This week on Minnesota Native News, a look at how Indigenous educators are celebrating Native graduates, plus, how invasive species are impacting tribal waterways.
Transcript
ANCHOR: This is Minnesota Native News, I'm Marie Rock. This week, we learn how Indigenous education leaders are celebrating Native graduates. And, how invasive species impact Minnesota's tribal waters, and the cultural lifeways of Indigenous communities.
First, Indigenous graduates in Central Minnesota prepare to receive their diplomas. Reporter Emma Needham has more.
EMMA NEEDHAM: Graduation season is a time of celebration across Minnesota, but for Native graduates, each diploma is more than a personal achievement — it’s a victory for generations past, and future.
[SOUND ELEMENT: Morris 2023 Native Graduation Honoring Ceremony]
SHAYLA BUDROW: How big of a victory it is, you know, for my little brother to have last year graduate... I have a really beautiful photo of him walking the stage with all of his regalia on."
NEEDHAM: Shayla Budrow is the Indigenous Education Coordinator at Brainerd Schools, about 25 minutes from Lake Mille Lacs, and the Non-Removable Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
BUDROW: Because you can tell who the Native kids are now... it kind of represents their class and their victories — for our ancestors and our future generations.
NEEDHAM: That pride comes with a heavy history. The University of Minnesota–Morris campus is one of a few in the state that was once the site of a federal Indian boarding school. Those schools stripped Native children of their language, culture, and identity. Chancellor Janet Erickson says the university now recognizes that past while supporting future generations.
JANET ERICKSON: But for us, we have to acknowledge it and …at least to understand what happened, how it happened, and what the ongoing impacts are.
NEEDHAM: That legacy is why high schools, like Brainerd, are expanding their support for Native students. Indigenous Education Coordinator Shayla Budrow’s program offers language classes, cultural spaces, and supports student attendance at community ceremonies, including graduation.
BUDROW: It's a huge step for Native students... to step away from what they've known as their home and where their home base is for their culture.
NEEDHAM: Budrow’s proud of all 20 of her Indigenous Seniors. Some are on a six-year track to graduation, while others are getting GED certificates, and…
BUDROW: Fifteen of them are expected to graduate this year, which is super exciting.
NEEDHAM: And the next generation is already being celebrated, with hopes of gifting kindergarteners stoles
BUDROW: And hopefully they'll be able to take a picture of their kindergarten graduation and have the same stoles to be able to take home at their high school graduation.
[SOUND ELEMENT: graduation ambient noise]
NEEDHAM: For Minnesota Native News, I’m Emma Needham.
MARIE ROCK: At Leech Lake and Mille Lacs, invasive species like starry stonewort and zebra mussels are spreading. In Lake Superior, sea lampreys and ruffe outcompete native fish. For Red Lake Nation, the stakes are especially high.
PAT BROWN: We know what works now... The only thing that can screw that up on us... would be invasive species. We monitor for those, but we’re going to continue to try to protect this lake and keep it healthy.
ROCK: Red Lake’s walleye population collapsed in the 1990s. But through cooperation, stocking, and enforcement, the Band brought it back.
BROWN: We started fishing again in 2006... We've been able to harvest almost 20 million pounds of walleye out of this lake.
ROCK:
That recovery could be undone if invasive species take hold. That's why prevention is critical. Minnesota DNR urges all boaters and anglers to follow four steps:
1.Clean aquatic plants and animals from boats and trailers.
2. Drain all water from live wells, bilges, and motors at the landing.
3. Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash—not in the water and;
4. Dry boats and equipment for five days before entering a new water body.
Prevention is also about passing on stories and stewardship.
BROWN: We still tell the story... because a lot of these kids weren’t around when the walleye collapsed... We need to protect this so that our next seven generations have the walleye.
ROCK: To learn more about stopping aquatic invasive species, visit DNR dot state dot mn dot us, slash invasives.
For Minnesota Native News, I’m Marie Rock.