May 18th: Case Studies of Successful IK Engagement

Sarah Rinkevich (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) Catherine Techtmann (Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and Northern Wisconsin Tribes)

Registration: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers/webinar-series-incorporating-indigenous-knowledges

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Climate Adaptation Science Center (National CASC) is hosting a virtual webinar series on how to integrate Indigenous Knowledges (IK) into Federal ecological research and resource management programs. Running bi-weekly from April 6 to June 1, 2023 (3 PM ET), this series centers Indigenous perspectives to explore ethical, legal, and scientific considerations inherent in working within different knowledge systems and provides guidance and case studies reflecting best practices for collaborating with Tribes and Indigenous communities.

Sarah Rinkevich received her Ph.D. in Wildlife Conservation from the University of Arizona’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment in 2012. Her research focused on a reintroduced population of Mexican gray wolves on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, homeland to the White Mountain Apache Tribe. Dr. Rinkevich received her Master’s degree in 1991 from Humboldt State University where she studied habitat preferences of Mexican spotted owls in Zion National Park, Utah. She has worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Endangered Species Conservation since 1993 and currently works in the Branch of Recovery and Restoration. Dr. Rinkevich works extensively with Tribes on management and conservation of threatened and endangered species on Tribal lands within the Southwest.

Cathy “Cat” Techtmann is a University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension Environmental Outreach State Specialist. She is passionate about weaving together indigenous and academic science to build environmental leadership in youth to adult learners. Cat partners with the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission and tribal specialists to create educational initiatives that integrate Ojibwe ecological and leadership knowledge including Gikinoo’wizhiwe Onji Waaban (“G Minisan– WOW”) Changing Climate, Changing Culture, Connecting Ojibwe Ecological Knowledge and Climate Change, and “indigenizing” leadership development programs. Cathy coordinates the University of Wisconsin Extension Climate Leadership Team and is a member of the UW Division of Extension Native American Task Force. She lives and works in the homeland of the Lake Superior Ojibwe people with an office at the Iron County UW Extension Office in Hurley, WI.