More than 200 people gathered in the Discovery Building or tuned in online last Monday, April 1, to attend the first Indigenous Research Forum. The event, co-hosted by CALS, the UW Law School, the Nelson Institute and Extension, brought together researchers and community members from UW and beyond to share their work in the field of indigenous research.

The day began with a welcome from Dan Cornelius, outreach program manager for the Indigenous Law Center, CALS Dean Glenda Gillaspy and others. Ho-Chunk President Jon Greendeer then framed the conversation ahead and Twin Tail Singers, a student-led drum group, shared their music. Lightening talks and panel discussions about indigenous research methods rounded out the morning. After a poster session and lunch, the afternoon speakers and panels focused on indigenous food systems and research in the Great Lakes region.

Two CALS-affiliated researchers spoke at the event: Lauren W. Yowelunh McLester-Davis, a scientist working jointly in biochemistry and SMPH, presented her ideas about indigenous research as well as the colonization, decolonization and indigenization of science. She also moderated a panel discussion. Daniel Hayden, a graduate student in plant pathology co-advised by Richard Lankau and Erin Silva, spoke about his research on interseeding cover crops with white corn.

Indigenous foods were offered throughout the day including corn mush for breakfast and wild rice for lunch. At the end of the forum, a Taste of the Tribes reception invited celebrated chefs to showcase their plates:

• Loretta Barrett Oden – sweet corn and butternut pudding with vanilla bean-coriander dessert oil
• Sean Sherman – turkey meatballs and wild rice with wojapi sauce
• Elena Terry – wild rice fritters
• Yusuf Bin-Rella – walleye and grits

The forum, the first of what organizers hope will become an annual event, brought together several different groups from across campus interested in or currently doing indigenous research. In CALS, the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems as well as representatives of the Rural Partnerships Institute were involved in the planning and presentation of the forum.

A full schedule and list of speakers can be found at https://cias.wisc.edu/our-events/indigenous-research-forum/. Photos below provided by Frankie Anderson of CIAS.