This qualitative research was conducted within Alberta’s Isga Nation, specifically Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation and Paul First Nation in central Alberta, Canada. The Isga are located in a hub of industrial activity such as oil drilling and development, sour gas drilling, coal mining, agriculture, and forestry. Despite the whirlwind of industrial activity surrounding them, the Isga people continue to carry out their traditional harvesting activities in and around Alberta, Canadas’ foothills and Rocky Mountains. The research objective was to better understand environmental impacts and changes in Alberta’s Isga Nation. More specifically, document concerns traditional land use harvesters have about: i) the decline in the health and abundance of medicines and berries; ii) the state of health the waterfowl and other wildlife are in; iii) testimony that industrial activity is causing environmental degradation; iv) the health of our lakes and rivers; and v) and worries about how the continuation of the Isga way of life will be affected in the future. The methods, or Isga ways of knowing provide first hand knowledge that the Isga are forced to seek areas outside their traditional harvesting territory to seek medicines and berries; that the wildlife, particularly moose, are showing abnormalities when they are harvested; that the health of the rivers and lakes is rapidly decreasing; and that the survival of the Isga way of life is being threatened today. Moreover, Isga voices will illuminate that their traditional territory is rapidly decreasing in environmental health and abundance because of oil drilling and development, sour gas drilling, coal mining, agriculture, and forestry.

This qualitative research was conducted within Alberta’s Isga Nation, specifically Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation and Paul First Nation in central Alberta, Canada. The Isga are located in a hub of industrial activity such as oil drilling and development, sour gas drilling, coal mining, agriculture, and forestry. Despite the whirlwind of industrial activity surrounding them, the Isga people continue to carry out their traditional harvesting activities in and around Alberta, Canadas’ foothills and Rocky Mountains. The research objective was to better understand environmental impacts and changes in Alberta’s Isga Nation. More specifically, document concerns traditional land use harvesters have about: i) the decline in the health and abundance of medicines and berries; ii) the state of health the waterfowl and other wildlife are in; iii) testimony that industrial activity is causing environmental degradation; iv) the health of our lakes and rivers; and v) and worries about how the continuation of the Isga way of life will be affected in the future. The methods, or Isga ways of knowing provide first hand knowledge that the Isga are forced to seek areas outside their traditional harvesting territory to seek medicines and berries; that the wildlife, particularly moose, are showing abnormalities when they are harvested; that the health of the rivers and lakes is rapidly decreasing; and that the survival of the Isga way of life is being threatened today. Moreover, Isga voices will illuminate that their traditional territory is rapidly decreasing in environmental health and abundance because of oil drilling and development, sour gas drilling, coal mining, agriculture, and forestry.

Past research regarding historical trauma in the Lakota, one of the three major groups of the Oceti Sakowin or Sioux, has contributed to the historical trauma theory, but gaps continue to exist. The purpose of the study was to examine the historical trauma experiences and grief responses of individuals who identify as Oceti Sakowin, specifically the Nakota and Dakota, including present experiences. Interpretive phenomenological analysis was the study's methodology and the conceptual framework of this research was historical trauma theory, which refers to the persistence of trauma and transmission of trauma from generation to generation. Participant interviews were conducted using a researcher-designed interview schedule. Participants were Oceti Sakowin who identify as Nakota or Dakota and who were over the age of 18, and a total of 8 participants were interviewed. This research yielded themes about how the phenomena affected the participants, which can provide insight into how others who have had their own experiences relate to the phenomena. These themes were concerns and pain about ancestors' experience, concern for personal experiences but hope for the future, and the loss of the past is the sorrow of today. Increasing the knowledge of historical trauma and historical trauma grief responses can lead to better understanding that leads to positive social change through greater empathy and sensitivity toward those who have had these experiences, which can increase respect toward the traditions and cultures of others as well as culturally informed interventions to address historical trauma and grief.

This presentation is focused on the importance of plants at Pipestone National Monument. This presentation highlights key findings from the original ethnobotany study.

Historically, research on Aboriginal education issues has ignored the needs of Aboriginal people and disempowered the Aboriginal community. This thesis seeks to offer a corrective to that trend. <p> The intent of the thesis research was to establish a process for conducting educational research with one Aboriginal community - the Dakota People of Wahpeton which would enable this community to have a legitimate voice and control over future research that will be conducted on their behalf. A methodology called community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) was utilized because it provided the means for community input and direction. Through the use of CBPR, collaborative relationships were established with 20 Dakota People of Wahpeton, who were identified as the research participants. The interview was used as the primary research method. <p> The thesis discusses how the conflict between two cultural world views - the Aboriginal view of the Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota People, generally referred to as "Sioux", and the contemporary Western view - was resolved within the process of implementing the Community-Based Participatory Research methodology. This resolution of differences was accomplished by bridging, then mirroring, the methodologies and ways of gaining knowledge unique to these two respective cultural world views. Additionally, theoretical and practical suggestions are offered so that the thesis might serve as a model for Dakota-Nakota-Lakota Community-Based Participatory Research in the future. <p> In keeping with Community-Based Participatory Research, the voice of the people will be emphasized in this thesis, through extensive use of quotes. Furthermore, the voice of the researcher will be clearly identified so that he may be held accountable for his input.

Historically, research on Aboriginal education issues has ignored the needs of Aboriginal people and disempowered the Aboriginal community. This thesis seeks to offer a corrective to that trend. <p> The intent of the thesis research was to establish a process for conducting educational research with one Aboriginal community - the Dakota People of Wahpeton which would enable this community to have a legitimate voice and control over future research that will be conducted on their behalf. A methodology called community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) was utilized because it provided the means for community input and direction. Through the use of CBPR, collaborative relationships were established with 20 Dakota People of Wahpeton, who were identified as the research participants. The interview was used as the primary research method. <p> The thesis discusses how the conflict between two cultural world views - the Aboriginal view of the Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota People, generally referred to as "Sioux", and the contemporary Western view - was resolved within the process of implementing the Community-Based Participatory Research methodology. This resolution of differences was accomplished by bridging, then mirroring, the methodologies and ways of gaining knowledge unique to these two respective cultural world views. Additionally, theoretical and practical suggestions are offered so that the thesis might serve as a model for Dakota-Nakota-Lakota Community-Based Participatory Research in the future. <p> In keeping with Community-Based Participatory Research, the voice of the people will be emphasized in this thesis, through extensive use of quotes. Furthermore, the voice of the researcher will be clearly identified so that he may be held accountable for his input.

Historically, research on Aboriginal education issues has ignored the needs of Aboriginal people and disempowered the Aboriginal community. This thesis seeks to offer a corrective to that trend. The intent of the thesis research was to establish a process for conducting educational research with one Aboriginal community - the Dakota People of Wahpeton which would enable this community to have a legitimate voice and control over future research that will be conducted on their behalf. A methodology called community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) was utilized because it provided the means for community input and direction. Through the use of CBPR, collaborative relationships were established with 20 Dakota People of Wahpeton, who were identified as the research participants. The interview was used as the primary research method. The thesis discusses how the conflict between two cultural world views - the Aboriginal view of the Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota People, generally referred to as "Sioux", and the contemporary Western view - was resolved within the process of implementing the Community-Based Participatory Research methodology. This resolution of differences was accomplished by bridging, then mirroring, the methodologies and ways of gaining knowledge unique to these two respective cultural world views. Additionally, theoretical and practical suggestions are offered so that the thesis might serve as a model for Dakota-Nakota-Lakota Community-Based Participatory Research in the future. In keeping with Community-Based Participatory Research, the voice of the people will be emphasized in this thesis, through extensive use of quotes. Furthermore, the voice of the researcher will be clearly identified so that he may be held accountable for his input.