Research on Michigan Community & Anishinaabe Renewable Energy Sovereignty

The MICARES team—which includes electrical engineers, foresters, community organizers, tribal leaders, social scientists, energy policy specialist, indigenous education experts, and technical communicators—works to:

• Understand the opportunities and barriers associated with renewable energy transitions;

• Help rural communities and Tribal Nations in Michigan make decisions about renewable energy that align with their values and priorities;

As a sub-team leader for the Community Engagement portion of MICARES, much of my time in 2021 was spent working to create and deliver a series of online workshops on ethical community-engagement and indigenous methodologies for the team. Additionally, I collected and analyzed documents related to renewable energy transition from my tribe, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC). I also was the lead designer of a survey we circulated at the KBIC summer powwow. This survey helped us assess the community’s energy system priorities. We collected almost 200 survey responses during the 2-day powwow, and have continued to work with this data and share it out with KBIC’s Natural Resources Department and grant writer as they work to secure funding from the federal Infrastructure Bill (which includes a good deal of money for Tribal Nations).

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Project Contact:

  • Kristin Arola
  • Writing, Rhetoric, and American Culture
  • College of Arts and Letters


Partners

  • Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians Environmental Department
  • Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities
  • Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Lake Superior Band of Chippewa Indians



Report of calendar year 2021 activity.