natives Rising is an organization created by Danielle Forward and Betsy Fore to highlight Indigenous role models in the technology field. 

Natives Rising

An article discussing Natives Rising and a grant they received from the Reboot Representation Tech Coalition. Natives Rising Wins Grant Funding to Get Native American Women in Tech 

Advancing Indigenous People in STEM, AISES, is an organization dedicated to promoting the inclusion and educational attainment of Indigenous peoples in STEM fields. AISES 

The Association of American Indian Physicians, AAIP, is a professional organization that works to promote American Indian and Alaskan Native students in obtaining education in the biomedical sciences, as well as improving health in Indigenous communities. AAIP

By: India-Bleu Niehoff, Water Library Student Assistant

Introduction 

There has been a long history of Indigenous knowledge being ignored, denied and outright lambasted. It has been posited as being diametrically opposed to Western science, and those with Indigenous backgrounds wanting to work in the field of Western science have been told to forsake their traditional knowledge (if they are let in at all). Yet traditional or Indigenous knowledge and Western science are not in competition but are complementary to one another. Western science has much to gain from incorporating both Indigenous scientists and the knowledge they bring.

According to a report by the U.S. National Science Foundation, only 0.6 % of the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) workforce in 2021 identified themselves as American Indian or Alaska Native (National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, 2023). More broadly, women have also had a long history of being denied places in STEM fields, and their contributions and ideas have long been underrepresented and unrecognized. The same report found that the percentage of women in the STEM workforce was roughly 35% in 2021 (National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, 2023). Consequently, people who make up the intersection of Indigenous and female are an even smaller subset of the STEM field (National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, 2023). Indigenous women traditionally hold positions of leadership in Indigenous communities, as noted by Sarah EchoHawk, CEO of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), making these almost negligible numbers particularly alarming. This showcases the bias, stereotypes and prejudice that have been and currently are present in STEM fields. 

In this blog series, the Wisconsin Water Library will explore the background of Indigenous women in STEM. These resources examine both the integration of Indigenous knowledge into Western science scholarship and the experiences (and contributions) of Indigenous women scientists. In this first part, we provide sources that explore the history and challenges of Indigenous women in STEM. Part 2 of the series offers organizations and scholarships that support Indigenous women in STEM fields. And part 3 showcases important and upcoming Indigenous women scientists that are making an impact in their fields.

Books 

Epistemological Tensions in a Professional Development Pairing Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science for Education by Sara Krauskopf. Madison: Dissertation, 2020.

Integrating Indigenous and Western Education in Science Curricula Relationships at Play by Amy Eun-Ji Kim. Springer International Publishing: Palgrave Macmillan, 2021.  

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Milkweed Editions, 2013. 

Online Resources

A short piece introducing the underrepresentation of Indigenous women in STEM while highlighting a few figures and their experiences. Cleveland.com

An article highlighting the experiences of Aboriginal women in STEM and the impact of COVID-19. While focusing on Australia, and from a few years ago, this is still an important piece. Women’s Agenda

Another Australia-focused article, this one looks at the role of Indigenous women in science, and how they are (not) incorporated into academia. Indigenous Women in Science

A short article discussing the intersection of traditional and local women’s Indigenous knowledge and how they interact with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Centre for International Governance Innovation 

A short report about Indigenous women in STEM and Indigenous science from the Indigenous Science Division at Environment and Climate Change Canada. Sacred Science

An editorial, Time to support Indigenous Science, by Robin Wall Kimmerer and Kyle Artelle, that discusses how Indigenous science (and scientists) can be supported and not hindered. Time to Support

Full Citations

National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES). 2023. Diversity and STEM: Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities 2023. Special Report NSF 23-315. Alexandria, VA: National Science Foundation. Available at https://ncses.nsf.gov/wmpd

By India-Bleu Niehoff, Community Engaged Intern

In part two of our two-part series, we’ve created a list of organizations working to increase representation in the outdoors. The organizations range from groups with active programming working on the ground, to groups advocating for the creation of these programs, to groups raising awareness and providing community support. This is only a small fraction of the organizations out there. Hopefully, this will serve as a living document that will actively add and grow more organizations.  

Organizations

Access Ability Wisconsin is a Wisconsin-based organization that provides mobility devices to help Wisconsinites of all mobility levels access nature. https://www.accessabilitywi.org/ 

Every Kid Outdoors is a program that provides every fourth-grader and their family in America free access to National Parks, Lands and Waters. https://everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm 

Corazón Latino is a national nonprofit organization that runs and facilitates numerous programs for youth and adults that foster social, environmental and conservation initiatives across the United States. https://www.corazonlatino.us/ 

Disabled & Outdoors is an Instagram page dedicated to highlighting the experiences of those with disabilities in nature. *Note: Instagram page has not been updated since September 2021* Disabled & Outdoors Instagram

Pride Outside is an organization dedicated to providing resources and increasing the LGBTQ+ community’s access to nature and the outdoors. http://prideoutside.net/ 

The Student Conservation Association has numerous programs to increase diversity and environmental literacy and conservation efforts:  

Located in the DC area? Check out DC Urban Tree House, a program from the Student Conservation Association, which provides environmental education programs for DC Urban Youth, emphasizing meaningful connections and conservation projects. https://www.thesca.org/dc-urban-tree-house/ 

Community Crews offer a way for individuals to become involved in their local community’s conservation efforts. https://www.thesca.org/serve/our-programs/youth-programs/community/ 

The NPS Academy, is a 12-week summer internship that provides undergraduates and graduate students the ability to explore career opportunities within the National Park Service. https://www.thesca.org/program/young-adult/special-programs/npsa/ 

Latino Outdoors, is a community-first national organization working to increase the voices and representation of Latino communities in environmental spaces and conservation efforts. https://latinooutdoors.org/ 

Read a 2018 article detailing the efforts of Latino Outdoors in the Journal of Park and Recreation Administration. Latino Outdoors: Using Storytelling and Social Media to Increase Diversity on Public Lands  

 DEIB Outdoors is a resource that highlights the “people, places, products, and events that promote diversity and belonging in outdoor recreation.” https://www.deiboutdoors.com/ 

 New York City-based First Strokes: Students Teaching Students How to Swim focuses on creating free opportunities for young adults to swim, an important safety concern. https://firststrokes.org/ 

Read an National Public Radio article detailing their efforts. “Many teens don’t know how to swim. A grassroots organization is trying to change that.“

 Outdoor Afro is a national nonprofit organization providing resources, opportunities and visibility to encourage and support Black people not only engaging in nature but also taking a leadership role. https://outdoorafro.org/ 

 In Solidarity is an organization focused on creating and supporting a more diverse outdoor industry, working with industry partners to facilitate and lead DEI-focused initiatives. https://www.insolidarityproject.com/ 

 The BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, co-founded by Dexter Patterson, serves to provide a community for BIPOC Wisconsin Birders. https://www.bipocbirdingclub.org/ 

Read an article about Dexter Patterson and his work. UW Alumni Article

See his Instagram Wisco Birder.: Wisco Birder Instagram

Northwest Youth Corps is a conservation group that offers education and job training groups. (Sourced from AP News)

They offer programming for a variety of ages from 15-19, to 19+.  General Programs 

They also, specifically offer multiple affinity programs for youth, such as: ASL Inclusion Crews, Rainbow LGBTQ+ Crews, Tribal Stewards Crews, and All Women Crews. Affinity Group Programs 

Conservation Legacy is a conservation organization with a local aim that highlights the role everyone plays in conservation. They offer a variety of programs, including affinity crews. (Sourced from AP News)

Conservation Legacy.

The BrownGirl Green Podcast, run by Kristy Drutman explores the “intersections between media, diversity, and environmentalism,”. Drutman also is the co-founder of Green Jobs Board, which highlights environmental jobs with an emphasis on diversity and equity. (Sourced from AP News)

BrownGirl Green Podcast. 

Green Jobs Board.

Master Lists: 

Field Mag has an extensive list of 65 Black, Indigenous and POC outdoor organizations to support, ranging from general outdoor organizations, to activity-specific, to youth-focused to education. https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/black-indigenous-poc-outdoor-collectives-nonprofits-instagram 

Another list of organizations working to increase representation and diversity in the outdoors from the National Parks Conservation Association. https://www.npca.org/resources/3314-groups-working-to-diversify-the-outdoors-and-the-environmental-movement 

Updated: October 1, 2023

By India-Bleu Niehoff, Community Engaged Intern

In this two-part blog series, we will be exploring the history of underrepresented groups in nature, and groups and organizations that are collectively organizing to increase the recognition, voices and participation of those groups in nature.   

Part 1: History  

Access to nature is something that should be readily and freely available to all individuals. However, BIPOC and low-income individuals and communities have historically been restricted from accessing these resources and spaces. This is the result of a long history of discrimination and segregation in outdoor spaces, from the racist beliefs and actions of those spearheading conservation movements (read more about John Muir here), to the unspoken (but enforced) expectations of who is not only allowed but encouraged to spend time in nature. This history, and its implications, cannot (and shouldn’t) be reduced to a few paragraphs or even a few resources, but here are a few places to start. 

Books:

The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors by James Edward Mills. Seattle: Mountaineers Books, 2014. 

Rooted in the Earth: Reclaiming the African American Environmental Heritage by Dianne D. Glave. Chicago, Illinois: Lawrence Hill Books, 2010. 

Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors by Carolyn Finney. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2014. 

Online Resources: 

Short introductory resource to learn about underrepresented groups in nature, specifically their engagement with national parks: JSTOR Daily

Another great resource detailing history and current groups organizing: NC State University College of Natural Resources News

Incredibly in-depth article detailing the racial and economic disparities in access to nature, supplemented by extensive research: Center for American Progress

A look into the underrepresentation of ethnic groups specifically in the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology: Springer Link

Short exploration of the underrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples on environmental community councils and their struggles in accessing funding: International Institute for Environment and Development

A 2019 research article that disrupts the mainstream narrative of Black people in nature, adding depth and nuance to a complex topic: Sage Publishing  

This recent Associated Press article that explores how underrepresented groups are starting to be recruited into conservation careers, with an emphasis on Wisconsin: Associated Press

Want to learn more about environmental justice in all its iterations? Check out the Water Library’s introduction to environmental justice with accumulated resources: https://waterlibrary.aqua.wisc.edu/ejlist/ 

Updated: September 28, 2023

Photo of the Wisconsin Water Library Summer Fishing Display

By India-Bleu Niehoff, Community Engaged Intern

To reel in the summer, the Wisconsin Water Library has a new book display!  We’re highlighting fish and more broadly fishing, a very traditional summer (and winter) activity. 

In this display, we explore the different types of fish, the history of fishing and controversies surrounding fishing, such as the fight to respect the treaty rights of Ojibwe spearfishing or the importance and practice of sustainable fishing to preserve our oceans.  

Visit the library to check out our selection or explore one of our accumulated online resources! 

Books on Display!

Adult

America’s Bountiful Waters: 150 Years of Fisheries Conservation and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service edited by Craig Springer. Guilford, Connecticut: Stackpole Books, 2021.

Blue Men & River Monsters: Folklore of the North edited by John Zimm. Madison, WI: Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2014.

Bottomfeeder: A Seafood Lover’s Journey to the End of the Food Chain by Taras Grescoe.New York: Bloomsbury USA: Distributed to the trade by Macmillan, 2008. 

Eye of the Shoal: A Fishwatcher’s Guide to Life, the Oceans, and Everything by Helen Scales. London; New York: Bloomsbury Sigma, 2018.

Fishing: How the Sea Fed Civilization by Brian M. Fagan. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2017.

Fishing Lessons: Artisanal Fisheries and the Future of our Oceans by Kevin McLean Bailey. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2018.

Ichthyo: the Architecture of Fish: X-Rays from the Smithsonian Institution by Daniel Pauly. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 2008.

The Walleye War: the Struggle for Ojibwe Spearfishing and Treaty Rights by Larry Nesper. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2002.

Kids

All the Fish in the World by David Opie. White Plains, New York: Peter Pauper Press, Inc., 2021

Fish by Steve Parker. New York: Knopf, 1990.

We Love Fishing by Ariel Bernstein. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021.

Want to learn even more? Check out our accumulated online resources!

Learn more about spearfishing and tribal rights:

https://glifwc.org/

https://wisconsinfirstnations.org/ways-spearfishing-living-history/

https://www.mpm.edu/content/wirp/ICW-112

https://pbswisconsin.org/news-item/how-ojibwe-tribes-in-wisconsin-resisted-efforts-to-deny-treaty-rights/

https://wisconsinfirstnations.org/crossing-line-tribble-brothers/

Learn more about sustainable fishing and seafood:

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/sustainable-fishing/

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/insight/understanding-sustainable-seafood

https://ocean.si.edu/conservation/fishing/sustainable-fishing

Learn more about how to identify fish and the words you use:

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/fish-id/

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/our-work/focus-areas/fish-and-fisheries/fish-glossary/